FEATURE:
Our Queen’s Speech
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush received the Editors Award at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards at the Palladium, London, on 30th November, 2014/PHOTO CREDIT: Alan Davidson/Rex/Shutterstock
In Reaction to Kate Bush’s Christmas Message
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AS is typical of Kate Bush…
IMAGE CREDIT: Kate Bush
her Christmas message was very much about other people. Rather than talk about the music or necessarily reflect on a successful year where she reissued albums and more people discovered her work, like our former Queen, our music Queen looked at the state of the world. A heartfelt and emotional reflection of what is happening in Gaza. The atrocities and savage genocide that is on the news every day. The planet burning and in real trouble. Like all of her messages, there is also hope and that warmth. Thanks to Kate Bush News for sharing her post, as I was asleep when it was put on Bush’s official website. I woke up to it this morning. Longer and more reactive than any of her previous messages, Bush very much showing her disgust at what we all are having to process right now:
“I hope you’re all looking forward to Christmas – just around the corner now. I wasn’t much looking forward to it, but in the last few days, I really am.
I was very excited to see the positive feedback about the reissues and the redesign of the website. It’s been a lot of work, but when you see such lovely comments, it all makes it worthwhile. It really does. Thank you so much.
What a year it’s been. I’d always hoped that the human race would become more spiritual, gentle creatures as we moved into the future but it has proved to be the absolute antithesis.
The world is at war while the planet burns…. What is going on?
I‘m among a group of friends who don’t watch the news any more. It now seems to be a global trend. Of course we want to stay informed but sometimes elements of the visual reporting feel horrifically voyeuristic.
I’ve tried to write this piece three times so far, looking for something positive to focus on, but that’s been hard to find.
I stand in awe of running water. Especially hot, running water. It is a miracle. You turn on the tap and hot, clean water gushes out of the tap. A miracle! Yes, but then I think about the people caught in the many wars that are raging right now and at the very heart of these are the children caught up in the wars. They don’t always have clean water and they really need a miracle. Christmas is a time for little children: a time of wonder and the promise of magic… looking towards a new year, to a future.
It makes me feel so lucky that we can celebrate Christmas in the way we do, but also so sad. The effect of war on all people is massive, but on children…
It’s so incredibly important that charities like War Child, UNICEF and the NSPCC are there to support and help children. Their incredible work might be more important than it’s ever been when the modern world seems to make few concessions for children at the hands of evil created by adults.
I hope you all have a really wonderful Christmas, with the promise of magic, and let’s all pray for a year ahead that brings us some opportunities to talk about happy things.
Best wishes,
Kate”.
There is a lot to take from that message. Bush has always been a big supporter of charities. Donating so much money and her time to various charities, it is no surprise that she would share the name of War Child, UNICEF and NSPCC – charities that can provide support and aid to children. The start and end of the message – the bookends – are positive and talk about her work. That opening, “I was very excited to see the positive feedback about the reissues and the redesign of the website. It’s been a lot of work, but when you see such lovely comments, it all makes it worthwhile. It really does. Thank you so much”, is a thanks to her fans and all the changes that have happened. I think her website being redesigned and relaunched has made her music more accessible. It looks tremendous! Thinking about the fans and the wonderful reception they have provided her. These reissues are quite a big deal too. You can check them out here. I was initially down on them and thought that they were a bit of a cash-in. Actually, considering they are helping to promote independent record stores and Bush is always thinking about her fans, it is less about cashing in and more about ensuring that new fans can access her previous albums, albeit with a new twist. Bush has designed the vinyl so that each album has its own colour scheme and look. Together with the website, we now have this incredible archive and resource!
