Wuthering Heights was released in January 1978 and was Kate's debut single. Kate is deliberately singing with a very high register because she's playing the ghost of Cathy, the video effects are used to reinforce the ghostly elements. Version 2 of the video is Kate dancing on Salisbury Plain in a red dress, which has resulted in a worldwide event held around Kate's birthday called 'The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever" - there are plenty of videos on UA-cam Including of this years events held in various locations around the world including North America. A while before Wuthering Heights was ever written, a younger Kate managed to catch the tail end of a BBC adaptation of the Emily Bronte novel Wuthering Heights when the ghostly Cathy was outside a window of Heathcliff's house wanting to be let in. Kate shares the same Birthday as Emily Bronte and when she was young she was referred to as cathy. In order to get a feel for Cathy Kate read part of the book, interestingly when she did get round to reading all of it after finishing writing the song, Kate noticed certain phrases from parts that she hadn't initially read had ended up in the Lyrics anyway. Kate said that when she sung this song, she was Cathy, she was channelling the character. Kate's vocal performance is a single take with no edits. Kate had to fight her record company to get Wuthering Heights to be her debut single, EMI had chosen a completely different track from her "The Kick Inside" album, in the end EMI released Wuthering Heights because they thought that it would fail and teach Kate a lesson, instead it became a worldwide smash hit. Hitting number 1 in Australia, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal and the UK. It was at least a top 10 (or better) in nine other countries. A single chart performance that would only be surpassed in 2022 by "Running Up That Hill". When Wuthering Heights reached number 1 in the UK Kate became the first solo British female artist to have a self written song get to number 1 in the UK singles chart. Kate has since set numerous records and milestones in the UK singles and album charts. She has had 25 top 40 singles in the UK chart. When "Running Up That Hill" initially re-entered at Number 8 (due to Stranger Things) Kate became the first female artist to have at least one top 12 single in the charts for six consecutive decades: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s. Kate is multi-talented a singet/songwriter, musician, dancer, record producer (credited as a co-producer on her 3rd album "Never For Ever" and then became sole producer on all subsequent studio albums), video producer and director, she was also heavily involved in the staging of her two concert tours - 1979s "Tour Of Life" and her 22-date 2014 concert residency "Before The Dawn" - it should be noted that tickets for all 22 performances sold out within 15 minutes and people travelled from all over the world to see Kate perform live - a number of pop celebrities attended including Bjork, Peter Gabriel, Annie Lennox, Paul McCartney, Madonna, David Gilmour etc. Kate is considered to be a musical icon and pioneer who has inspired/influenced countless artists who have followed her - including Florence from Florence + Machine. I should add that Kate began writing songs when she was about 11 years old, adding more complex lyrics from 13 onwards, by the time she reached her mid-teens she had written well over a hundred songs (some reports say nearer 200). One song she wrote when she was 13 features on her million selling (UK sales) debut album "The Kick Inside" She was signed by EMI when she was 16, how Kate was "discovered" is a very interesting story in itself, but I will stop here for now...
Erm... no. We're still not getting to the nub of this - she took this from the novel "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte. Cathy Earnshaw is dead, she is trying to haunt Heathcliff, which is the inspiration for this song. Something Kate loves and throws herself into, hence this beautiful display.
Don’t be fooled thinking that this first hit of very young became a template for all of her other releases. The mold was really obliterated when Kate Bush wax born. She was huge, highly popular “in her day,” if that phrase can even be applied to her. You really came to Kate Bush fresh, like, she was so not on your radar in the last 45 years 😂 I like it! I like the fresh and frank, though I’ve been a U.S. Kate Bush fanatic out of Michigan since I was a teenager 45 years ago. When I saw her in the late 70s sing this, on local Detroit/Windsor tv, and “The Man with the Child in His Eyes,” I was utterly seduced. It helped that I knew the novel, “Wuthering Heights,” I knew the movies of it, I knew who Cathy and Heathcliff were, and the “ghost at the window” passage. And then I saw her sing, “Wow!” on a 1979 ABBA special (Benny Andersson, in particular, appreciated how young she was to have written these songs and performed them on piano.) Her performance of “Wow” really impressed this highly impressionable teen! Lol! Anyhow, more well-known and much more appreciated in the US now than when this, her first release at age 18/19 became a massive hit in the UK, Europe, and Japan. Thank you for your reaction 👍
@@silverascal Oh yes, I remember her appearance on the ABBA special and why that the BBC zoomed in to avoid showing Kate's hand patting her bottom when she sung a certain line from the song! 😀 I certainly agree with you, that Kate never follows a particular style or falls into a pattern when it comes to her songs, with Kate always expect the unexpected!
She's a Ghost who wants to come back to her lover Heathcliff..it's from the Novel Wuthering Heights. It was the first nr1 hit written by a female artist in the uk... Kate Bush is a genius and I love her Albums. I'm a fan😊 She's such a great storyteller and also a Masterful Producer. Thank you for the reaction.
@@isobeljames1328She watched the the end of 1967 BBC version after reading part of the book when she wrote this at 16 years old. Neither told the whole story, so when she finished the novel, she changed the lyrics. How would she know Cathy’s ghost is outside of Wuthering Heights, haunting Heathcliff then? There is much more in the novel than the BBC miniseries, and it’s reflected in the lyrics.
Great song and an iconic artist who is equally as 'big' today as she was back in 1978. Amusing hearing you commenting upon Kate Bush because she's one of the very FEW female artists who has sold millions of records and albums and who is continuing to have chart success today.
First woman to have a UK number one with a self-penned song and that record still stands I think, spent 4 weeks at number one. From the mid-80's onward she has produced all her own work, she is a genius.
The effect did actually help tell the story because she is playing Kathy from the novel Wuthering Heights. This is when Kathy comes back to Heathcliff as a ghost (from the grave) to haunt him and get him to "join" her in the afterlife. David Gilmour discovered her and helped her and has been involved off and on throughout her career. She wrote this when she was in her late teens. She has a very, very impressive catalogue. You should explore.
It was released in 78, went number 1 in England and Australia and she wrote it after reading Wuthering Heights and it is Kathy's ghost calling out to Heathcliff to open the window and let her in. It was produced by David Gilmore of Pink Floyd fame who helped bring her to the world. She was a Ballet dancer and a classically trained Pianist. I was in my mid twenties when this song came out and I just loved it,... still do.
Wrong facts little troll Written after seeing the 1939 movie Dave Gilmour has never produced Kate Bush, she was not a ballet dancer A real fan know that And Google is free
There is definitely a story to the video, she is Cathy in Heathcliffe's mind, or at night, haunting him. Basically this is what he is the only one seeing and it is driving him crazy and to his death in the book. It doesn't need extras as she is only being seen by one person especially at night. Read Wuthering Heights to understand
This has to be one of the most galling reactions I've ever seen. Never mind critiquing the video, think about the song! Kate represents the spirit of Heathcliffe's deceased lover. Does she truly return from the dead to haunt him or is she a representation of his guilt for how he abused her. By the same token, she abused him too. The song is about two very destructive personalities who couldn't live together but who might have a shot at eternal happiness in death... assuming Heathcliffe isn't truly insane. Kate Bush burst onto the scene as a truly innovative artist in the late 1970s. She set the standard for all subsequent female singer/songwriters/performers. Just as Heathcliffe was able to treat Cathy so callously, it breaks my heart to see you treat Kate Bush so dismissively.
