Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush

[we_rum]

Has anyone heard this song? What did you think of it? It's a beautiful song and really captures the passion and certain supernatural aspects prevailent in later chapters. If you havent heard it and like WH I urge you to download.

[Sarah's_Chanson]

I haven't heard it. I heard a cover version by Haley Westenra which I thought was alright, but I've been told that the Kate Bush version is much better.

[we_rum]

Really? I've only heard the Bush version and it's really great.

[cath e]

its ok but slightly over the top!

[Sarah's_Chanson]

I just heard a thirty second clip of it and like it. Haley Westenra's version is toned down a little, it sounds just like a regular song. But Kate Bush's version it sounds more passionate, more spectacular, more like I'd imagine a ghostly nightmare to sound like.

[joebev]

I think it certainly reflects the passion of the novel, and if you let the song wash over you then the fact that it is over the top merely adds to the emotion of the song!

[Eva Marina]

I've only heard a clip of Hayley Westenra's version, but I really like both of them. In different ways, of course. HW's version I like more as a song, but, like you said, joebev, KB's version definitely shows the passion of the novel and really brings out the love between Heathcliff and Catherine.

[Scheherazade]

I can stand neither the song nor KB's voice. She sounds like screeching cat and lack of any other songs by her afterwards (which is a blessing in disguise, I believe) proves that she is not a good singer, I think (very humbly needless to say).

[sweetgrass]

I know the song well. I have sung the Kate Bush version many times but it originally was a Pat Benatar song from the mid eighties. I think Kate's version offers the most fragilty. More in keeping with Cathy. :wave:

[Musidora]

Scheherazade and Sweetgrass, check your facts.

"Wuthering Heights" was not Kate's only song; and, even if it was, that wouldn't mean she's not a "good singer." Actually, Kate Bush is widely considered to be an exceptional, highly influential artist, even if you don't think so.

Pat Benatar COVERED "Wuthering Heights." She did not write it, she was not the first to perform it. Kate Bush wrote and recorded it. If you look at Benatar's credits on CRIMES OF PASSION, you'll clearly see that the song is credited to Kate Bush.

[Logos]

I liked Kate Bush when she was really popular in the 80s.

Welcome Musidora! I'd also add Bush has done some fine collaboration with Peter Gabriel, another outstanding artist as far as I'm concerned :)

[we_rum]

"its ok but slightly over the top!"

haha yeah. I wouldnt get nearly so much out of it if I didnt have the whole WH story to go with it. But I think being over the top here works in it's favour.

[Xamonas Chegwe]

lack of any other songs by her afterwards

I have 8 albums by her - All excellent - The latest released last year.


it originally was a Pat Benatar song from the mid eighties

Maybe she did cover Pat Benatar, but she showed remarkable prescience in doing so in 1977, 3 years before Pat Benatar 'wrote' it in 1980! :confused:

Oooops! Was that sarcasm? Sorry, didn't mean to be nasty, but checking your facts before you post would help. There are some picky individuals in this forum! ;) ;) ;)

[Scheherazade]

I have 8 albums by her - All excellent - The latest released last year.Consisting of different versions of 'Wuthering Heights'???

:p

Two years ago, I watched a documentary about Ms Bush and it was emphasised that she has not been very productive since her 'Wuthering Heights' days

[Xamonas Chegwe]

I can stand neither the song nor KB's voice. She sounds like screeching cat and lack of any other songs by her afterwards (which is a blessing in disguise, I believe) proves that she is not a good singer, I think (very humbly needless to say).


I'm sorry Shez, maybe I misiterpreted your quote (no sarcasm) but I can't see where you mention other versions of the song later in her career. The post, which I quote in full, appears to say that she never produced any other songs. Period.

Interestingly, Kate only ever made a single concert tour (1979, I believe) in her career. This is probably why there are no live versions of the song available. How many artists rework old songs on anything other than live albums? Not many that I can name.

You are, of course, as entitled to your opinion of Kate's voice as anyone else, musical taste is just about as subjective as you can get, but I think you should give Kate another chance. You may be surprised at how her voice has mellowed on her more recent work. And, voice aside, her songwriting skills (she wrote words and music on the majority of her songs) are formidable.

[we_rum]

Wuthering Heights was admittedly her most popular song on the charts but she's quite a legend in songwriting circles - especially amongst females writers like Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Kim Deal, Liz Phair etc. etc. So if she's not your thing that's cool (apart from that WH, I don't listen to her much either. Most of her songs are about babies and tampons and stuff) but she's definaitly paid her dues.

[shorebreak]

OK, i am kinda bent on her, i admit it. But look at her pedigree: Dave Gilmour picked her out when she was 16, that "Wuthering Heughts" track was #1 in UK when she was 19 (her first release, EVERYTHING happened after that!) then everyone from Gabriel to God did stuff with her from '78 to '93. Then nothing. Like Stevie Winwood or something. Listen to her stuff. The Dreaming, Hounds of Love or even Lionheart. Its Art School Love gone Mad. She's got 3 octaves and has always used them. She's more creative than average, at least. But the whole great big 20 minute finish of Aerial is come 'round again and i gotta go. P&L, B

[MissJaneEyre19]

I can stand neither the song nor KB's voice. She sounds like screeching cat and lack of any other songs by her afterwards (which is a blessing in disguise, I believe) proves that she is not a good singer, I think (very humbly needless to say).

i laughed so hard the first time i read this, that i nearly pee'd myself. i couldn't agree more, she is an awful singer. if i listen to her for too long, i get a migraine.

[shorebreak]

oh good green apple, that is so pathetic! you may not like the material she chooses to sing but that is one fine instrument she's workin' with and lots of artsy craftsy folks have enjoyed their time playing with her. and there is a substantial body of work out there: The Dreaming, Hounds of Love, Lionheart. At the least, she beats TV, and if you're more interested in creativity than popularity, its only to love. On the other hand i'm 3rd gen LA and my mum still lives there with her very busy boyfriend. i know mass appeal trumps talent 6 days a week and twice on Sunday but...