IN THIS PHOTO: Palestinians inspect a house after it was hit by an Israeli bombardment on Rafah/PHOTO CREDIT: Fatima Shbair/AP (via NPR)
Bush stated in her message how she does not watch the news anymore. It is always going to be heartbreaking. Seemingly no end in sight when it comes to the conflict and destruction in Gaza. This section struck me: “What a year it’s been. I’d always hoped that the human race would become more spiritual, gentle creatures as we moved into the future but it has proved to be the absolute antithesis. The world is at war while the planet burns…. What is going on?”. Bush has always been connected to the planet and the importance of peace and consideration. Someone in touch with the natural world and people, it must be especially devastating for her. As I will write later, this sense of dismay at the human race, I feel, will impact what we see from Kate Bush in 2024. Bush tried to write her message a few times and found few positives to state. The past few years have seemingly been a wave of bad news and division. From COVID-19 of 2020 and 2021, through to the Russia-Ukraine conflict last year, 2023 seems like the worse! Of course, last year was when Bush’s Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) topped the chart and she had this new wave of success. Bush’s Christmas message was very much centred at children. Those in Gaza who are being murdered. Those who are being wiped up in the name of insanity. Genocide and unfiltered violence. With few artists making big statements and using their platforms to talk about it, huge credit to Kate Bush for doing so! Whilst she does not necessarily condemn Israel and point fingers, her heart is very much with those affected. Though you know how angry Bush is with those responsible for the killing!
PHOTO CREDIT: Alfo Medeiros/Pexels
Kate Bush is not someone who takes something essential as water and heat for granted. In spite of her success, she knows how lucky and incredible it is that we in privilege countries have running water and safety: “Yes, but then I think about the people caught in the many wars that are raging right now and at the very heart of these are the children caught up in the wars. They don’t always have clean water and they really need a miracle. Christmas is a time for little children: a time of wonder and the promise of magic… looking towards a new year, to a future”. Thinking about children that are being displaced and suffering right now. Bush then sharing names of charities; how important it is that we donate to them: “It’s so incredibly important that charities like War Child, UNICEF and the NSPCC are there to support and help children. Their incredible work might be more important than it’s ever been when the modern world seems to make few concessions for children at the hands of evil created by adults”. Using this message to think of others and ensure that we do everything we can to put others first. I think many of us tomorrow, when we would normally celebrate and consume food without pause, will take time to think of those who are not as lucky as us. It is quite sobering to think about!
PHOTO CREDIT: Jeswin Thomas/Pexels
The end does give some nice sign-off and hope: “I hope you all have a really wonderful Christmas, with the promise of magic, and let’s all pray for a year ahead that brings us some opportunities to talk about happy things”. Different to her messages from the past few years, this is a more serious and less work-reflective one from what we have seen. Our Queen has spoken. And, with it, so many comments have been posted to Kate Bush News on Instagram when they shared the post. We have a lot to absorb reading Kate Bush’s words. There is also a lot to look ahead to. I think Bush will push more and more to raise money for charities. Whether she will auction off more rarities and her music to raise funds or organises an event of some sort, this will be firm on her mind. I wonder why we have not had a Band Aid-style fundraising concert or single this year. Maybe it would be seen as too political and divisive?! How, at a time when we all need to end the horror and do something, has there not been something unified and huge from the music industry?! I have a feeling Kate Bush will do something. Help to organise people together and get some money raised. She no doubt donates her own money to charities too, but she will go further in 2024. Even though it was not the right moment for Bush to talk about new music and possible developments in 2024, you get the feeling that something will come from her.
PHOTO CREDIT: Markus Spiske/Pexels
No doubt, when she said how she’s praying for happier things in 2024, that means there will be more engagement with fans. I think this is a moment when Bush will release a new album. Ignoring the news and no doubt anxious thinking about what is happening with the planet and in war-torn nations, she would have funnelled a lot of this anxiety into writing and recording. There are big anniversaries happening in 2024. The Sensual World turns thirty-five. The Tour of Life is forty-five. Before the Dawn is ten. I have written about those in a separate feature. Whereas there will not be reissues and more retrospection from Bush, no doubt there will be a slew of magazine celebrations, books, articles and even podcasts. It would be insensitive to ask for new music at a time when Bush is putting others first and using her Christmas message to show her upset and dismay at what is happening around us. Even so, she knows that 2024 needs to be a year for positivity, togetherness, and greater humanity and love. This will provoke something inside of Bush. She knows how much her fans appreciate and respect her, so it would be surprising if no new music or good news from Bush arrived next year! It is wonderful to hear from Bush, as her Christmas messages are always so heartfelt and considered. The time she took to craft 2023’s just shows that. Whilst quite sombre, there is also that element of hope for a brighter future. Her words will stick long in the mind! As we go into Christmas and spend time relaxing, we also must hold in our thoughts those whose day will be very different to ours. We also must come together and wish for…
PHOTO CREDIT: Kate Bush
A happier and more peaceful year ahead.