I agree, he is very dismissive of the story behind the video. Perhaps it would help if he read the lyrics as she is British and the accent is so very beautiful. I believe the video captured the storytelling and Kate's amazing voice perfectly regarding her being a ghost who haunts her lover Heathcliff.
You don't need verification from your viewers to gauge the impact of Kate's "Wuthering Heights". Google and/or Wiki the effect this song has had. It was a MASSIVE hit for Kate.
This is perfectly sophisticated, given the context. I mean, she's playing a dead person. That's a ghost that's at the window of her lover who killed her and she's come home. She's cold, let her in. I mean it works
“I must stop it, nevertheless!” I muttered, knocking my knuckles through the glass, and stretching an arm out to seize the importunate branch; instead of which, my fingers closed on the fingers of a little, ice-cold hand! The intense horror of nightmare came over me: I tried to draw back my arm, but the hand clung to it, and a most melancholy voice sobbed, “Let me in-let me in!” “Who are you?” I asked, struggling, meanwhile, to disengage myself. “Catherine Linton,” it replied, shiveringly (why did I think of Linton? I had read Earnshaw twenty times for Linton)-“I’m come home: I’d lost my way on the moor!” As it spoke, I discerned, obscurely, a child’s face looking through the window. Terror made me cruel; and, finding it useless to attempt shaking the creature off, I pulled its wrist on to the broken pane, and rubbed it to and fro till the blood ran down and soaked the bedclothes: still it wailed, “Let me in!” and maintained its tenacious gripe, almost maddening me with fear. “How can I!” I said at length. “Let me go, if you want me to let you in!” The fingers relaxed, I snatched mine through the hole, hurriedly piled the books up in a pyramid against it, and stopped my ears to exclude the lamentable prayer. I seemed to keep them closed above a quarter of an hour; yet, the instant I listened again, there was the doleful cry moaning on! “Begone!” I shouted. “I’ll never let you in, not if you beg for twenty years.” “It is twenty years,” mourned the voice: “twenty years. I’ve been a waif for twenty years!” Thereat began a feeble scratching outside, and the pile of books moved as if thrust forward. I tried to jump up; but could not stir a limb; and so yelled aloud, in a frenzy of fright.
The visual effects where used in early horror films when like a spirit moving across a field or grave yard. So it fits in with the character she is portraying so cold needing the warmth of life returning to the love she left behind. Read up on the story behind the book/film of the same name. Thank you.
You were only wrong on about 90% of what you said. Kate Bush is one of the leading female artists of all time and wrote her first hit at age 14 and was the first female artist to have a no1 with a song she wrote and performed in the UK. This particular song was popular enough to have 2 videos as it was that No1 hit. The video and dance are both symbolic with the trail effects meant to give it an ethereal quality since Kate is playing a possessive ghost (Cathy from the novel Wuthering heights) and her dance moves are interpretations as she was also a choreographer. She has amazing vocal range and yes she modified her voice to sound more piercing and witch like here. TBF to you this is quite an introduction to her and people are so in a trance now with the same generic sounds over and over that it comes as quite a shock to hear something different and creative, especially without background context. Thankfully back in the day talent and creativity were what mattered and Kate has influenced many modern artists. It would be interesting for you to react to something else from her as most of her songs are quite different and unique in their own way.
@@toolfanreacts Wuthering heights should never be suggested as a first reaction for people who know nothing about her work and legacy TBF. I hope you enjoyed some of her other work more. Theatrical, eccentric, unique but also very talented with beautiful voice with great range. Recommended and promoted by David Gilmour as a young teenager, talent knows talent.
The album, The Kick Inside, was ready to be recorded and then one night, under a full moon, Kate decided to write a song about the book she just read, Wuthering heights.
Kate will take you by surprise. At first, you’ll resist, but it’s hopeless- you will fall in love with her and simultaneously marvel at her singular creativity. And, as a 70s kid who listened to a lot of fade-outs, I always imagined that the song was leaving my radio and going to play itself on another radio somewhere. I have a soft spot for them. But, if somebody plays Shave And A Haircut, I’m playing 2 Bits! every time…every…time.
The first song I heard of Kate Bush and I was mesmerized. Her voice haunted me until I knew more, and I obsessively listened to all of her albums. And even now I listen daily - I will never tire of her, of her genius, of her lyrics, and story..... she is the ultimate artist in my eyes.
Kate's 'face' was something of a trademark in many of her early videos and was a result of her studying dance and mime with Lyndsay Kemp (as did David Bowie). This video was minimalist, but Kate has always been a story-teller and some of her later videos were essentially films - check out 'Cloudbusting', 'Experiment IV', 'This Woman's Work' etc
The fade out is a way of making a melody feel like it goes on forever. It's very powerful and absolutely not lazy. A fade can be done poorly and it can be done well, but when it's the ending of a haunting melody (like this song), it's magical.
There is a story to the song, its bases on the novel 'Wuthering Heights', by Emily Bronte. Cathy Earnshaw is dead she was the childhood friend, later lover of Heathcliff. The ghost of Cathy Earnshaw has come back from a different 'ethereal plane', to claim the soul of Heathcliff.
Kate did experiment with singing in a high register in the early part of her career, but the ethereal ghostly inflections in her voice with this song were not typical of her singing. As she later said, she sang that way because the song called for it. This is the first time I’ve seen one of your reactions, and frankly I was disappointed. The song was released in January 1978 as the debut single from a 19 year old artist who fought the record company to have this released as her first single instead of a more conventional song. It reached No. 1 in the UK and stayed there for four weeks. The music video was also one of the first made. So to denigrate it for suffering from what was known of such things and the technology available at that time is not cool. Your lack of knowledge of Kate is understandable because as others have already said she was not promoted much in America before the Hounds of Love album (1985), and she never toured there. But she is considered by many to be the greatest living female artist, and the list of artists who cite her as an influence is immense. She is worth reading up about.
I really appreciate the info! I clearly have stumbled into the music of an icon. I actively avoided the radio when I was younger because, naturally, you would just be bombarded with the hits of the time and I would easily get sick of hearing the same songs over and over again. I mean no disrespect to Kate Bush or her loyal fan base and I am very interested in listening to more of her catalog. Thank you!
1978. I can tell you; when this was shown on TV for the very first time, in the town where I live, (I'm British by the way) I went to the local Chip Shop shortly after that same evening (maybe you heard of those in the States?) well, they were ALL talking about this Song, performance and Singer in the queue, who none of us had ever heard of because it was her debut - it sort of shocked everyone, because as you felt too; nobody had ever seen or heard anything like Kate Bush before!! It shot to Number One in the UK for four weeks . She is a UK Artist. The Song is about the classic novel 'Wuthering Heights' The character she's being in the Song (Cathy) is dead in the story; she lost the fight against illness and things were wrong between her and Heathcliff, when she died, and so she is desperately trying to get back from 'the other side' (the grave) to make things right between them. She haunts Heathcliff and visits him each night at his bedroom window pleading with him to let her in. Of course he can't because she's a ghost and so she is asking for his soul. (in other words to join her) Hope this helps!
