Wuthering about Kate

Kate Bush has been making her highly distinctive style of music since the late 1970s and 1980s and I'll admit although I had heard of her, I hadn't paid much attention -- until lately, that is. 

She's been a British pop sensation since the age of 16 when she materialized on the music scene with a repertoire of 200 songs which were distilled into her first album The Kick Inside.  Her combination of original talent accompanied by her beauty and grace soon had the attention of the entertainment media.  
This album is listed in Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die.

Here is a short film biography about Kate Bush.

I did appreciate her duet with Peter Gabriel  "Don't Give Up".  I am sure I once saw a fanvid from North and South that someone had made to that video. I don't think I dreamt it.  I thought I would find it on my Youtube playlist, but if I ever saved it, it has since disappeared.

Wuthering Heights was her first hit from her debut album. The 1970 miniseries with Timothy Dalton was her inspiration. I vaguely remember hearing Kate sing this song in my youth, but I don't think I listened well enough to know what it was about.  She was playing in the background of the soundtrack of my life, I just wasn't tuned to her channel.  In 1978 when this song first came out, I had just discovered The Police and Blondie's Heart of Glass was the song that most intrigued me.  Now that I have rediscovered this song, I am almost haunted by it.  Kate's soaring vocals are almost terrifying in their passion.  If you watch one of the videos where she is singing and dancing, she really acts like a ghostly Cathy yearning for her lost love. 

I like how this fanvidder (thumbelina15) has used the song with clips from the 1992 version of Wuthering Heights starring Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes. 

Richard Armitage fans can't help wishing that he would be given a role like Heathcliff someday.  There was even a fanvideo by EvenstarCrystal mixing Guy of Gisborne into the 1992 version so that he does look like Heathcliff.

At the tender age of 16 Kate Bush was discovered by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.  We have him to thank for launching her career.  Here she is with him singing her hit from 1985
"Running Up That Hill".


I guess I am not the only Richard Armitage fan who appreciates Kate's music.  Here are two fanvids which use a cover version of this same song as performed by the group Placebo.   Miss Hale78 has done a simply stellar job in this video showing Lucas North's struggle with himself in Spooks series 9.  The music is a perfect fit and her editing is very intense.
It seems hard to believe but this same song has also been used for a North and South fanvid by Lotjeknorrepotje.  It works well because of the clever use of the clips she has chosen.


This next video is the song that ultimately inspired this post as it seems as if it could have been written by one of us Richard Armitage fans!

The Man with the Child in His Eyes


This song brings to mind Richard's portrayal of John Standring in a modern version of Wuthering Heights called Sparkhouse. Cathy is named Carol, a wimpy Heathcliff aka Andrew is played by Joe McFadden, and Richard's character is kind of an Everyman who is thrown in to keep it real.

Look at his eyes!  He is so sweet. Who could hurt him?

The more I found out about Kate Bush, the more songs I found to admire.  This one also brought Richard to mind with his early career as a dancer.

Moving

Here's the biggest surprise I got from watching Kate's music videos.  She made a filmlike video to her song Experiment IV starring Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) and The Vicar of Dibley herself! (Dawn French)



For more of Kate Bush's music videos, visit her official Youtube channel.

I was very pleased to remember to include the following fan video and I am very grateful to have received permission to post it here.  Heathdances was inspired to create a sequel to North and South using Kate's song "Women's Work".  As it doesn't follow the usual plot of the miniseries, here is her explanation of the video:

This is an AU (Alternate Universe) video!! Basically, it takes place after the N&S series has ended. John (Richard Armitage) and Margaret (Daniela Denby-Ashe) get married and start a family. At the train station Margaret is trying to tell John she is pregnant, and is a little nervous about it. He holds her hand and assures her everything will be fine and of course they are very happy about it. During her pregnancy she collapses and goes into early labor. Margaret is struggling with the birth and spends many hours in labor. John is not only concerned but heartbroken and feels like his life with Margaret is falling apart. He thinks back on the good times and bad in their relationship. He doesn't want to lose either Margaret or the baby. Margaret is a strong woman though and pulls through. She has a beautiful healthy baby. John is relieved and they are one happy family. :-)

I don't know where my mind goes sometimes LOL but I have always wanted to make a continuation story for John and Margaret. I can't write fan fiction so this is my way of fan fiction! LOL

If you click on the Youtube logo on the bottom right corner of the video you can watch it from the Youtube page and change it to a higher definition picture.

Thanks Heather! Your video is very creative and beautifully realized. Please feel free to make more musical fan fics. :)

Here's another surprise... I didn't realize when I started this post that after a long hiatus, Kate Bush has released a new album: Director's Cut. 
 Here is a recent BBC radio interview you can listen to if you wish.