Top 10 Kate Bush Songs

I’ve only been into Kate Bush for a year now. For those of you unaware of her, she is an English singer who has a very eclectic and original style. I must say that it’s not my usual fair. Generally, I like the happy-go-lucky melodies of early 60’s girl groups or at least the synthesized power ballads of the 80’s. Pretentious music full of “meaning” is not my thing. Let me warn you now, you will never find a Kate Bush song about “love from above.” All of her songs have a meaning and something important to say about life. Pretentious? Only if you make it so. Kate Bush simply presents her ideas and thoughts and never shoves anything down your throat. You can take it or leave it. Many, such as myself, choose to take it. That is why I am counting down my Top 10 Kate Bush Songs.

Rank: 10
Title: Oh England, My Lionheart
Original Appearance: Lionheart (1979)
Interpretation: The song is about a World War II pilot who’s plane has been shot down. As he plummets to his death, he contemplates his homeland.

Comments: Being an American, I doubt that I will ever fully appreciate this song. However, I do enjoy the many references that are distinctively English such as London Bridge, Shakespeare and Peter Pan. As with all Kate Bush songs, the lyrics are cleverly woven together in one smooth love letter to Brittania. It must be noted that in later years, Kate Bush has expressed dislike for this song, all though it remains a fan favorite.

Watch a live performance of “Oh England, My Lionheart” here.
 

Rank: 9
Title: Hounds of Love
Original Appearance: Hounds of Love (1985)
Interpretation: A woman afraid of romance allows herself to be caught by the “hounds of love.”

Comments: The album “Hounds of Love” is the most popular and highest selling of all Kate Bush’s albums. It’s considered her masterpiece. Personally, it’s not my favorite although it is still very good. The title song is, however, one of my favorites. The smashing beat and high energy are most likely the reason. It’s simply one of those songs that gets stuck in your head.

Watch the video for “Hounds of Love” here.

Rank: 8

Title: Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)
Original Appearance: Hounds of Love (1985)
Interpretation: A woman contemplates a deal with God so she and her male lover can switch places and understand the other’s side.

Comments: “Running Up That Hill” was originally titled “A Deal With God” and was changed because a song with “God” in the title was thought to hinder the song’s possible success. Whether or not the change was the culprit, “Running Up That Hill” became Kate Bush’s most successful U.S. single, peaking at number 30 on the Billboard charts. I closely associate “Hounds of Love” and this song with each other. They both have driving beats and similar moods. In summation, it’s catchy and gets stuck in my head.

Watch the video for “Running Up That Hill” here.

Rank: 7
Title: Breathing

Original Appearance: Never For Ever (1980)
Interpretation: A fetus is frightened to be born into a world that has been poisoned by nuclear fallout, but follows her instincts to keep breathing.

Comments: Grim, this song definitely is, but very beautifully written and epic. Certainly songs about the horrors of nuclear war have been written, performed and even popularized, but none probably take on a child’s, let alone a fetus’s perspective. That is the genius of Kate Bush.

Watch the video for “Breathing” here.

Rank: 6
Title: And Dream of Sheep
Original Appearance: Hounds of Love (1985)
Interpretation: A woman tries to stay awake, while facing the threat of drowning.

Comments: “And Dream of Sheep” is the first song on the second side of the “Hounds of Love” LP. It is the first of a series of songs about a woman, lost at sea, facing death by drowning, and her night in the water. This half of the album is titled “The Ninth Wave” after an Alfred Tennyson poem. I love this song because it is so hauntingly beautiful and relaxing and it reminds me of the scene in Titanic where Rose sings “Come Josephine in My Flying Machine.”

Watch a Kate Bush slide show set to “And Dream of Sheep” here.

Rank: 5
Title: Moving
Original Appearance: The Kick Inside (1978)
Interpretation: A woman expresses her love of dance and respect for her dance teacher.

Comments: If you’ve watched any of the videos so far, then you know that Kate Bush is a fan of expressive modern dance. This is all thanks to her introduction to Lindsay Kemp, a famous choreographer who also worked with David Bowie. “Moving” is not a complex song with a huge, hidden deep meaning, but it is catchy as hell.

Watch the video for “Moving” here.

Rank: 4
Title: The Infant Kiss
Original Appearance: Never For Ever (1980)
Interpretation: A young woman wrestles with her sexual attraction for a young boy after a seemingly innocent good night kiss.

Comments: Kate Bush is a huge fan of cinema, and often uses movies as her inspirations for songs. For example, “The Infant Kiss” is based on a 1961 film starring Deborah Kerr called The Innocents. In turn, the film is based on the Henry James novella The Turn of the Screw, which is about a Victorian governess who is frightened by her attraction for her disturbed student. Perverse? Most definitely. But the main theme of the song, film, and book is that sexual repression is bad, and if it is not dealt with in a healthy way, it can cause unwanted desires.

Watch a fan video of The Innocents set to “The Infant Kiss” here.

Rank: 3
Title: Babooshka
Original Appearance: Never For Ever (1980)
Interpretation: A woman writes her husband anonymous, seductive letters to test his loyalty.

Comments: What’s not to love about “Babooshka?” It’s a great story song with an amazing melody and catchy chorus. And what a story! All though it’s not the most original, the tale of the wife taking a disguise to catch her husband in the act is almost mythical. The interesting thing about this song is that the only reason the husband chooses to pursue “Babooshka” is because she reminds him of how his wife used to be and perhaps if the wife went back to way she once was, her husband would not be tempted to be unfaithful.

Watch the video for “Babooshka” here.

Rank: 2
Title: The Man With the Child in His Eyes
Original Appearance: The Kick Inside (1978)
Interpretation: A young girl has a secret, internal relationship with an imaginative man.

Comments: “The Man With the Child in His Eyes” is an eerily beautiful song. My personal interpretation of this song probably affects its high ranking. In my mind, this song is specifically about a young girl, around 12
or 13, who longs for a man to call her own. She wants a “man” instead of a “boy”, but one with very innocent and childlike qualities. In a sense, the narrator of the song is very immature. We all have extraordinary expectations of what we want in a partner, especially in junior high. This song portrays a girl caught somewhere between Barbies and lipstick who, wants a “man” who won’t mind stopping at a good night kiss.

Watch the video for “The Man With the Child in His Eyes” here.

Rank: 1
Title: Wuthering Heights
Original Appearance: The Kick Inside (1978)
Interpretation: The lovelorn Catherine Earnshaw haunts her tragic lover Heathcliff.

Comments: Oh, “Wuthering Heights.” The song that started it all…Kate Bush’s career and my obsession. I can’t really recall the moment when I found “Wuthering Heights.” I believe I was reading the article on Wikipedia when I discovered there was a song written about the book. So I “youtubed” it and was immediately horrified. Who was this terrifying, screeching woman? I tried to forget it, but that chorus, that moaning for Heathcliff, would not leave me. So eventually, I bought the song and embraced it for all that it was. Soon, I was a woman possessed. I had the song on repeat. I re-read the book. I purchased four versions of the movie. I read up on Kate Bush’s career and bought all of her albums. And now here I am, writing a blog about my 10 favorite songs of hers. “Wuthering Heights” has been on my list of favorite songs for almost a year now. I encourage everyone to at least give it a shot. I realize eccentric music is not everyone’s cup of tea, and Kate Bush is definitely an acquired taste. But maybe with a few repeat viewings, it will sink in and hook you like it did to me.

Watch the video for “Wuthering Heights” here.