I think the fade out was first introduced by Gustav Holst in his brilliant orchestral suite The Planets. The last piece is called Neptune - The Mystic and it is one my most favourite pieces of all time but the trouble is, if you ever get to hear it, because the volume of orchestral music is always toned right down, you need to turn the volume right up in order to hear it. Edit - I'd like to add that because this Holst piece was written around the First World War and before modern amplification, when performed, the fade out had to be done for real, without tech. The off stage choir were instructed to slowly walk away and a door gradually closed behind them.
This was a big hit - her first song release at a very young age. I've always loved this song. But I think we were more open to different sounds back then - particularly the voice being so unusual. I'm glad she had the support to do this which is really a classic.
British and slightly eccentric was Bush, Americans might not get it but this sounded like a genius to many Brits at the time. She read the book and then wrote this.
Music videos were made in the 1940s for jukebox shorts called Soundies. In 1895 The first music video was filmed by inventor William Dickson, who played operetta on violin as two men dance. 50s rockers & The Beatles made music videos to spread promotion for songs while touring. The cheesy vapor trail effect was huge in the late 70s which gives Kate Bush the ghostly look of Kathy returning from the grave to visit Heathcliff in the song. Kate studied mime and dance as a teen to ready her for performing. First single hits #1.
She was only 18 at the time and the first female in the UK to have a number one hit on her debut. The high vocal probably turned some people off initially. But eventually she took control of her music and the videos and created a body of work that is almost unmatched by other female artists. Go ahead and react to her video for Running Up That Hill and see where she was a few years down the road from this.
Effects are telling the story it's a haunting about the star crossed lovers of Wuthering heights, Heathcliff and Cathy. Her dancing, she was a trained dancer. She was really famous in the late 70's into early 90's and now renewed fame in the States , in fact so popular running up the hill album was sold out everywhere.
This song only played in America on Video Concert Hall, the prototype of MTV floated by time Warner, and then on early MTV in 1981. This was back when there weren’t many videos so each one they had got a lot of airplay. My husband and I thought that maybe she was a one hit wonder because we never heard at Imogene her music since until Running UpThat Hill, which we barely remember seeing. The U.S. Knew almost nothing about Kate Bish, but she was a goddess throughout the rest of the world! We missed out here, as usual! Her voice at the top of her range and movements and gestures is because she’s the scary ghost Cathy in Wuthering Heights. She *acts* out her songs. One person she trained with was Lindsey Camp, a mime who trained David Bowie, hence the mime-like moves in her interpretative dance. She’s as creative as Bowie was but her own things.
OK, I'm a bit of a fan so I'll ramble on a bit about Kate Bush. On videos she does always grab your attention and this was one of the very first music videos ever produced in the UK. This song was written in 1978 and came out in 1979, it climbed up to number 1 in the UK charts and stayed there for 4 weeks, also 1 in Australia, Ireland and New Zealand and high in many others countries. I have heard that she never properly got promoted in the states as the distributor wanted her to tour as the opening act to Fleetwood Mac but she refused so they didn't promote her. Some of the video effects do fit with the story, it is the story of the ghost of Cathy returning to the window of Heathcliff, lifted from the Bronte novel "Wuthering Heights", so the white and ghostly trails are reasonable. Anyway, they didn't have much choice and why spend a fortune on something that would typically be played on bad 20" TV screens. When she was 11 she caught a section of a film of "Wuthering Heights" on TV, the powerful window scene in stuck in her mind and years later she was triggered to write this song when catching a later adaptation. You can see the inspiration for the song if you search youtube for "wuthering heights film window scene comparisons". On the fade out, sadly it's one of the only mis-steps as on the record it lasts a little longer and I love it, the fab guitar outro echoing her vocal line is played by Ian Bairnson. On her records she writes the lyrics and music and plays the piano and often various synths on them, she is a decent pianist/keyboard player. After the second album she also started to produce the records, one of the only business things she never did much of was promotion or distribution. I think a good video to react to is "Army Dreamers" from 1980, a really sad tale but the music sounds a bit like a music box tune. The tale of a grieving mother getting her young son back from the armed forces in a tin box and she blames herself for not being able to give him the start he needed in life. quote "What could he do? Should have been a rock star." But he didn't have the money for a guitar.
Thank you for all this information! I am excited to check out more of her work. I mean no disrespect to Kate Bush or he loyal fanbase. I've added your suggestion to the list!
You'd have to read the book to understand the context, then it would be clear. It used to be a classic taught in the schools though not so much now. Pity really, great book, thanks for putting it out again.
This video is how its meant to be ethereal, using expressive dance. The song tells the story about Emily Brontë s Wutheringheights . Kate Bush is playing the part of Catherine a ghost haunting Heathcliff her true love at the end of the book or movie? Kate Bush was 19 when she sang this song recorded in one take and went straight to number one in many countries. She was the first female singer to write, sing her own music and she started writing music at 13. Her music always tells a story, a mixture of her music and dance. She also experimented with different musical instruments including sintherizers Also when recording the song members of Pink Floyd helped and others... So not a amateur hour craft video as you imply!
Florence was influenced by cat The ghostly effects in the video and the high wailing voice are part of the story Her song Wuthering Heights is based On the novel Wuthering Heights She is a ghost of the character Cathy trying to get into the house to her love Heathcliff Thentrailing effect etc we’re definitely deliberate to enhance this effect The second video is on the moors where the novel is set
He had absolutely no idea. Emily Bronte's classic novel "Wuthering Heights" from 1847. In this song she play's Cathy's ghost from the story. He shows complete ignorance, but he is a 21st century American.
It is based on a book by Emily Bronte, I believe. Or better, inspired by that book. Kate Bush was/is a musical genius, but she was very private. She only was popular in the UK and the Netherlands, I think (at the time at least). I think she was the daughter of a Anglican priest and trained classically in ballet and piano. Her voice is very recognisable. Not my favourite, but her music is top notch.
Obviously the streamy trail effect is because she’s a ghost! This was one of the biggest songs of the late 1990’s in the UK and a complete change to all the dull stuff around then… she was huge!!! And this was her first big song… it’s about one of the most well known books in the english language ever ( I’m not even a big fan of hers- but you never having heard this or her says much more about you than it does the song …)
This is a masterpiece.. my first LP back in the day was "The Kick Inside", the first Album from Kate Bush. There are new artists outside the mainstream track. Try Aurora.
I just love to listen to people who missed the greatest music that has ever been, and ever will be opine about how this song does not fit a certain mold. Sad.
Interesting how you mention Laurie Anderson. I have always associated the two together because early Kate Bush was super experimental and different as well. And yes, she is 'using' a voice of sorts here to depict being Cathy's (from the book) ghost. Its meant to be kinda eerie-sounding.
Version 2 is the "red dress version", where's she dancing outside... This is the "white dress version", which fits, because she's representing a ghost (of the late "Cathy") with an unusual high voice, looking for her "Heathcliff" (check the story of Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights"). Your comments on the production (e.g. of the video) were quite off, BTW. Looks like you didn't understand anything. Maybe you really want to tear the world apart with ignorance, who knows? Still gave this a "Like"...
