Kate Bush

Yes, I'm thrilled about this but I'm also slightly disappointed as Kate is one of those people I like to see as well as hear. I've no doubt it's deliberate, keep 'em wanting, but it's frustrating. Still, it's one of the reasons I love her, the fact she doesn't throw everything out there. A few others could take a lesson from her in dignity and restraint.

Josef's mention in the 'Can it be true?' thread that Kate Bush is one of his go-to favourites, rang true for me as well.

Indeed, much as I love ABBA and The Beatles, Kate Bush is something else; and, yes, ultimately, I find that her music gives me more: she has taken classical and pop elements and combined them organically to make something uniquely her own that's beyond easy pigeon-holing.
And her songs have 'subject-matter': they're about things over and above simple expression of basic emotions. You only have to pay attention to the lyrics to realise that. (Not that I'm against songs that express, simply, basic emotions, just that I also Iike songs that are more complex or nuanced or about something else sometimes.)

But I'd like to emphasise something that I think doesn't get enough attention: in addition to Kate Bush's overall musical brilliance, it's the sheer quality of her melodies in themselves. They're everywhere in her songs. They would translate to orchestral-only arrangements in a far more impressive and apt way than some Beatles or ABBA songs that I've heard presented like this. That's what I feel, anyway, and the fact that I do is another indicator for me of why Kate Bush is so special.

I've not gone into detail here, but I hope this topic might get some responses.

Someone in a Kate Bush FB group I’m in just mentioned that Agnetha and Benny attended one of Kate’s Before The Dawn shows in London in 2014 (the opening night, no less). I didn’t know this.

The person said:

“Agnetha and Benny from ABBA was also present during the first night of BTD concert. It's well known that the two are huge Kate Bush fan. it was documented in the Swedish media. She [Agnetha] was accompanied by Lolo Murray.”

Anyone else heard this? Less surprised about Benny, but I was about Agnetha. That would have been her third UK visit within 18 months.

There are photos of Agnetha with Lolo Murray on the web, but none of my google searches found anything to say that either of them attended Kate’s show, so might not be true...

I did exactly that, Josef, last night. And guess what? No response! So I think it’s a rumour with no basis in fact.

That’s what I don’t like about Facebook groups. It’s easier to make stuff up because it’s so fast. Forums are slower and “facts” are subject to far more scrutiny!

So many of these reaction videos now, but I like his take. I've always been struck by the "thematic overlap" between Babooshka and Rupert Holmes's Escape (The Pina Colada Song). His came out about a year before Kate's single... I sometimes wonder if she wrote it as a response from the female partner's point of view. 

Someone said on the Super Deluxe Edition site that for chart purposes the contributing number of streams is halved for a song that is more than 3 years old. He reckons that if the chart company had used all of its streams, "Running Up That Hill" would have been No 2 this week, rather than No 8. If so, it doesn't seem fair to me.

Ooh where you hear rumours bout a new album? I’d love to see Kate being No’1, whether she can outstream Harry is another (whole) story. He does seem to be the man of the moment.

Well, she makes it to number 2 in the UK, bettering the song’s previous best of one place lower, and therefore the nearest she’s been to the top since Wuthering Heights in 1978.

It should be really exciting but I’m not quite feeling it. It’s an old song, and the charts are no longer relevant. I still think they should have called time on the singles chart once streaming was allowed in. Even paid-for downloads were an acceptable successor to physical releases, but streams? Not really. Once steaming was allowed in, the singles chart as we knew it should have ended and a songs chart replacing it. Related, but definitely not the same and certainly not comparable.

For me, Running Up That Hill remains a number 3 hit back in 1985, with a new vocal remix at number 6 in 2012 (and if that was in the streaming era then that doesn’t really count in my book either).

I'm incandescent with rage that Kate isn't number 1. I haven't even heard the Harry Styles song. I can't actually think of an example but why is it that every time something like this happens (a genuinely old classic that has QUALITY stamped all over it and deserves all the plaudits) gets pipped at the post? I smell a rat.

Still, I very much doubt Kate cares and it's still an achievement.

  'Running Up That Hill' will be the UK's No.1 Single on Friday. It is already No.1 in the Mid Week Chart.

   It is only Kate's 2nd No.1 Single, after 'Wuthering Heights', (4 Weeks), in 1978. That one knocked ABBA's
   'Take A Chance On Me' off No.1!

   For those who've yet to hear 'As It Was' by Harry Styles - it is clearly influenced by A-ha's 1985 Global
   Hit, 'Take On Me'. It really is. 

That's great new, Alan. I was hoping they would do something about it. Does this mean they've changed this week's chart to put her in her rightful place at No 1

The Official UK Charts Company is a Business. Anything that gets the UK Charts extra Publicity is fine by them. It is obvious, (to me), that they changed UK Chart Rules, to enable Kate Bush to get to No.1 this Week. It is because they realized that it would get them more Publicity than if Harry Style's 'Take On Me' Tribute was No.1 for an 11th Week. 

As I've said previously, it is only Kate's 2nd UK No.1 Single, after 'Wuthering Heights', way back in 1978. From memory, I think that she has had 3 UK No.1 Albums - 'Never For Ever', (1980), 'Hounds Of Love', (1985), and 'The Whole Story', (1986). (She's had 28 UK Top 75 Hits, and 'The Whole Story' Compilation only has 12 of them on it. It is time for a far more comprehensive 'Hits' Album, from Kate. It is long overdue). 

The UK Album Chart began on W/E 28th July 1956. 'Never For Ever', (1980), was the 1st UK No.1 Album by a British Solo Female. It Entered at No.1. It was the first Solo Female Album to Enter at that Position.

Only 1 Solo Female Album had been a UK No.1, before Kate's 1980 Album. That was by US Singer, Connie Francis. That was a '20 All Time Greats' Compilation Album, that spent 2 Weeks at No.1, in August and September 1977.

In July 1977, the Film Soundtrack of 'A Star Is Born', was a 2 Week No.1. Many People credit it as being a Barbra Streisand Solo Album, but really, Kris Kristofferson Sang several of the Tracks too. So, it is not really a Solo Album by Barbra.

Kate's ’Never For Ever', was also the 1st Studio Album, by a Solo Female, to reach No.1 in the UK. 

If Kate is No.1 on Friday, it will be a gap of over 44 Years, since her 1st No.1 Single. The longest gap ever, between an Artists 1st and 2nd No.1 Singles. It is also the longest gap between No.1 Hit Singles, by the same Artist.

Yes, that’s correct. Interviews at the time of the release of The Whole Story made it clear it wasn’t her idea and that she thought it was a bad one. It was only when EMI assured her there would be a market for it and that care would be taken with it (she was concerned it would be a “cheapo combo”) did she relent.

That was in the days when they had more control over her. The current set-up with Parlophone/Warners is really just her using their services (presumably mutually beneficial) as they aren’t her actual record company as such.

Official Charts Company Chief Executive Martin Talbot is apparently a massive Kate Bush fan, so that might explain the change in the rule. Of course, he claims it’s no such thing.

www.musicweek.com/live/read/how-kate-bush-s-running-up-that-hill-became-a-no-1-contender-inside-the-biggest-chart-story-of-2022/086012