Tag: Kate Bush

Taika Waititi: ‘As someone who feels a real ownership of Kate Bush music… I’m annoyed’

Post author By celebrityabout
Post date July 13, 2022

Taika Waititi feels very strongly about music. That’s not unusual, many people do. But Taika is known for his dedication to it. He sold himself into the director’s chair on Thor: Ragnarök by putting Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song on his sizzle reel and then spent the entire production trying to convince the band to give them the rights for it. It almost pushed back their opening because, allegedly, Taika wouldn’t open the movie without it. Must be nice to have Mouse money to make those kinds of demands. When the Thor: Love and Thunder teaser came out, the recognizable guitar of Sweet Child of Mine from Guns N’ Roses appeared almost like a guest star. While being interviewed by NME, Taika was asked if he thought G N’ R would get the Kate Bush treatment with Love and Thunder. Taika responded by saying that Stranger Things “ruined” Kate Bush. With what I can only assume was a fist clenched and raised to the sky he clarified that while he loved the show, “these kids” don’t get Kate Bush because they never listened to her before the show and only Taika knows the real Kate Bush – or something like that.

How’d you manage to fit four Guns N’ Roses songs in?

We actually wanted five [songs] but that might have been overkill. It was a real triumph, having one of my favourite bands from when I was a kid, the band that really informed the soundtrack to my life. Still at 46, usually at about 3am when I’m in bed, I’ll watch GNR music videos. I don’t go on one of those porn sites, I go and watch Axl Rose in the ‘Paradise City’ music video!

Love and Thunder do for GNR what Stranger Things did for Kate Bush

You mean how they ruined Kate Bush? I love that show, but as someone who feels a real ownership of Kate Bush music… I’m really annoyed! I’ve become one of those old arseholes who’s like: ‘These kids never listened to Kate Bush, they’ve heard one song on a TV show! They don’t know Kate Bush! I know Kate Bush!’

Christian Bale said you were supposed to have a Kate Bush dance scene in Love and Thunder?

Before Stranger Things! Yeah, there were a bunch of Kate Bush songs I wanted to have in there. We were gonna have ‘This Woman’s Work’, which was gonna be great for [a scene with] Natalie Portman’s character. There was actually gonna be a lot of ABBA in the film as well…

#ReleaseTheWaititiCut?

I’ve been thinking about director’s cuts. I watch director’s cuts of a lot of other directors. They suck. Director’s cuts are not good. Directors need to be controlled sometimes and if I was to say, ‘ah you wanna watch my director’s cut? It’s four and a half hours long!’ It’s not good, at four and a half hours. There’s a lot of cup-of-tea breaks in there, you don’t even have to pause it.

What would your Love and Thunder cut look like?

I’d say my cut would probably have a few more jokes in there. There might be a couple of deleted scenes but as I always say, a scene is deleted because it’s not good enough to be in the film. I think the deleted scenes section on the DVD, not that they use them anymore, should just be a list of the scenes and no links so you can’t click on them!

[From NME]

Most outlets are going with Taika’s comments about Kate Bush being a joke. I’m sure he was being cheeky, but I’ll bet you there was truth to his words. I think if he was truly joking, he wouldn’t have qualified that he loved the show. Plus, I’ve read similar comments from people around Taika’s age believing they had ownership to Kate’s music, just like he did. But that’s not how music works. It touches people for many reasons at different times and nobody gets to dictate whether a person’s feelings about a song are valid. There are songs from my own generation that I didn’t ‘get’ until now for whatever reason. Music is art and it speaks to all of us when we are open to hearing it.

I’m a little curious about this Kate Bush dance party that they talk about in the second question. I wonder if that’s where Taika’s annoyance truly comes from. Did he want to be the person responsible for putting Kate back on the musical map? Did he fantasize about reintroducing the world to her and Stranger Things stole his *ahem* thunder? Because I have news for everyone getting credit: Kate Bush is why her music is trending with the new generation. End of. Fortunately, she has almost $3M in new royalties to keep her company while these boys duke it out for who ‘gets’ her more.

But then Taika’s director cut responses are cranky too. Maybe wedding planning is stressing him out.

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Tags Kate Bush, music, Stranger Things, Taika Waititi

Kate Bush Music Television

Kate Bush: ‘I just never imagined that it would be anything like this’

Post author By celebrityabout
Post date June 24, 2022

The upshots of Mark and Ross Duffer using Kate Bush’s song, Running Up That Hill, for the fourth season of Strangers Things have been better than I could have imagined. Just hearing the song again was enough for me. So having it hit all major charts and be embraced by the current generation is icing on the cake. But I might have expected those outcomes because it’s an amazing song. But what I didn’t anticipate is the reemergence of Kate via official statements and now an interview. We haven’t heard much from her until now on this side of the Pond. And to hear how thrilled she is to see her music charting is making me all tingly inside. (But in a good way, not a Vecna kind of way.) Kate gave an interview to BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour to talk about becoming a Gen Z hero. As she’s been saying, she’s tickled pink. She loves the show, loves how the song is used in the show, loves that people are discovering her music and loves that there’s room in this world for her.