Thank you for your comment. You're right. I did not understand the context of the song. Some reactors do some research before they listen to a song. I go in completely blind. This can make me appear ignorant. I appreciate all of the information and I am excited to listen to more of Kate Bush!
Yes, that was the crap version 2 red dress version video made for the American release of the single. Thinking being that Americans would like a bit more colour.
Everything you thought wasn't entirely true, this song has a great story, the video is designed to reflect the spirit of Cahty. The white dress suggests that she is a ghost. The special dance is also thought out down to the smallest detail. Today it is still danced and celebrated by women all over the world. It's basically a song that shows battered women coming after death and taking revenge. They suffered in life, but after death they were still able to stand up for themselves, fantastic. Listen to the song again with this background knowledge. I love it
Sorry, Kate had a major say in all of her videos. If your going to react to such an influencer as Kate Bush, you really need to read up a bit more. She wrote this at 19, and recorded the whole thing I one take. Maybe you should listen to The man with the child in his eyes. She wrote it at 14. Don't think much of your reaction.
Reaction fan Ian Bairnson. Dave didn't play guitar on one of her albums until 11 years later. "Rocket's Tail" and "Love and Anger" off "The Sensual World" 1989.
You reacted initially without knowing any context. If you had read the book Wuthering Heights, listen to Kate's storytelling, her mentioning Heathcliff was the give away that she's a ghost. Many in the Uk would have either read the book or seen the film. So, here, we caught onto the story fairly quickly and knew why she sung it that way.
Maybe the fade out, i.e. never ending, since she's a ghost, is part of the storytelling of a spirit trapped in perputry! She, at least in the UK, was huge. Her song, a woman's work, is another brilliant song.
I’d certainly recommend some a-ha, as most American fans only know take on me, you would be astonished at their catalogue. So for starters I’d say checkout manhattan skyline from their second album scoundrel days.
Hello! I'm glad I found this comment again. I wanted to let you know I did a reaction to Manhattan Skyline a while back but my audio did not save. So, unfortunately I will not be able to post it. I enjoyed the song though! Thank you!
Do your research..Brilliant song. She wrote the.song when she was only 19 and it became a number 1 hit. This was back in the ABBA hey day. She is portraying a ghost, a character in the book, Wuthering Heights. at is why it is weird.
Back then it was common knowledge what Wuthering Heights was, even if you had never read it. Emily, Brontë, classic English literature, basic core western civilization knowledge…. All gone.
Of all the wrong commentary about this video this has the most. I presume you've read up on the story since making this video and subsequently facepalmed hard, that yes all the 'effects' and 'dancing' and 'wide eyes' and 'smoke' are extremely purposeful!
Read up as in, there have been plenty of passionate fans eager to teach me. Which is great! I go into reactions completely cold which can lead to inaccurate assumptions. But, that's part of the fun. Take care!
Whilst recognising that tastes differ, I did notice that you appreciated the artistry present in this song. It’s really hard to appreciate how influential an artist is when looking at the picture from the future. I’d suggest exposing yourself to multiple Kate Bush records. But I’d also recommend looking at it in reverse. Start with the modern interpretation and work backwards. Only the then will you appreciate the path taken. Having said that, another early song “The Man With The Child In His Eyes” may be a great choice.
I'd like to challenge you to react to Kate Bush's 1979 Xmas Special performance of her song "Egypt": ua-cam.com/video/B6mTxSqo7iI/v-deo.html You may need your therapist on speed dial for this one! [Sardonic laughter slowly fading out!]
Kate Bush is appreciated all of the world. She is a legend a genius, and as far as I’m concerned a goddess. Music in its purest form. I think your critical view of it basically betrays a myopic view of art on your part. Needless to say, I won’t be subscribing to your channel and I wish it hadn’t appeared in my timeline.
This is a brilliant song in many ways and accompanied by her dance. The effects and lyrics do relate to story telling. The title is Wuthering Heights. This is a novel that is well known in the English speaking world. She's playing a ghost appearing at the window. The main point of your critique is that there's no story and the lyrics and effects don't relate to a story...... True, the effects are of their time. They were relatively new and that's all they could do (I guess). If it was done today different methods would doubtless be used. I still think it's brilliant. Kate Bush is brilliant but distinctive in that all her works are somewhat out of the mainstream, but doubtless very popular. Whether you like them or not of course depends on what you look for in a song and individual tastes. I personally do like them but she featured a lot in my formative growing up period so they play a special role in that sense.
It was mainstream enough to knock ABBA out of the no. 1 spot on the British charts
Wuthering Heights was released in January 1978 and was Kate's debut single. Kate is deliberately singing with a very high register because she's playing the ghost of Cathy, the video effects are used to reinforce the ghostly elements. Version 2 of the video is Kate dancing on Salisbury Plain in a red dress, which has resulted in a worldwide event held around Kate's birthday called 'The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever" - there are plenty of videos on UA-cam Including of this years events held in various locations around the world including North America.
A while before Wuthering Heights was ever written, a younger Kate managed to catch the tail end of a BBC adaptation of the Emily Bronte novel Wuthering Heights when the ghostly Cathy was outside a window of Heathcliff's house wanting to be let in. Kate shares the same Birthday as Emily Bronte and when she was young she was referred to as cathy. In order to get a feel for Cathy Kate read part of the book, interestingly when she did get round to reading all of it after finishing writing the song, Kate noticed certain phrases from parts that she hadn't initially read had ended up in the Lyrics anyway.
Kate said that when she sung this song, she was Cathy, she was channelling the character. Kate's vocal performance is a single take with no edits.
Kate had to fight her record company to get Wuthering Heights to be her debut single, EMI had chosen a completely different track from her "The Kick Inside" album, in the end EMI released Wuthering Heights because they thought that it would fail and teach Kate a lesson, instead it became a worldwide smash hit. Hitting number 1 in Australia, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal and the UK. It was at least a top 10 (or better) in nine other countries. A single chart performance that would only be surpassed in 2022 by "Running Up That Hill".
When Wuthering Heights reached number 1 in the UK Kate became the first solo British female artist to have a self written song get to number 1 in the UK singles chart. Kate has since set numerous records and milestones in the UK singles and album charts. She has had 25 top 40 singles in the UK chart.
When "Running Up That Hill" initially re-entered at Number 8 (due to Stranger Things) Kate became the first female artist to have at least one top 12 single in the charts for six consecutive decades: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.
Kate is multi-talented a singet/songwriter, musician, dancer, record producer (credited as a co-producer on her 3rd album "Never For Ever" and then became sole producer on all subsequent studio albums), video producer and director, she was also heavily involved in the staging of her two concert tours - 1979s "Tour Of Life" and her 22-date 2014 concert residency "Before The Dawn" - it should be noted that tickets for all 22 performances sold out within 15 minutes and people travelled from all over the world to see Kate perform live - a number of pop celebrities attended including Bjork, Peter Gabriel, Annie Lennox, Paul McCartney, Madonna, David Gilmour etc.
Kate is considered to be a musical icon and pioneer who has inspired/influenced countless artists who have followed her - including Florence from Florence + Machine.
