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Friday 8 May 2009

KT Bush Band of Hope

Kate Bush Rosa Pictures, Images and Photos

Kate Bush (born Catherine Bush on 30 July 1958) is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic and, let's face it, eccentrically beautiful, musical style and idiosyncratic lyrics have made her one of England's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years, having sold over 20 million records worldwide.

Bush was signed by EMI at the tender age of 16 after being recommended by Pink Floyd's David Gilmour. In 1978, at age 19, she topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks with her debut song "Wuthering Heights", becoming the first woman to have a UK number-one with a self-written song.

Kate Pictures, Images and Photos

Kate Bush Pictures, Images and Photos

Bush released The Kick Inside, one of my favourite albums, when she was but 19, and yet many of the tracks were written when she was as young as 13. Even at an early stage of her career, Kate managed to make successfully determined decisions about her own work, and style.

"Wuthering Heights" topped the UK and Australian charts and became an international hit.

Her second single, "The Man with the Child in His Eyes" won her an Ivor Novello Award in 1979 for Outstanding British Lyric. For the first two years of her contract, Bush spent more time on schoolwork than making an album. After she gained her contract with EMI, she used her sizeable advance to enrol in interpretive dance classes taught by Lindsay Kemp, a former teacher of David Bowie.

Kate Bush Pictures, Images and Photos

After the release of The Red Shoes, Bush dropped off the radar, and out of the public eye for many years. She had originally intended to take a year off but despite continuing to work, 12 years would pass before her next album release.

Throughout this period, the press gave her a hard time, often citing her as an eccentric recluse, a Miss Havisham. In reality, she was creating a life for herself, sometimes eating too much chocolate, struggling with her long-term relationship and its eventual breakdown, weight gain, and later, in her second relationship, trying to give her young son a normal childhood, away from the prying eyes of showbiz.

In 1998, Kate gave birth to "Bertie", fathered by her guitarist, now-husband Danny McIntosh. Motherhood has made her extremely happy, she says, and Bertie's artwork decorated her new release, Aerial, in November 2005.

The first single from the album was "King of the Mountain", which is apparently not entirely about Elvis.

I love Kate. I identified with her art and her beauty when I was a teenager, singing along to, and reading, Wuthering Heights, and wondering if my own Heathcliffe would ever tap on my bedroom window-pane...

I envied her ability to ensnare interesting men to perform with her - Dave Gilmour, Peter Gabriel, Donald Sutherland, among others...

I wanted to have her gypsy-dancer clothes and hennaed hair, (I was a blonde, and orange has never been that interesting a colour, unless you're Vivienne Westwood, more of her later, mes bloggy church-pews!), and I identified with her longing for love and a private life.

I sort of think these song lyrics refer to that... Someone's struggle with fickle fame, and the often unwanted attention it brings and the impact that being in the public glare has on our fragile mental condition... "Why does a multi-millionaire fill up his home with priceless junk..."

And that even when you are dead and gone, the media continues to spin its evil web, creating stories when there are none, much as it did with KT.

And ultimately, for us all, there is hope of the happy outcome... A much-wanted child, a sledge called Rosebud, and the wind whistling through the house...

23 comments:

Reasons said...

She was, and still is lovely. I always wanted to be like her, dark haired, pretty and petite...and what a voice. Happy weekend wishes to you dear Fhina. xxx

French Fancy... said...

I love her song ' the man with the child in his eyes' - she had a unique talent. Some say that she and Gilmour were in love and that they had a passionate affair.

Unknown said...

Hi Fhina,

Ms Bush has the type of voice that I find difficult to understand, so some of the lyrics are lost. But I agree that Wuthering Heights is very atmospheric and I remember hearing it all over the place. Love her ivy hair do!

Liz Wilkey (a.k.a. A Mom on Spin) said...

how is it - being raised across the pond - I never heard of her?

Shame! Shame!

Dumdad said...

I loved Kate Bush and her songs from the very start. Exceptional, unique talent. Her songs are all so very different and yet all so very Kate Bush.

Jinksy said...

Am almost afraid to admit - her voice gave me the eebiegeebies, but I grant you , it was different...

Unknown said...

yeah she's gold that lady

Bee said...

Oh, I adore Kate! Hounds of Love was one of THE albums of my college days. I agree with FF: "the man with the child in his eyes" is one of her most gorgeous songs.

I've heard that she lives near me in Berkshire . . . and I keep hoping that I will run into her in the Waitrose one of these days!

Chairman Bill said...

Bee: She used to (maybe still does) live on that island in the middle of the Thames at Reading, where I have my boat. There's nice looking house on it.

Mad as a hatter, of course.

Midlife, menopause, mistakes and random stuff... said...

Quite the eccentric no? I like the Medusa-like shot with the ivy seemingly growing out of her hair.
You always have such lovely interesting post my dear ;)
Have an extreme weekend and........

Steady On
Reggie Girl

Michelle said...

Greatness! I am not familiar with Kate but I want to be!

I am returning to human!!!

I LOVE YOU!!

Brett said...

Great post, a friend of mine once was a god farther to a child and only found out that Kate was the god mother on the day! He said she was lovely and very down to earth.

Everyday Goddess said...

She has still got it! I am on your wavelength today because I find in your post a thread of what I am saying too: live your life fearlessly. Kate Bush may have retreated but she never tuned out. Love it!

ArtistUnplugged said...

I am unfamiliar with this artist.....but some of those photos show that she really liked her hair natural......have a great USA Mother's Day this Sunday!

blognut said...

You're fabulous Fhina. I had heard only one song of hers, and didn't know the name of the singer until just now.