Kate Bush has admitted she is shocked and excited to be discovered by young people thanks to the recent chart success of “Running Up That Hill.”

The 63-year-old singer’s 1985 hit has climbed back to the top of the charts after being featured in popular Netflix sci-fi show Stranger Things. Bush has given a rare interview to BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour as a result.

“It’s just extraordinary,” the British singer shared. “I mean it’s such a great series, I thought that the track would get some attention. But I just never imagined that it would be anything like this. It’s so exciting. But it’s quite shocking really, isn’t it? I mean, the whole world’s gone mad.”

She added: “What’s really wonderful, I think, is this is a whole new audience who, in a lot of cases, they’ve never heard of me and I love that.

“The thought of all these really young people hearing the song for the first time and discovering it is, well, I think it’s very special.”

In the fourth series of ’80s-set Stranger Things, currently airing on Netflix, Max Mayfield, played by Sadie Sink, listens to the song on her Walkman in an attempt to ground herself to the real world.

Bush said: “I thought what a lovely way for the song to be used in such a positive way, as a kind of talisman almost. … I think it’s very touching, actually.”

She added she wants new fans to “take from it what they want.”

[From Yahoo!]

Not only do I appreciate Kate’s attitude about the younger generation discovering her, but I wish everyone would take a page from her on this. I do not understand the OKF (Original Kate Fans) having any issue with younger people celebrating her music. I love Jesu Joy of Man’s Desire so much I have it on my running playlist. But I wasn’t there when Bach released it. Does that make me a poser? I also agree with Kate that Running being used as the tether Max’s friends use to keep her in the real world, but also to them, is beautiful. For me, music and “favorite” songs are personal. The fact that the gang knew Max’s favorite song to play was as big a part of the story as any dialogue.

Speaking of favorite songs, while Running is right up there, I’m with CB in that I’m waiting for these new fans to discover Wuthering Heights. That’s the Kate song that impacted me the most. I fell in love with it before I read the book. The first time I listened to the song after reading the story, I cried. And Babooshka is a freaking masterpiece. These kids have a whole library to get through.

I’m totally on board with women artists from the 70s/80s coming back. With Pistol streaming, the Chrissie Hynde resurgence is just waiting in the wings.

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Tags Kate Bush, music, television

Kate Bush Music Television

Kate Bush thanks Duffer Brothers as ‘Running Up That Hill’ continues charting

Post author By celebrityabout
Post date June 21, 2022

Who knew the feel-good story for June 2022 was going to involve Kate Bush? I couldn’t be happier, of course. As we discussed, Kate’s amazing 1985 song, Running Up That Hill, has been put on the current generation’s radar through the show Stranger Things. I would say re-popularized, but I discovered after writing the last post that Running was not one of her more popular hits to begin with. I’m still dealing with that information. Well, that is being righted now because Kate and Running continue to chart. Kate is so thrilled with people falling in love with her music she has again posted praise for the Duffer Brothers and the show.

Kate Bush is on top of the hill right now, and busting records along the way.

The enigmatic English singer has achieved the unthinkable, with her 1985 hit “Running Up That Hill” reaching No. 1 in the U.K. and Australia for the very first time, topping the Billboard Global 200 survey and entering into the U.S. Top 5.

Success has many parents. For Bush and “Running Up That Hill,” the Duffer brothers are the fathers of this unusual success story.

The North Carolina-raised siblings, Matt and Ross Duffer, are the creators of Stranger Things, and the architects of the upside down universe that has spellbound millions of fans around the globe.

The bros “have created four extraordinary series of ‘Stranger Things’ in which the child actors have grown into young adults,” writes Bush on her official website.

“In this latest series the characters are facing many of the same challenges that exist in reality right now. I believe the Duffer Brothers have touched people’s hearts in a special way, at a time that’s incredibly difficult for everyone, especially younger people.”

By featuring “Running Up That Hill” in “such a positive light” during the current season four, as “a talisman for Max (one of the main female characters),” she continues, “the song has been brought into the emotional arena of her story. Fear, conflict and the power of love are all around her and her friends.”

Bush adds, “I salute the Duffer Brothers for their courage – taking this new series into a much more adult and darker place. I want to thank them so much for bringing the song into so many people’s lives.”

