FEATURE:
Hello Earth!
When Will We Properly Celebrate Kate Bush’s Legacy and Importance?
__________
THERE will always be…
articles written about Kate Bush. She is always relevant, so there is something to write about all of the time. That is great. I have mentioned it before, but there is far less out there when it comes to documentaries and podcasts. In terms of the podcast markets, aside from fan-led ones that are broadcast every few months or so, there is nothing bigger in terms of guest calibre and scope. I have been meaning to launch a podcast myself but, due to a lack of recording space, it is harder to get off of he ground. The documentary side of things is far quieter. There has been some discussion, as a new documentary on YouTube, Running Up That Hill: How Kate Bush Became Queen of Alt-Pop | New British Canon, explores the icon. You can watch it here, and it is described thus:
“The mid-80s was make-or-break time for Kate Bush. Since her breakthrough in 1978, she’d been gradually alienating her fans with successive ambitious but non-commercial left turns. As such, her label EMI was seriously concerned for her future as a pop artist.
However, that all changed in 1985. She returned after 18 months at her farmhouse recording studio with her weirdness intact and a song about Faustian-deals, body swapping and the power of love. And it saved her career. This is New British Canon and this is the story of “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)”.
Although the documentary is quite short, it does cover quite a lot and is definitely made with passion. It is made with plenty of affection, but at about half an hour, it is not going to go into too much depth. I think that it is the issue when it comes to documentaries and podcasts about Kate Bush. They come about so rarely, and when they are do, they are brief. Questions are always asked about these podcasts/documentaries, as to whether they do Bush full justice. The answer is almost always ‘no’. For forty-five years, Kate Bush has wowed the world and stood out as one of the most astonishing and individual artists ever. Maybe there will be more coverage and exploration as we get to the fortieth anniversary of The Dreaming in September. Perhaps there is not going to be anything as expensive as a multi-part documentary, but there might be a podcast or two and some articles. Recently, several artists were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, including Duran Duran. Kate Bush, nominated for a third time, was denied entry! I feel it is the American audience and market that is less familiar and adoring of her that means, even though she is worthy of being in such esteemed company, will never get there.
An alien in outer space looking down on Earth can see how important Kate Bush is and why she is so special. Every day, as I have explained, there are tweets and endless thoughts about her music and brilliance. More than almost every other artist, there is this passion and dedication that has remained and seems to increase. Looking back through the archives, there is not anything that has adequately and properly dug to the core of Kate Bush. Something that goes from childhood and the earliest days through to now, sure, would take a long time to cover, but it would be proper tribute to an iconic artist. Kate Bush turns sixty-five next year, so maybe that is the time to launch something like that. Not that we can complain too much. If there are documentaries, videos and podcasts, then that is a good thing. They add to the conversation about Kate Bush, and they provide opportunity for people to discover her music fresh, or think about it in a different way. There does need to be something that is more than a question answered or an album explored. Such a long and important career deserves sufficient length and coverage! There was a lot of negative reaction around the fact Bush was excluded from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It shows there is this justification that she is incredibly influential and worthy of the highest honours.
What is the solution going forward? I do think that there could be a website that collates all the documentaries and podcasts made about Kate Bush. Though there have been a few through the decades, it shows there is a gap for an all-conquering and definitive study of an artist who cannot be labelled or limited. From her influence on various communities to her production work, through to her varied catalogue and the way she has changed the face of music, so many people would like to have their say about Kate Bush. This is something that I keep bringing up but, more and more, there is this desire for something proper and lengthy! This is not to take away anything from people who have put out podcasts and documentaries. They are all great and need to be out there. I just feel these things skim the surface and do not go deep enough. Maybe there will be a solution and answer to that problem soon. It has been a fairly quiet last few years from Kate Bush in terms of news and releases. That has not dented the sense of excitement and buzz about her work. If anything, she has only grown in stature and importance! Recognising this impact and legacy is something that needs to happen sooner rather than later. A series of podcasts or an immersive and three/four-part documentary about the peerless Kate Bush would be more than earned. There is no doubt that she has changed the lives of…
MILLIONS of people.