I should add that Kate began writing songs when she was about 11 years old, adding more complex lyrics from 13 onwards, by the time she reached her mid-teens she had written well over a hundred songs (some reports say nearer 200). One song she wrote when she was 13 features on her million selling (UK sales) debut album "The Kick Inside"
She was signed by EMI when she was 16, how Kate was "discovered" is a very interesting story in itself, but I will stop here for now...
This is awesome! Thank you for all the info! Seems I've stumbled into the world of an icon!
@@toolfanreacts I'm afraid that you have! 😄😄
Erm... no. We're still not getting to the nub of this - she took this from the novel "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte. Cathy Earnshaw is dead, she is trying to haunt Heathcliff, which is the inspiration for this song. Something Kate loves and throws herself into, hence this beautiful display.
Don’t be fooled thinking that this first hit of very young became a template for all of her other releases. The mold was really obliterated when Kate Bush wax born. She was huge, highly popular “in her day,” if that phrase can even be applied to her. You really came to Kate Bush fresh, like, she was so not on your radar in the last 45 years 😂 I like it! I like the fresh and frank, though I’ve been a U.S. Kate Bush fanatic out of Michigan since I was a teenager 45 years ago. When I saw her in the late 70s sing this, on local Detroit/Windsor tv, and “The Man with the Child in His Eyes,” I was utterly seduced. It helped that I knew the novel, “Wuthering Heights,” I knew the movies of it, I knew who Cathy and Heathcliff were, and the “ghost at the window” passage. And then I saw her sing, “Wow!” on a 1979 ABBA special (Benny Andersson, in particular, appreciated how young she was to have written these songs and performed them on piano.) Her performance of “Wow” really impressed this highly impressionable teen! Lol! Anyhow, more well-known and much more appreciated in the US now than when this, her first release at age 18/19 became a massive hit in the UK, Europe, and Japan. Thank you for your reaction 👍
@@silverascal Oh yes, I remember her appearance on the ABBA special and why that the BBC zoomed in to avoid showing Kate's hand patting her bottom when she sung a certain line from the song! 😀
I certainly agree with you, that Kate never follows a particular style or falls into a pattern when it comes to her songs, with Kate always expect the unexpected!
She's a Ghost who wants to come back to her lover Heathcliff..it's from the Novel Wuthering Heights. It was the first nr1 hit written by a female artist in the uk... Kate Bush is a genius and I love her Albums. I'm a fan😊 She's such a great storyteller and also a Masterful Producer. Thank you for the reaction.
A real fan know that the song is inspired by the 1939 movie Wuthering height
Just saying
@@isobeljames1328 A real fan is someone that enjoys her music. You don't need to be a Kate Bush expert.
@@isobeljames1328 1847 The novel was published long before the film. Kate Bush was however inspired by a BBC TV Adaptation of the book.
@@isobeljames1328She watched the the end of 1967 BBC version after reading part of the book when she wrote this at 16 years old. Neither told the whole story, so when she finished the novel, she changed the lyrics. How would she know Cathy’s ghost is outside of Wuthering Heights, haunting Heathcliff then? There is much more in the novel than the BBC miniseries, and it’s reflected in the lyrics.
I read that book, I'm a metal head, into a lot of music, I play trumpet, drums piano of course guitar,
I just love good music
She's playing a ghost, it is called proper ART.
Great song and an iconic artist who is equally as 'big' today as she was back in 1978. Amusing hearing you commenting upon Kate Bush because she's one of the very FEW female artists who has sold millions of records and albums and who is continuing to have chart success today.
That melody gives me chills .. incredible.
Exactly. Not sure why the actual composition of the song isn't discussed more. It's thick with hooks.
The effects are meant to make her look like a ghost.
First woman to have a UK number one with a self-penned song and that record still stands I think, spent 4 weeks at number one. From the mid-80's onward she has produced all her own work, she is a genius.
Well of course it still stands. Once you've had the first, nobody else can have the first by definition. FML.
The effect did actually help tell the story because she is playing Kathy from the novel Wuthering Heights. This is when Kathy comes back to Heathcliff as a ghost (from the grave) to haunt him and get him to "join" her in the afterlife. David Gilmour discovered her and helped her and has been involved off and on throughout her career. She wrote this when she was in her late teens. She has a very, very impressive catalogue. You should explore.
Yes, the effect definitely enhanced the lyrics. 18 years old, yeh, just a kid.
*Cathy
he simply has NO background
John lydons mum once said .ooh Johnny ,she’s a lovely girl but she’s got a voice like a bag of cats .good old mrs Lydon,
It was released in 78, went number 1 in England and Australia and she wrote it after reading Wuthering Heights and it is Kathy's ghost calling out to Heathcliff to open the window and let her in. It was produced by David Gilmore of Pink Floyd fame who helped bring her to the world. She was a Ballet dancer and a classically trained Pianist. I was in my mid twenties when this song came out and I just loved it,... still do.
Wrong facts little troll
Written after seeing the 1939 movie
Dave Gilmour has never produced Kate Bush, she was not a ballet dancer
A real fan know that
And Google is free
No she hadn't read it. She wrote it after watching a bbc production of it.
Love Kate Bush, she's a true one of a kind.
Kate Bush original and experimental and brilliant singer and songwriter and pioneering producer quite simply the GOAT
Comedic voice?! She's playing a ghost!
There is definitely a story to the video, she is Cathy in Heathcliffe's mind, or at night, haunting him. Basically this is what he is the only one seeing and it is driving him crazy and to his death in the book. It doesn't need extras as she is only being seen by one person especially at night. Read Wuthering Heights to understand
This song hit me at once like no other song and it still haunts me!
She was 19 years old when she wrote and performed it. Her song.
This has to be one of the most galling reactions I've ever seen. Never mind critiquing the video, think about the song! Kate represents the spirit of Heathcliffe's deceased lover. Does she truly return from the dead to haunt him or is she a representation of his guilt for how he abused her. By the same token, she abused him too. The song is about two very destructive personalities who couldn't live together but who might have a shot at eternal happiness in death... assuming Heathcliffe isn't truly insane. Kate Bush burst onto the scene as a truly innovative artist in the late 1970s. She set the standard for all subsequent female singer/songwriters/performers. Just as Heathcliffe was able to treat Cathy so callously, it breaks my heart to see you treat Kate Bush so dismissively.
I agree, he is very dismissive of the story behind the video. Perhaps it would help if he read the lyrics as she is British and the accent is so very beautiful. I believe the video captured the storytelling and Kate's amazing voice perfectly regarding her being a ghost who haunts her lover Heathcliff.
Thank you. I have been advised of her brilliance and I'll be reacting to more.
It's like giving a donkey strawberries
he is a true idiot. didn t even bother to check what was the song about and was unable to understand the text .
You don't need verification from your viewers to gauge the impact of Kate's "Wuthering Heights". Google and/or Wiki the effect this song has had. It was a MASSIVE hit for Kate.
This is perfectly sophisticated, given the context. I mean, she's playing a dead person. That's a ghost that's at the window of her lover who killed her and she's come home. She's cold, let her in. I mean it works
“I must stop it, nevertheless!” I muttered, knocking my knuckles through the glass, and stretching an arm out to seize the importunate branch; instead of which, my fingers closed on the fingers of a little, ice-cold hand!
