FEATURE:
Walk Straight Down the Middle
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush attending the Evening Standard Theatre Awards in November 2014 (where she won the Editors Award)/PHOTO CREDIT: Dave Benett
Kate Bush’s Awards and Nominations – and Why She Deserves Even Greater Recognition
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THIS might be a theme that few…
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush at the Capital Radio Awards in March 1979 at the Grosvenor Hotel in London (she won two awards: for Best British Female Singer, and Best British Newcomer)/PHOTO CREDIT: Richard Young/Rex Features
Kate Bush fans are demanding be covered, but I was looking back on some features from last year and it struck me: just think about all the awards Bush has been nominated for since the start of her career! It should come as no surprise but, through the years, she has been nominated a lot for her incredible work. Back in August, I asked whether she would be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 (and nominated this year) – Bush was nominated in 2018, though she remains one of the most famous non-inclusion. I know that awards and honours are not everything and the mark of a great artist, but it is a way of giving kudos and recognising their impact. When it comes to Kate Bush, in many ways, she remains underrated and under-furnished when it comes to awards. I have been re-watching a video of Bush receiving the Editor's Award from Evening Standard in 2014 (below). Although she is nervous, she truly seems humble and grateful - she was given the award for her residency, Before the Dawn. In 2013, Bush was awarded a CBE, and one has to think a damehood cannot be too far away! Whilst some people do not like honours like this and return them, I think Bush is genuinely touched and blown away if she receives such high esteem. I will go into a bit more detail but, in terms of the big honours that have come Bush’s way, her Wikipedia page gives us some information:
“She has been nominated for 13 British Phonographic Industry accolades, winning for Best British Female Artist in 1987, and has been nominated for three Grammy Awards. In 2002, Bush was recognised with an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. In 2017, she was nominated for induction in the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bush was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to music”.
I will have a look at this alphabetically but, as you can see from the relevant section of Wikipedia, Bush is an artist who has been nominated for BRIT Awards, yet she has only received the one: in 1987, she won for Best British Female. It is not a surprise that she has been nominated so often, but I am surprised that Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) did not win Best British Single in 1986; likewise, Bush was nominated as Best British Female in 2006 after the release of Aerial (the year before). I know award shows like the BRITs have been accused of odd omissions through the years, but Bush is a quintessential British treasure whose music should have garnered more respect from them through the years! It is good that she has been nominated quite a few times, yet I wonder whether there should be a special award created. Bush won a Q Award in 2001 – she picked up the Classic Songwriter gong. As Q is no longer in publication, I think the wave of attention her work has garnered through the years should see an award show like the BRITs create a new category(ies) like Q’s Icon Award, and Classic Album.
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush at the Q Awards in October 2001 (she was given the Classic Songwriter award on the night)/PHOTO CREDIT: Richard Young/Rex Features
One might say that this is crowbarring an award or two into things to accommodate someone like Bush, but I think there is an opportunity to nod to legendary musicians who have made a huge difference in the world. It is a shame there will be no further Q Awards, as it was one of the last great ceremonies that provided a great range and some awards that you really wanted to see go to someone like Kate Bush! I think that her appearances like the one in 2001 for the Q Awards was quite rare, as that particular one happened eight years after The Red Shoes arrived - she took a long break from music after that album. She was out of the public spotlight at this point, so a rare appetence like this was treasured. The award clearly meant a lot to Bush; it was only four years later when she would release Aerial into the world. I think many of her award ceremony appetences have been rare, as she does not go to film premieres or things unconnected with her own music. It is always wonderful seeing music industry people and fans applaud and provide ovation when Bush collects an award!
I am shocked that her massively-praised 2014 residency did not pick up many awards. I think the BRITs has streamlined its categories recently, and I feel we will see change regarding separating genders when it comes to awards - I think the awards will become more gender-fluid and less segregated. Even so, I think Bush is worthy of a bit more love from the BRITs given all that she has accomplished! In 1978, Bush won Best International Single at the Edison Awards. This is one of the world’s oldest music ceremonies and, given the success of Wuthering Heights, I am glad that it won. If one does look through all the awards that Bush has been nominated for, it does seem a shame she has not won more – though how bothered she is by this remains to be seen. Being an American ceremony, it is small wonder that Bush has been overlooked by the GRAMMY committee. She did not really feel major success in the U.S. until 1985, so maybe one can forgive a lack of representation before then. I do wonder why Hounds of Love received no nominations in 1986 and why it took until 1988 for her first nomination – Experiment IV for Best Concept Music Video. Bush received a couple more nods in the 1990s, but I think that her American fanbase is much larger now than it was in the 1980s. She has made an enormous impact on so many musicians and, given the sheer amount of categories, I do think that albums like Aerial, and 50 Words for Snow are big omissions. Both could easily have fitted into Best Alternative Music Album, I think, and I feel that this would have reflected appreciation for tremendous albums.
