FEATURE:
Celebrating One of the Ultimate Songwriters
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush with her Ivor Novello award in 2002
Kate Bush and the Ivor Novello Awards
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SHE has been honoured twice…
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush with broadcaster Paul Gambicini at the 2002 Ivors
by the Ivor Novello Awards/Ivors Academy. This year’s ceremony took place on Thursday (19th May). Winners on then night included Laura Mvula and Shakira. The awards are among the most prestigious and important when it comes to recognising great songwriting:
“For 66 years The Ivors Academy has celebrated excellence in songwriting and composing. Our awards shine a light on the creative talent of music creators, raising their profile and celebrating their craft.
Recognised as a pinnacle of achievement since they were first presented in 1956, The Ivors Academy presents Ivor Novello Awards for exceptional songwriting and composing. Each Ivor is unique as it represents peer recognition with categories judged by award-winning songwriters and composers from across the Academy’s membership. Ivor Novello Awards are presented twice a year to honour and celebrate exceptional songwriting and composing.
The Ivors with Apple Music is when Ivor Novello Awards are presented to celebrate creative excellence in British and Irish songwriting and screen composition.
The Ivors Composer Awards is when Ivor Novello Awards are presented to celebrate creative excellence in UK classical, jazz and sound arts”.
Kate Bush has been honoured twice, as I started by saying. With a double nod of glory and salute from the Ivors Academy, there are few that deserve it more. I will come to her 2020 honour very soon. Not only is it the righty time to talk about the Ivor Novello Awards and what they mean; it is almost twenty years to the day since Kate Bush won. On 23rd May, 2002, as Kate Bush News wrote, she was recognised as being such an important and inspirational songwriter - winning an Ivor for her Outstanding Contribution to British Music:
“The BBC have just reported that Kate is among the musicians honoured at today’s prestigious Ivor Novello Awards ceremony in London. The awards, now in its 47th year, honour the contribution of songwriters, composers and music publishers to the industry in 2001, selected by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.
On receiving her award Kate said: “It’s so special to be thought of as a songwriter. This means so much to me, I’ll really treasure this.”
From the BBC News report: “Dido, Kate Bush and the team behind Kylie Minogue’s recent smash hit (incl Cathy Dennis) have won Ivor Novello songwriting awards, marking a success for women songwriters….veteran singer-songwriter Kate Bush completed the successes for women with her award for heroutstanding contribution to British music.” The ceremony this afternoon was at the Grosvenor House hotel in London’s Park Lane.
Update 24th May 2002: Ben on the guestbook writes: ”BBC Radio 2 gave excellent coverage to Kate last night. They played Kate’s very emotional acceptance speech. Stated that she is probably the most respected British female of the last 3 decades and for many her appearance was the highlight of the awards. They then played pieces of SIX of Kate’s songs including Moments and The Dreaming. She sounded amazingly touched by the accolade and it was a real delight to hear her..” (thanks Ben). The man pictured here who presented Kate with her award is broadcaster Paul Gambicini”.
Kate Bush’s award in 2002 came almost twenty-five years after her debut album, The Kick Inside (1978). Someone who was in a league of her own then, and has gone on to compel and influence countless overs in the twenty years since, it is a shame there is not another huge honour from the Ivors Academy that she can have bestowed upon her. It was a long-overdue recognition, as it was not the first time she was in contention for an Ivor. She had won one prior to 2002. Bush won the Ivor Novello award for Outstanding British Lyric for The Man With the Child In His Eyes in 1979. She was also nominated for Best Pop Song and Best Song Musically and Lyrically for Wuthering Heights, but lost out to Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker Street' in both categories. In 1981, her song Babooshka was nominated for Best Song Musically and Lyrically, but lost out to Woman in Love, written by Barry and Robin Gibb for Barbra Streisand. In 1983, The Dreaming was nominated for Outstanding British Lyric, but lost to the Dire Straits' Private Investigations. In 1986, Running Up That Hill was nominated for Best Contemporary Song, but lost to Tina Turner's We Don't Need Another Hero. In 2020 she was made a Fellow. This is an unbelievably high honour for someone who, without any doubt, is among the greatest and most original songwriters the music world will ever see:
“British songwriter Kate Bush has been made a Fellow of The Ivors Academy, in recognition of her peerless and enduring achievements in music. The announcement was made today, 23 September, and is the highest honour that The Ivors Academy bestows. The Academy exists to represent and champion music creators in the UK and Ireland.
