FEATURE:
Treasured Discs and Famous Friends
PHOTO CREDIT: Trevor Leighton/AFP/Getty Images
How the Importance and Brilliance of Kate Bush Reaches Far and Wide
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EVEN if I might have covered this before…
IN THIS PHOTO: Author John Boyne recently appeared on Desert Island Discs, where he selected Kate Bush’s Night of the Swallow as one of his eight discs
I think it is amazing that Kate Bush continues to reach audiences around the world. I do like how there is this massive and diverse fanbase. Ordinary people like you and me. The real foundation of her support. Even so, it is nice looking at other layers and levels. The famous faces and more high-profile fans. I have been thinking about that for a few reasons. One happens to come with Desert Island Discs. John Boyne is the latest castaway to select a Kate Bush track as one of his eight discs he would take to the desert island. The acclaimed writer talked about Night of the Swallow. Taken from 1982’s The Dreaming, it is one of Bush’s most underrated tracks. Released as a single in Ireland, it could have found more success if it was a U.K. single I feel. Even so, it is might be considered a deep cut. John Boyne not only selected the song as one of his eight: he chose it as the one he would save from the waves. He waxed lyrical about its meaning. How he has heard the track countless times and holds it very dear. It is one of the many times Kate Bush’s music has been chosen for Desert Island Discs. It is not the case of one single track of hers being selected by all the castaways. Caitlin Moran chose Wuthering Heights as one of her eight when she appeared. Each track means different things to each castaway. The range of professions of the guests shows that Bush’s music does go so far and wide. Whether it literature, science or entertainment, her music does seem to resonate and speak in a way other artists and music does not. I know most huge artists have famous fans. There seems to be a depth and width regarding Kate Bush’s fanbase I associate with precious few. Maybe David Bowie or The Beatles.
Desert Island Discs is a good example of the psychology and psychological impact of her music on people who work across arts and the sciences. To regular fans like us, we have our own reasons to love her. For those who write or create or do anything like that, they have their own dynamics and reasons. Picking a track of hers is a big deal. When listening to castaways talk about their choices, there is this raise in the voice. Inflections and emotions that are very powerful. Kate Bush hitting their heart and soul. When her songs are chosen as the one they would save, then that means even more. John Boyne’s recent appearance is a classic example of Kate Bush’s music being very personal. Every story about one of her songs moves me. I am also thinking ahead to the tenth anniversary of Before the Dawn. That started in August 2014. The residency in Hammersmith attracted tens of thousands of fans. Most of those in attendance were regular punters and fans. Some came from nations very far away. What was also interesting was the amount of celebrity guests. Maybe not surprising given the fact this was Bush’s first major stage endeavour since 1979. The opening night on 26th August, 2014 was covered by The Guardian. They noted how some of the well-0lknown names watching included David Gilmour. In fact, if you read Graeme Thomson’s Under the Ivy: The Life and Music of Kate Bush. He name-checks many of the famous faces who were there during the residency. Anna Calvi and Gemma Arterton spoke to Newsnight about what they took away from watching Kate Bush. As we get closer to the anniversary, it made me reflect on how many well-known people across multiple disciplines and walks of life were standing alongside other fans. It may not be a shock that Kate Bush’s music commands this devotion.
It is not only special occasions and radio shows. On social media, I follow a lot of people who constantly talk about Kate Bush. Whether they are broadcasters playing her music, writers contributing to magazine articles about her, or people like Graeme Thomson re-issuing a biography, that spectrum of amazing and varied famous names blows me away! Of course, the fact that Kate Bush has so many fans in the music world makes things extra interesting. Those who have been inspired by her. Everyone from Florence Welch to Björk, it does make me wonder whether that will compel her to work with any of them in the future. I do hope so. I wanted to use this feature to get people thinking about the sheer volume of famous names who have love for Kate Bush. That recent Desert Island appearance from John Boyne just showed how deep that appreciation for Bush goes. Hearing these powerful words from people who hold certain songs in high regard. It reveals things from a track that we might not have thought about. The list of ‘famous’ – people either in the public eye or better known than most of them – people who are Kate Bush fans continues to grow. All of this swell and buzz is beautiful to see and hear. Beyond the famous faces, simply going online and reading what people write about Kate Bush on a daily basis proves how relevant she is to this day! I am thinking to August and the tenth anniversary of Before the Dawn. That mingling of thousands of long-term and die-hard fans alongside celebrities. Such a truly beautiful combination and occasion! I hope that a decade of that residency makes Kate Bush think of the fans and the breadth of love that was there for her. How many artists command…
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush performing in Hammersmith for Before the Dawn in 2014/PHOTO CREDIT: Ken McKay/Rex Features
SUCH affection and devotion?!