The intense horror of nightmare came over me: I tried to draw back my arm, but the hand clung to it, and a most melancholy voice sobbed,
“Let me in-let me in!”
“Who are you?” I asked, struggling, meanwhile, to disengage myself.
“Catherine Linton,” it replied, shiveringly (why did I think of Linton? I had read Earnshaw twenty times for Linton)-“I’m come home: I’d lost my way on the moor!”
As it spoke, I discerned, obscurely, a child’s face looking through the window. Terror made me cruel; and, finding it useless to attempt shaking the creature off, I pulled its wrist on to the broken pane, and rubbed it to and fro till the blood ran down and soaked the bedclothes: still it wailed, “Let me in!” and maintained its tenacious gripe, almost maddening me with fear.
“How can I!” I said at length. “Let me go, if you want me to let you in!”
The fingers relaxed, I snatched mine through the hole, hurriedly piled the books up in a pyramid against it, and stopped my ears to exclude the lamentable prayer.
I seemed to keep them closed above a quarter of an hour; yet, the instant I listened again, there was the doleful cry moaning on!
“Begone!” I shouted. “I’ll never let you in, not if you beg for twenty years.”
“It is twenty years,” mourned the voice: “twenty years. I’ve been a waif for twenty years!”
Thereat began a feeble scratching outside, and the pile of books moved as if thrust forward.
I tried to jump up; but could not stir a limb; and so yelled aloud, in a frenzy of fright.
Kate Bush is everything
The visual effects where used in early horror films when like a spirit moving across a field or grave yard. So it fits in with the character she is portraying so cold needing the warmth of life returning to the love she left behind. Read up on the story behind the book/film of the same name. Thank you.
She's a ghost that's come back for her lover...
Please leeeeaaaavvvveeee Kate Bush alone......
BTW Google is free....
You were only wrong on about 90% of what you said.
Kate Bush is one of the leading female artists of all time and wrote her first hit at age 14 and was the first female artist to have a no1 with a song she wrote and performed in the UK.
This particular song was popular enough to have 2 videos as it was that No1 hit.
The video and dance are both symbolic with the trail effects meant to give it an ethereal quality since Kate is playing a possessive ghost (Cathy from the novel Wuthering heights) and her dance moves are interpretations as she was also a choreographer.
She has amazing vocal range and yes she modified her voice to sound more piercing and witch like here.
TBF to you this is quite an introduction to her and people are so in a trance now with the same generic sounds over and over that it comes as quite a shock to hear something different and creative, especially without background context.
Thankfully back in the day talent and creativity were what mattered and Kate has influenced many modern artists.
It would be interesting for you to react to something else from her as most of her songs are quite different and unique in their own way.
Thank you! I have done Running Up That Hill and have several others on the way! She is proving to be one of a kind.
@@toolfanreacts Wuthering heights should never be suggested as a first reaction for people who know nothing about her work and legacy TBF.
I hope you enjoyed some of her other work more.
Theatrical, eccentric, unique but also very talented with beautiful voice with great range.
Recommended and promoted by David Gilmour as a young teenager, talent knows talent.
The album, The Kick Inside, was ready to be recorded and then one night, under a full moon, Kate decided to write a song about the book she just read, Wuthering heights.
Kate will take you by surprise. At first, you’ll resist, but it’s hopeless- you will fall in love with her and simultaneously marvel at her singular creativity.
And, as a 70s kid who listened to a lot of fade-outs, I always imagined that the song was leaving my radio and going to play itself on another radio somewhere. I have a soft spot for them. But, if somebody plays Shave And A Haircut, I’m playing 2 Bits! every time…every…time.
That's a fun way to look at it!
She is supposed to be Cathy's Ghost that's why they used that trailing effect so much in the video!
She is The ghost of Cathy, so The effects are thought out and spot on.
ty
The first song I heard of Kate Bush and I was mesmerized. Her voice haunted me until I knew more, and I obsessively listened to all of her albums. And even now I listen daily - I will never tire of her, of her genius, of her lyrics, and story..... she is the ultimate artist in my eyes.
Kate bush is so talented ❤️
This is a masterpiece. Nothing to do with the shit we have today...
Yeah a big hit here in the UK. Number 1, which was a huge deal at the time..charts now aren't a thing at all
Kate's 'face' was something of a trademark in many of her early videos and was a result of her studying dance and mime with Lyndsay Kemp (as did David Bowie). This video was minimalist, but Kate has always been a story-teller and some of her later videos were essentially films - check out 'Cloudbusting', 'Experiment IV', 'This Woman's Work' etc
The fade out is a way of making a melody feel like it goes on forever. It's very powerful and absolutely not lazy. A fade can be done poorly and it can be done well, but when it's the ending of a haunting melody (like this song), it's magical.
Kate studied mime ( as did David Bowie) before becoming a singer.
Your analysis is soooooooooo wrong.
he is an idiot. he didn t even have a clue of what the song means
There is a story to the song, its bases on the novel 'Wuthering Heights', by Emily Bronte. Cathy Earnshaw is dead she was the childhood friend, later lover of Heathcliff. The ghost of Cathy Earnshaw has come back from a different 'ethereal plane', to claim the soul of Heathcliff.
She is playing a Ghost so the effect actually does help tell the story.
Kate did experiment with singing in a high register in the early part of her career, but the ethereal ghostly inflections in her voice with this song were not typical of her singing. As she later said, she sang that way because the song called for it.
This is the first time I’ve seen one of your reactions, and frankly I was disappointed. The song was released in January 1978 as the debut single from a 19 year old artist who fought the record company to have this released as her first single instead of a more conventional song. It reached No. 1 in the UK and stayed there for four weeks. The music video was also one of the first made. So to denigrate it for suffering from what was known of such things and the technology available at that time is not cool.
Your lack of knowledge of Kate is understandable because as others have already said she was not promoted much in America before the Hounds of Love album (1985), and she never toured there. But she is considered by many to be the greatest living female artist, and the list of artists who cite her as an influence is immense. She is worth reading up about.
I really appreciate the info! I clearly have stumbled into the music of an icon. I actively avoided the radio when I was younger because, naturally, you would just be bombarded with the hits of the time and I would easily get sick of hearing the same songs over and over again. I mean no disrespect to Kate Bush or her loyal fan base and I am very interested in listening to more of her catalog. Thank you!
1978. I can tell you; when this was shown on TV for the very first time, in the town where I live, (I'm British by the way) I went to the local Chip Shop shortly after that same evening (maybe you heard of those in the States?) well, they were ALL talking about this Song, performance and Singer in the queue, who none of us had ever heard of because it was her debut - it sort of shocked everyone, because as you felt too; nobody had ever seen or heard anything like Kate Bush before!! It shot to Number One in the UK for four weeks . She is a UK Artist. The Song is about the classic novel 'Wuthering Heights' The character she's being in the Song (Cathy) is dead in the story; she lost the fight against illness and things were wrong between her and Heathcliff, when she died, and so she is desperately trying to get back from 'the other side' (the grave) to make things right between them. She haunts Heathcliff and visits him each night at his bedroom window pleading with him to let her in. Of course he can't because she's a ghost and so she is asking for his soul. (in other words to join her) Hope this helps!