Fellowship of the Academy recognises excellence and impact in the art and craft of music creation. This is only the twentieth Fellowship that the Academy has awarded in its 76-year history. Kate Bush joins a roster of songwriter greats including Annie Lennox OBE, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John. The most recent music creator to receive Fellowship before Kate Bush was Joan Armatrading MBE.
As well as life-time membership of the Academy, Kate Bush receives a dedicated Ivor Novello Award, depicting Euterpe, the ancient Greek Muse of lyric poetry.
Kate Bush said, “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.”
Commenting on Kate’s honour, Annie Lennox, who was made a Fellow of the Academy in 2015, said, “I’m delighted beyond words that Kate Bush is being recognised and honoured with an Ivors Academy Fellowship. I cannot think of anyone more deserving than the uniquely innovative singer songwriter, performer, producer and remarkable artist that she is. She is visionary and iconic and has made her own magical stamp upon the zeitgeist of the British cultural landscape.”
Long-term Kate Bush fan Big Boi said, “Creative wise, she has been an influence on my life and my music. The depths of the production and lyricism of her music are unmatched, and I am very proud to be able to consider her to be my buddy. Love her!”
Joan Armatrading said, “Kate Bush is undoubtedly one of Britain’s best loved legendary singer/songwriters, an inspiration to many and deserving of the Fellowship. This is the highest award The Ivors Academy can bestow on any artist. I’m delighted that she takes her place of recognition and I send my hearty congratulations.”
Elton John, who became a Fellow of The Ivors Academy in 2004, described Kate Bush as “A truly inspirational, innovative British songwriter and artist. A legacy full of classic works.”
Fellow of the Academy David Arnold said, “I’ve not met an artist in the 30 years of working in music who doesn’t love Kate Bush. Since she emerged, seemingly fully formed as an artist in the 1970s, she immediately claimed a place in the arts as a true original with a raw, pure, visionary talent.
“A writer who pushed the boundaries of what songwriting could be, a producer showing us how exciting and challenging the sound of a record could be and a performer who mesmerised, enchanted and drew her audience in to the worlds she had so beautifully and fully created.
“The fact she is still such an influence on so many established and emerging artists tells you all you need to know about how very precious and appreciated she is.
“I am thankful for her work and her kindness and it’s very right and proper that she has been named as a Fellow of our Academy, we are lucky to have her.”
Crispin Hunt, Chair of The Ivors Academy, said, “As a music creator it is unnerving when you know that your words will fall short, but this is one of those times. Kate’s talent is incalculable, her achievements are peerless and artistry leaves you breathless. Countless songwriters and composers have referenced how Kate has informed their musical development. On behalf of all songwriters and composers, The Ivors Academy is giving Kate the highest honour we can bestow as a heartfelt expression of our love and admiration.”
Kate Bush’s extraordinary contribution to music is both impossible to pigeonhole and capture. Kate has created a truly unique career based around retaining creative autonomy and demonstrating mastery of the music production process, powerful vocals and captivating performances. She has forged her own path ever since her debut single Wuthering Heights was the first time a woman achieved a number one with a self-written song.
Kate Bush has influenced generations of music creators and has been nominated six times for an Ivor Novello Award. She won her first Ivor in 1979 for Outstanding British Lyric of The Man With The Child In His Eyes and she was awarded her second Ivor Novello in 2002 becoming the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to British Music award”.
It was great seeing the winners of this year’s Ivor Novello Awards. Paul Heaton was honoured for his songwriting body. Having just turned sixty, he is a songwriter who has amassed so many classics and important tracks through his varied career. Even though there has not been original material from Kate Bush for over a decade, her incredible lyrics and compositions have stood the test of time, inspired generations and made a huge difference to so many people. Since the 1970s, she has been this phenomenal songwriting force that has no equals. The lyrics can be personal and cut deep, or they can be quite fantastical or impersonal. With every song, you get this impact and resonance that is so magical and moving! Her composing and production is staggering. Combine all of this with her remarkable voice, and there aren’t any songwriters who can really compete! Twenty years ago, Bush was honoured (quite rightly) for her contributions to music. The fact that she was so touched proved how much it meant and how much she valued songwriting. Reading about the Ivors this week and the great songwriters who won, it got me looking back at the two times Kate Bush has been recognised. To be made a Fellow in 2020 was almost like a musical damehood! Bush remains one the finest songwriters because of how successful and extraordinary her career has been, in addition to the way it has influenced so many songwriters. She can tap into emotions, open minds and move the soul…
LIKE no other human being.