The Ivor Novello Awards are among the most prestigious in all of the world. This award show seems tailor-made for Bush. This is a case of an award show truly recognising Bush’s contribution to music. Although she has been nominated and lost quite a few times – for Wuthering Height (The Best Song Musically and Lyrically, and The Best Pop Song) in 1979, Babooshka (The Best Song Musically and Lyrically) in 1981, The Dreaming (The Outstanding British Lyric) in 1983, Running Up That Hill (Best Contemporary Song) in 1986, and 50 Words for Snow (Album Award) in 2012, she did win in 1979 for The Man with the Child in His Eyes (The Outstanding British Lyric). Bush also won in 2002 for Outstanding Contribution to British Music and, whilst I am surprised Running Up That Hill did not win and Aerial was not even nominated, she did get that honour back in 2002. To add to that, Bush became a Fellow of The Ivors Academy last year (she was quite thrilled: “I feel really honoured to be given this fellowship by The Ivors Academy. It means so very much to me. Thank you to all my family and friends and to everyone who has been there for me over the years. I’ll treasure this statue of Euterpe always and ask her to sit on my shoulder while I work”). The MOJO Awards are one of the less-hyped of the calendar, but I think that it is less commercial than many others. Bush has received two nods from the MOJO Awards: 2005 and 2006 for the Songwriter Award. Again, it is surprising that she did not win those awards; one would have expected some sort of nomination for 50 Words for Snow. The fact that she is nominated at all is brilliant and, when you look at the sheer breadth of award shows that have included Bush’s music, it is simply amazing!
I guess the NME Awards is another big one and, whilst many might not assume Bush to be their sort of artist, she did win in 1979 for Best Female Singer. Her return to the stage did get her nominated in 2015 for Music Moment of the Year…and I do hope that she wins the Icon Award very soon – last year, Courtney Love won. Again, some might say Bush is not the most ‘Rock’ or alternative artist around, but her contribution to so many artists who are covered/loved by NME should be noted! That said, the Progressive Music Awards have nominated Bush a few times: in 2012 for Prog Goddess, and Artist of the Year; in 2015, Before the Dawn was nominated for Live Event of the Year. Given the reception to that residency, it would be interesting to know how Bush lost out on that last nomination! Circling back to NME’s awards, and I think Bush has plenty of Rock credentials. Consider albums like The Dreaming in 1982, and even Hounds of Love. I think she has been left out when some of her albums would have made for perfect winners! Once more, she has been nominated (which is important), but I wonder whether there is a perception of Bush’s music and people pigeon-holing it. The penultimate award show I wanted to mention is the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party. It was one of the most popular award shows when Smash Hits was in publication (1978-2006).
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush at the 1979 British Rock and Pop Awards ceremony on 26th February, 1980 (she won for Best Female Singer; she also picked up the same award in April 1979)/PHOTO CREDIT: Mirrorpix
Although she was nominated in a very questionable category, Most Fanciable Female, in 1980 and 1981, she did win Best Female Singer in 1980. I think this award win holds more clout and dignity than the Most Fanciable Female. I am glad that Bush won in 1980, as this must have been before Never for Ever (her third album) was released. I do wonder why Hounds of Love was not nominated, mind. Not to undermine the fact that Kate Bush has been nominated a few times, but you think about some of her best albums and wonder why they did not garner more in the way of awards. I guess sales and chart positions are more important, however it seems like there are periods where she was ignored somewhat. The last award show I will bring in is one where Bush has won once: the South Bank Sky Arts Awards. 50 Words for Snow won Best Album in 2012, and I am pleased the album got that respect. I think it is another case of others/award shows not truly appreciating a wonderful album. Bush showed up to collect her award and, like other occasions where she has given an acceptance speech, she seemed stunned and thrilled – and quite nervous too! (I have included a video at the end of this feature).
I will end it there, but I wanted to shine a light on the awards and honours aspect of her work and the bodies that have included Bush through the years. Even though there have been some real omissions – from the GRAMMYs, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the likes of NME -, it is wonderful that Bush has had her work honoured and celebrated so often! I don’t think Bush has collected her last award yet and, in the coming years, I feel there will be some big honours such as an Icon Award - or a similarly high plaudit. I highlighted a few awards Bush has won but, from Wikipedia (apologies if some of the dates/exact award titles are incorrect), there are some that I have not covered: BPI Awards (Best Female Singer, 1979); Record Mirror Poll (Best New Artist, 1978)…
Melody Maker Annual Poll Awards (Best Female Vocalist and Brightest Hope of 1978); BPI Awards (Best Female Singer, 1980); Music Week annual awards (Top Female Artist, 1979); Capital Radio Awards (Best British Female Singer and Best British Newcomer, 1979); Record Mirror poll (Best Female Singer, 1979); TV Times top ten awards (Most exciting TV female singer 1979) and US College Music Awards (Best British Female Solo Artist, 1987). Many might say that Bush has achieved more than enough with her adoring fanbase and success but, when it comes to recognising one of the greatest musicians, songwriters and singers ever (and producer), more awards are…
THE very least that she deserves.