She heightened her voice for this song. The woman is a genius
I think the fade out was first introduced by Gustav Holst in his brilliant orchestral suite The Planets. The last piece is called Neptune - The Mystic and it is one my most favourite pieces of all time but the trouble is, if you ever get to hear it, because the volume of orchestral music is always toned right down, you need to turn the volume right up in order to hear it. Edit - I'd like to add that because this Holst piece was written around the First World War and before modern amplification, when performed, the fade out had to be done for real, without tech. The off stage choir were instructed to slowly walk away and a door gradually closed behind them.
That's very interesting. I dig facts like this. Thanks!
This was a big hit - her first song release at a very young age. I've always loved this song. But I think we were more open to different sounds back then - particularly the voice being so unusual. I'm glad she had the support to do this which is really a classic.
British and slightly eccentric was Bush, Americans might not get it but this sounded like a genius to many Brits at the time. She read the book and then wrote this.
Music videos were made in the 1940s for jukebox shorts called Soundies. In 1895 The first music video was filmed by inventor William Dickson, who played operetta on violin as two men dance. 50s rockers & The Beatles made music videos to spread promotion for songs while touring. The cheesy vapor trail effect was huge in the late 70s which gives Kate Bush the ghostly look of Kathy returning from the grave to visit Heathcliff in the song. Kate studied mime and dance as a teen to ready her for performing. First single hits #1.
This song made her an international hit. Not bad for a first album. The whole album "The Kick Inside" is a work of art.
The trial affect is because the store of this song is she's a ghost
She was only 18 at the time and the first female in the UK to have a number one hit on her debut. The high vocal probably turned some people off initially. But eventually she took control of her music and the videos and created a body of work that is almost unmatched by other female artists. Go ahead and react to her video for Running Up That Hill and see where she was a few years down the road from this.
Posted! Thanks!
The "voice" is a ghostly character from the book.
Bruv she's playing the spirit of Cathy from the book Wuthering Heights
Effects are telling the story it's a haunting about the star crossed lovers of Wuthering heights, Heathcliff and Cathy. Her dancing, she was a trained dancer.
She was really famous in the late 70's into early 90's and now renewed fame in the States , in fact so popular running up the hill album was sold out everywhere.
They use that effect to show - she is a ghost. Like her moves have a delay, and the same reason (ghost present) she use high voice in this song
I love tool but this is awesome and I can't stop watching this and her voice.
Take a look at Wuthering Heights with Laurence Olivier and Merle Overon. And the novel, of course.
This song isamazing. Inspired by the book Wuthering Heights.they have days all over the world where they actually do her dance. She was very popular
One of the most beautiful songs ever written.
This song only played in America on Video Concert Hall, the prototype of MTV floated by time Warner, and then on early MTV in 1981. This was back when there weren’t many videos so each one they had got a lot of airplay. My husband and I thought that maybe she was a one hit wonder because we never heard at Imogene her music since until Running UpThat Hill, which we barely remember seeing. The U.S. Knew almost nothing about Kate Bish, but she was a goddess throughout the rest of the world! We missed out here, as usual!
Her voice at the top of her range and movements and gestures is because she’s the scary ghost Cathy in Wuthering Heights. She *acts* out her songs. One person she trained with was Lindsey Camp, a mime who trained David Bowie, hence the mime-like moves in her interpretative dance. She’s as creative as Bowie was but her own things.
She is awesome and so is her music.
Realizing she wasn't even twenty when she did this song she was 18 !
Mainstream??? It went direct to #1.
No story? There iis a full narrative taking place within all three elements: song, music and dance.
I think the fade-out works very well with the imagery because she's meant to be a ghost trapped in purgatory.
Kate: *Performs an entire Emily Brontë novel with her voice and her dancing *
Reaction dude: "There's definitely no story to the video." 😂
OK, I'm a bit of a fan so I'll ramble on a bit about Kate Bush.
On videos she does always grab your attention and this was one of the very first music videos ever produced in the UK.
This song was written in 1978 and came out in 1979, it climbed up to number 1 in the UK charts and stayed there for 4 weeks, also 1 in Australia, Ireland and New Zealand and high in many others countries. I have heard that she never properly got promoted in the states as the distributor wanted her to tour as the opening act to Fleetwood Mac but she refused so they didn't promote her.
Some of the video effects do fit with the story, it is the story of the ghost of Cathy returning to the window of Heathcliff, lifted from the Bronte novel "Wuthering Heights", so the white and ghostly trails are reasonable. Anyway, they didn't have much choice and why spend a fortune on something that would typically be played on bad 20" TV screens.
When she was 11 she caught a section of a film of "Wuthering Heights" on TV, the powerful window scene in stuck in her mind and years later she was triggered to write this song when catching a later adaptation. You can see the inspiration for the song if you search youtube for "wuthering heights film window scene comparisons".
On the fade out, sadly it's one of the only mis-steps as on the record it lasts a little longer and I love it, the fab guitar outro echoing her vocal line is played by Ian Bairnson.
On her records she writes the lyrics and music and plays the piano and often various synths on them, she is a decent pianist/keyboard player. After the second album she also started to produce the records, one of the only business things she never did much of was promotion or distribution.
I think a good video to react to is "Army Dreamers" from 1980, a really sad tale but the music sounds a bit like a music box tune. The tale of a grieving mother getting her young son back from the armed forces in a tin box and she blames herself for not being able to give him the start he needed in life.
quote
"What could he do?
Should have been a rock star."
But he didn't have the money for a guitar.
Thank you for all this information! I am excited to check out more of her work. I mean no disrespect to Kate Bush or he loyal fanbase. I've added your suggestion to the list!
No No No Kate Bush was an innovator there was nobody like her before or since
The best description of a first hearing I remember was someone trying to adjust the Vinyl Record RPM to hear the correct sound back in the day.
That's hilarious
The record has an extended guitar solo which is pretty sick
You'd have to read the book to understand the context, then it would be clear. It used to be a classic taught in the schools though not so much now. Pity really, great book, thanks for putting it out again.
This video is how its meant to be ethereal, using expressive dance.
The song tells the story about Emily Brontë s Wutheringheights . Kate Bush is playing the part of Catherine a ghost haunting Heathcliff her true love at the end of the book or movie?
Kate Bush was 19 when she sang this song recorded in one take and went straight to number one in many countries. She was the first female singer to write, sing her own music and she started writing music at 13.
Her music always tells a story, a mixture of her music and dance. She also experimented with different musical instruments including sintherizers
Also when recording the song members of Pink Floyd helped and others...
So not a amateur hour craft video as you imply!
Florence was influenced by cat The ghostly effects in the video and the high wailing voice are part of the story Her song Wuthering Heights is based
On the novel Wuthering Heights She is a ghost of the character Cathy trying to get into the house to her
love
Heathcliff Thentrailing effect etc we’re definitely deliberate to enhance this effect The second video is on the moors where the novel is set
This is 78
He had absolutely no idea. Emily Bronte's classic novel "Wuthering Heights" from 1847. In this song she play's Cathy's ghost from the story. He shows complete ignorance, but he is a 21st century American.
