Kylie Minogue was met with roaring cheers when her Brighton Pride headline set celebrated same-sex marriage.
The 55,000-strong sell-out crowd rejoiced when the Australian singer’s dance troupe portrayed a gay wedding while she performed Especially For You at the south coast festival.
The hit is synonymous with the famed 1987 wedding scene in television soap Neighbours when Kylie’s character Charlene married Scott, played by Jason Donovan.
.@kylieminogue wants to go out dancing at @PrideBrighton pic.twitter.com/pyIMiIZyhC
— Chris Jepson (@ChrisJepson) August 3, 2019
The 51-year-old’s rendition of the song on Saturday night followed its topical reprisal in the soap last year when a gay wedding took place for the first time on Ramsay Street, marking the historic news of Australia’s legalisation of same-sex marriage.
As the star arrived on stage in the East Sussex city’s Preston Park she said she was overwhelmed by the welcome.
Showering the crowd with kisses and heartfelt messages, she announced a toast to “health, happiness and love” before telling fans the “wonderful day” was a time for celebration but also “reflection”.
La la la, la la la la la, la la la, la la la la la … pic.twitter.com/OyitA8FoaQ
— Brighton & Hove Pride (@PrideBrighton) August 3, 2019
Accompanied by a live band and backing singers, Kylie opened the show with Love At First Sight before racing through an hour-and-a-half set packed with most of her big hits including crowd favourites I Should Be So Lucky, Can’t Get You Out of My Head, Kids and Loco-Motion.
She also found time for five costume changes: a glittery blue jump suit, fluorescent pink patent boiler suit and multi-coloured metallic-style pleated dress.
Taking to the stage after electro pop group Clean Bandit and surprise act Emeli Sande, Kylie thanked everyone for their “love and support” in her finale as she closed the show with Spinning Around.
The performance followed her appearance at Glastonbury Festival in June, 14 years after she had to cancel her set there because of breast cancer.
Britney Spears attracted a similar-sized crowd last year when she brought her Las Vegas Piece of Me show to Brighton as the headline act of Pride, kickstarting her European tour and marking her first time on stage in the UK since 2011.