Have a wonderful Friday night, my dear. Stay out of the pubs, you're still smarting from your last trip through, I suspect. XO

Bloggus

Vic said...

I've loved Kate Bush since I first saw her perform on Saturday Night Live back in the '70's. After that I bought all of her music and drove my family nuts with it. (She's amazing, but not everyone in my family liked her voice.) Some of her songs still make me cry.
Much of the biographical information I didn't know, so thank you!

Expat mum said...

Oh memories! I have all her "albums" and my fave if Lionheart! If you read the lyrics of her songs they all have incredible stories in them.
I'll never forget though, the hilarity we experienced at school when one of the girls came in, having heard Wuthering Heights on the radio. She was electrified and kept trying to sing it to us. Hilarious - nobody but Kate could sing that.

Carma Sez said...

I've heard her name, but not much else about her. Thanks for the enlightenment. She was stunningly beautiful in an exotic way. I would so love to have full wavy hair like her, too!

sallymandy said...

Oh, Fhina--I'm so glad you posted about Kate. If I say I love her (and it's true!) will you forgive me about Jane Birkin??! I actually only found her recently, and am in love. And I trust your impressions more than random reviews online, so I'm glad to learn about more than The Kick Inside (which "sets my spirit dancing").

King of the Mountain is fab. This is a wonderful post. ♥

Elizabeth Bradley said...

Terrific. Loved this post, thanks.

Alicia @ boylerpf said...

I wasn't aware of her background or "reclusive" state but don't blame her one bit for wanting to stay out of the limelight for a normal life. She is an ethereal beauty!

Anonymous said...

Kate Bush is one of my all time favourites! I remember her dancing and singing on Top of the Pops all those years ago - she just blew me away!

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Reasons to be Cheerful 1,2,3: Me too, Jo - To have her allure, her talent and her beauty! Have a sweet weekend, m'dear, I hope the sun shines down your way! xxx

French Fancy: Yes, 'The man with the child in his eyes' is also one of my favourites - and I didn't know that the record company had wanted her to release 'James and the Cold Gun' before Wuthering Heights instead either... I had no idea about her and Dave Gilmour, I suspect she was able, either unconsciously, or consciously, to exert a hold over many men... x

Derrick@ I'll have to find those in my repertoire Derrick that enunciate well, as I know you would prefer those... I guess I am so used to them now that I don't even notice, I have pored over the lyrics of songs for years in my teens... Love to you this weekend, my friend x

lizspin: I didn't know until now, dear Liz, how few of my American friends have even heard of Kate - I thought she was bigger, but maybe it's just across Europe Bizarre, non?! xxx

Dumdad: Too true, sir! Well said, as ever.

jinksy: Heebiegeebies, Jinksy, you?! Take care, my knitting lovely! x

REread: Welcome, and as you say, yeah she's gold that lady!

Bee: I didn't have Hounds of Love, I must admit, and I agree so with you and FF too! And I can't get away from 'Rolling the Ball' too for its sweetness... You must tell us if you run into Kate at the Deli Counter at Waitrose, Bee! How fabulous - In Berkshire you must be rubbing shoulders with many of our home-grown greats! x

Chairman Bill: Oh, how lovely and exotic...an island in the middle of the Thames at Reading... And what's wrong with being as mad as a hatter - It works for me, Sir!

Midlife, menopause, mistakes and random stuff: Lovely, isn't it? And less you for your kindness to me about my posts, as I do get a little neurotic de temps en temps, Reggie girl - Have a fine weekend yourself, my sweet - Do take care! xox

Michelle: I am so pleased you are coming back to us in Humanland, my fair NYC friend - Please know that you caused me to dream of MRIs last night!!! Yikes! LOVE YOU too!!

Brett: Never, Sir! How wonderful to have that experience! I am glad she is able to be so very down to earth amid such fame and talent...

Comedy Goddess: How fine, CG - Live your life fearlessly... Kate Bush may have retreated but she never tuned out. Love it! Wonderful, my Comedy Goddess! x

Artist Unplugged: Have a fabulous US Mother's Day, dear AU! My blessings to you! xxx

Bloggus Nuttus! Merci, my sweet friend! How are you? What are you up to this weekend? I hope you are well and happy... I had not idea that Kate hadn't quite made it over the Pond... Thank you for your health messages, dahlink! Fhina whispers it... I was at the pub, but was more restrained this time! xox

Vic: Really? So she was on Saturday Night Live back in the '70's! I could see that the music could drive a family nuts! It is wild and unique and not to everyone's taste, n'est-ce pas? I did find her music moving, and related to it as I was growing up, as Kate wasn't much older than moi... x

Expat mum: You are so right, Expat... I think we all wanted to be Kate Bush, with her clothes, and hair and dance movements, which look a little dated now, I have to say... e.g. Babooshka, which I loved, and which I just learned means 'grandmother' in Russian - I don't think Kate knew that at the time either! xx

carma: Your hair is very beautiful, Carma, but yes, full, wavy hair would be very nice - Mine is so thin and blonde, and I shed like a German Shepherd Dog, I do! x

sallymandy: I am pleased to have offered something to delight dear you, SM! And I do forgive you for la Birkin, if only for the Hermes handbags named in her honour! Than you for your kindness to me, SM xxx

Elizabeth Bradley: Hello dahlink! Glad you liked it!

Alicia @ boylerpf: Bonjour...too true, dahlink! To protect onceself from the bright glare of fame is so right, non?!

ladyfi: Thank you for stopping by, ladyfi - Her appearance on Top of the Pops was really electrifying, non?! Have a fine weekend, my Swedish friend x

Something I wrote earlier...

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