It is based on a book by Emily Bronte, I believe. Or better, inspired by that book. Kate Bush was/is a musical genius, but she was very private. She only was popular in the UK and the Netherlands, I think (at the time at least). I think she was the daughter of a Anglican priest and trained classically in ballet and piano. Her voice is very recognisable. Not my favourite, but her music is top notch.
Obviously the streamy trail effect is because she’s a ghost! This was one of the biggest songs of the late 1990’s in the UK and a complete change to all the dull stuff around then… she was huge!!! And this was her first big song… it’s about one of the most well known books in the english language ever ( I’m not even a big fan of hers- but you never having heard this or her says much more about you than it does the song …)
Cough! Cough! The song was released in 1978, just saying
This is a masterpiece.. my first LP back in the day was "The Kick Inside", the first Album from Kate Bush. There are new artists outside the mainstream track. Try Aurora.
I just love to listen to people who missed the greatest music that has ever been, and ever will be opine about how this song does not fit a certain mold. Sad.
Interesting how you mention Laurie Anderson. I have always associated the two together because early Kate Bush was super experimental and different as well. And yes, she is 'using' a voice of sorts here to depict being Cathy's (from the book) ghost. Its meant to be kinda eerie-sounding.
They need to play this LOUD AND CLEAR in all the prisons of the world
Version 2 is the "red dress version", where's she dancing outside... This is the "white dress version", which fits, because she's representing a ghost (of the late "Cathy") with an unusual high voice, looking for her "Heathcliff" (check the story of Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights").
Your comments on the production (e.g. of the video) were quite off, BTW. Looks like you didn't understand anything. Maybe you really want to tear the world apart with ignorance, who knows? Still gave this a "Like"...
Thank you for your comment. You're right. I did not understand the context of the song. Some reactors do some research before they listen to a song. I go in completely blind. This can make me appear ignorant. I appreciate all of the information and I am excited to listen to more of Kate Bush!
Yes, that was the crap version 2 red dress version video made for the American release of the single. Thinking being that Americans would like a bit more colour.
Based on America's racism, I would've assumed the white version was favored.
Everything you thought wasn't entirely true, this song has a great story, the video is designed to reflect the spirit of Cahty. The white dress suggests that she is a ghost. The special dance is also thought out down to the smallest detail. Today it is still danced and celebrated by women all over the world. It's basically a song that shows battered women coming after death and taking revenge. They suffered in life, but after death they were still able to stand up for themselves, fantastic. Listen to the song again with this background knowledge. I love it
I have! Thank you. I have learned a lot about Kate Bush through this channel since doing this video. Her fanbase is amazing.
this is base on a book and movie
Such a great song.
It really helps to be familiar with the source material. Otherwise, you end up reviewing a video, ignoring the lyrics and music.
Sorry, Kate had a major say in all of her videos.
If your going to react to such an influencer as Kate Bush, you really need to read up a bit more.
She wrote this at 19, and recorded the whole thing I one take.
Maybe you should listen to The man with the child in his eyes. She wrote it at 14.
Don't think much of your reaction.
Do you know what ‘tool’ means in England? Look it up. It’s very apt in this instance 😂
Essential to read Wuthering Heights to understand the lyrics.
Or at least the Cliff’s Notes!
Maybe the Heathcliff Notes?
Red dress version
Done :)
Dave Gilmour on guitar
Wrong fact
Reaction fan Ian Bairnson. Dave didn't play guitar on one of her albums until 11 years later. "Rocket's Tail" and "Love and Anger" off "The Sensual World" 1989.
Ian Bairnson, who passed recently (April 7, 2023). He was mostly known for his work with The Alan Parsons Project.
You reacted initially without knowing any context. If you had read the book Wuthering Heights, listen to Kate's storytelling, her mentioning Heathcliff was the give away that she's a ghost. Many in the Uk would have either read the book or seen the film. So, here, we caught onto the story fairly quickly and knew why she sung it that way.
Maybe the fade out, i.e. never ending, since she's a ghost, is part of the storytelling of a spirit trapped in perputry! She, at least in the UK, was huge. Her song, a woman's work, is another brilliant song.
There is great singer songwriters and then there is Kate bush.
I’d certainly recommend some a-ha, as most American fans only know take on me, you would be astonished at their catalogue. So for starters I’d say checkout manhattan skyline from their second album scoundrel days.
Hello! I'm glad I found this comment again. I wanted to let you know I did a reaction to Manhattan Skyline a while back but my audio did not save. So, unfortunately I will not be able to post it. I enjoyed the song though! Thank you!
Do your research..Brilliant song. She wrote the.song when she was only 19 and it became a number 1 hit. This was back in the ABBA hey day. She is portraying a ghost, a character in the book, Wuthering Heights. at is why it is weird.
Back then it was common knowledge what Wuthering Heights was, even if you had never read it. Emily, Brontë, classic English literature, basic core western civilization knowledge…. All gone.
Of all the wrong commentary about this video this has the most. I presume you've read up on the story since making this video and subsequently facepalmed hard, that yes all the 'effects' and 'dancing' and 'wide eyes' and 'smoke' are extremely purposeful!
Read up as in, there have been plenty of passionate fans eager to teach me. Which is great! I go into reactions completely cold which can lead to inaccurate assumptions. But, that's part of the fun. Take care!
@@toolfanreacts Peace out, have a good Sunday :)
ANd this one SUPER popular
Whilst recognising that tastes differ, I did notice that you appreciated the artistry present in this song. It’s really hard to appreciate how influential an artist is when looking at the picture from the future. I’d suggest exposing yourself to multiple Kate Bush records. But I’d also recommend looking at it in reverse. Start with the modern interpretation and work backwards. Only the then will you appreciate the path taken. Having said that, another early song “The Man With The Child In His Eyes” may be a great choice.
Even though it was slightly overused, If you actually read the novel you'd know there definitely were a reason for the trails and fadeout ☺️
Pat Benatar does this song on her 2nd album, listen to how good they do it
I'd like to challenge you to react to Kate Bush's 1979 Xmas Special performance of her song "Egypt": ua-cam.com/video/B6mTxSqo7iI/v-deo.html
You may need your therapist on speed dial for this one! [Sardonic laughter slowly fading out!]
Kate Bush is appreciated all of the world. She is a legend a genius, and as far as I’m concerned a goddess. Music in its purest form. I think your critical view of it basically betrays a myopic view of art on your part. Needless to say, I won’t be subscribing to your channel and I wish it hadn’t appeared in my timeline.
This is a brilliant song in many ways and accompanied by her dance. The effects and lyrics do relate to story telling. The title is Wuthering Heights. This is a novel that is well known in the English speaking world. She's playing a ghost appearing at the window.
The main point of your critique is that there's no story and the lyrics and effects don't relate to a story......
True, the effects are of their time. They were relatively new and that's all they could do (I guess). If it was done today different methods would doubtless be used. I still think it's brilliant. Kate Bush is brilliant but distinctive in that all her works are somewhat out of the mainstream, but doubtless very popular. Whether you like them or not of course depends on what you look for in a song and individual tastes. I personally do like them but she featured a lot in my formative growing up period so they play a special role in that sense.