[From Yahoo]

I am not completely caught up with Stranger Things, I think I’ve watched through episode six, but I like how they are using the song. There’s an overt use of it but a metaphoric one as well and it’s well done. Like most of Kate’s music, it’s haunting and beautiful, making her the perfect partner for Stranger Things. Ironically, it was Winona Ryder who apparently fought for Kate the hardest and she has yet to be in a scene with Kate’s music. The effect of ST is felt, though. I tried to buy Hounds of Love while my daughter was shopping for her dad’s Father’s Day gift, and it was sold out. I did snag a The Whole Story, however, so I’m not complaining.

Could you imagine being Matt or Ross Duffer and getting these kind of accolades from Kate Bush? This has to be a career high for them.

You know who else must be thrilled about the Katessaince? Her biggest fan, John Lydon. He’s been ringing the Kate bell since she started making music. So has Big Boi from Outkast. And Cher, who publicly congratulated Kate when she broke Cher’s record of being the oldest female recording artist to summit.

Bravo Kate🙌🏼

Records Are Meant 2 Be Broken‼️Remember Back In The Day,When Women Had SHORT SELL BY DATES⁉️We Had 2 Fight Our Way Through The Testosterone Curtain,& We Did it So The Girls Who Came After Us Could Sing As Long As They Want To.

With Mega Respect

💋

Me

— Cher (@cher) June 18, 2022

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Tags Kate Bush, music, television

Kate Bush Television

Kate Bush thanks Stranger Things fans for ‘Running Up That Hill’ charting again

Post author By celebrityabout
Post date June 7, 2022

I’ve not started the new season of Stranger Things. To be honest, I hadn’t planned to watch it but there were so many people talking about how monumental episode four is, it’s piqued my curiosity. One of the comments that kept coming up was the excellent use of Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill. My first reaction without even seeing the show was, duh. That’s a fantastic flipping song. Stranger Things, of course, is very popular. So popular that it put Kate’s 37-year-old hit back on the charts causing an 8,000% bump after it aired. She was so tickled that her song was running up the charts *pauses for laugh*, that Kate thanked the show’s fans on her website. Which is really cool, because Kate rarely makes personal statements about anything. And she was downright giddy, too.

The Grammy Award nominee, 63, shared her excitement on the renewed interest in her 1985 single “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” in a rare statement on her website after the song was predominantly featured in the recently released episodes of Stranger Things.

“You might’ve heard that the first part of the fantastic, gripping new series of Stranger Things has recently been released on Netflix,” she wrote. “It features the song, ‘Running Up That Hill’ which is being given a whole new lease of life by the young fans who love the show – I love it too!”

“Because of this, ‘Running Up That Hill’ is charting around the world and has entered the U.K. chart at No. 8. It’s all really exciting! Thanks very much to everyone who has supported the song. I wait with bated breath for the rest of the series in July,” Bush added.

Since the first part of Stranger Things season 4 dropped last month on Netflix, she’s also claimed the No. 1 spot on the iTunes song chart, as well as No. 4 on the Spotify charts, nearly 37 years after the track first debuted.

Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” was first released in Aug. 1985 as the lead single from her fifth studio album Hounds of Love. The song peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was first released, also reaching No. 3 in the U.K.

[From People]

“The song peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was first released,” I could not believe that when I read it. It’s weird when you’re a Kate fan because I freaking love her music so every time I hear one of her songs, I go a little daffy. But a lot of her sound was too experimental for the US. Even Wuthering Heights never made it to number one here. Stranger Things is the perfect vehicle to bring Kate’s music back, honestly. It’s nostalgia for Gen X and Gen Z is loving the series. As a parent to Gen Zers, I relish them discovering our music. My 15yo just found End of the World by REM, Zombie by The Cranberries and can’t get enough of Oingo Boingo. My 17yo is a big Thomas Dolby and ELO fan. We just bought Duran Duran tickets as a family. And now Kate’s charting again. Who says we don’t know how to raise kids right?!

I love how excited Kate is about this. I get it, too. Songs must be so personal to artists and when they’re adored like this, it must feel wonderful. Kate sounds like such a proud mom here. And Kate’s – of all people! Honestly, I’ll bet he’d be the most gracious if she takes it from him. My money’s on them ending up in a duet as a result. Winona Ryder is also pretty jazzed about the Kate love as well. Apparently, she’s been pushing to get Kate’s music on the show for some time. She kept wearing Kate Bush shirts to set as a hint to the showrunners. It only took seven years, but they finally got the message. Thank goodness.

*I was playing Running Up That Hill as I wrote this. My husband just came in and ‘accused’ me of listening to Kate without him, which I didn’t realize was a thing. So I guess that’s a new marriage rule we have. Again, I get it.

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