Kate Bush and her ‘Wuthering Heights’ muse
Emily Bronte share the same birthday – 140 years apart.
July 30, 1818 / 1958

My favorite Kate song is on my Space Pop Playlist:
https://madelinex.com/2020/05/28/space-pop/

The wondrous and magical ‘Rocket’s Tail’ on her 1991 album The Sensual World is my favorite Kate song. The track starts quietly with the unique acapella vocals of the Trio Bulgarka (Bulgarian folklore singers). Then, Dave Gilmour’s guitar glamorously explodes and soars. It shoots like a rocket beginning the song’s second half. (Kate’s cat’s name was Rocket). The lyrics are bombastic! While watching rockets on Guy Fawkes night, the singer, in sheer admiration, straps a stick and fuse on her back, jumps off Waterloo Bridge and leaves a trail of fire behind. All a metaphor for Kate’s enchanting stage performances. This stunning song ignites passion and emotion – it’s a work of art. (Kate also covered Elton’s ‘Rocket Man’)

Listen – Rocket’s Tail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yeimyOsdrA
Watch – Kate – Rocket Man Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5agt0cpxsKU
Watch – Kate – Rocket Man – Wogan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYSCHKmvcIY

Another favorite of mine is  ‘The Ninth Wave’  is a seven-song suite on Side two of 1985 Kate Bush album Hounds of Love. It is so eerie and beautiful – it could be a Grimms’ Fairy Tale soundtrack.  In Kate’s words, it is ” …about a person who is alone in the water for the night. It’s about their past, present and future coming to keep them awake, to stop them drowning, to stop them going to sleep until the morning comes.”

This person, desperately trying not to drown voices the songs; ‘ And Dream of Sheep‘ Under Ice, ‘Waking the Witch’, ‘Watching You Without Me’, ‘Jig of Life’, ‘Hello Earth’ (see my playlist You Say Goodbye & I Say Hello) and ‘The Morning Fog’. I love this entire suite –especially the last track on Side One, ‘Cloudbusting’.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAEAEBCD11840B52

Photos by Clive Arrowsmith