FEATURE:
The Mother/This Woman’s Work
How a Recent Jennifer Lopez-Fronted Film Has Put a Kate Bush Classic Back in the Spotlight
_________
THERE has been a lot of recent development…
in the Kate Bush world. Unfortunately, a couple of members of a couple of musicians who played with her in the past have died - Seán Keane and John Giblin. The latter played with Bush during her live residency, Before the Dawn. It is always tragic and heartbreaking when a musician associated with Kate Bush dies, as you think of them when hearing the music and their part. Aside from some sad news, there has been some success and recognition. Maybe it will not have the same sort of impact as Stranger Things created when they used Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God), but a recent film starring Jennifer Lopez has created new success and popularity for one of Kate Bush’s best songs. This Woman's Work has had a huge surge in popularity on iTunes charts after it was used for the Netflix film, The Mother. Bush’s song is played over the closing moments of the film. On 15th May, it was the second-most searched for song in the U.S. on the Shazam app. That is quite an achievement! I guess there is something quite appropriate about that song featuring in a song called The Mother. Even if This Woman’s Work is about the father of a newborn having to grow up and face responsibility as it breaches and things look bleak, there is that sense of protection and having to deal with an uncomfortable situation. In The Mother, Jennifer Lopez’s titular character gives birth to a girl prematurely in a hospital. The girl is given to foster parents, but she is kidnapped. Lopez’s Mother then tracks down the kidnappers and reunites the girl with her foster parents.
You do get this new meaning from This Woman’s’ Work. If people have always thought of that song as being about the mother and the fear she experiences, it is more about the father having an awakening and being dealt a big blow. I do like when songs are used in films, as you can get them out to more people, and you can get fresh layers from it. For The Mother, there is this powerful ending that is quite touching. Even if The Mother has received mixed reviews, the fact that it has Kate Bush’s classic at the end is another sign that her music is getting recognition beyond the U.K. It is the second big U.S. nod in fairly recent succession. I am not sure how long the momentum will last, but it is unlikely that we will see this song released as a single again and shoot to the top of the charts. Originally, This Woman’s Work featured in a film. She’s Having a Baby was released in 1988. That John Hughes film used Kate Bush’s song to emotional effect. Bush then included it on The Sensual World the following year. The song was released as a single on 20th November, 1989, where it got to twenty-five in the U.K.. It has charted since, in 2005, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2021, and 2022. I think that, given the recent resurgence and celebration Bush has received, maybe The Sensual World could crack the top ten. Compared to Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God), it is slightly more sombre and challenging listen. More emotive and downbeat, it is also very beautiful and stirring! When it comes to charting songs, I feel more spirited and upbeat tracks tend to fare better. Even so, it would be great to think that This Woman’s Work would get a new lease of life off of the back of its inclusion in The Mother.
Even though Bush is selective when it comes to where her songs are used in film and T.V., she has given permission in the past. Film such as Palm Springs have benefited. Look at T.V. shows like The Simpsons, Happy Valley, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Ashes to Ashes. U.S. series GLOW even used Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) – although it didn’t really lead to a big push and worldwide chart success in the same way as Stranger Things’ usage did. I think, given all the success in 2022, more filmmakers will approach Bush to use her songs. She will have standards but, as she has seen how her music can reach new generations this many years later, perhaps we will see it happen more. Every time a film like The Mother uses Kate Bush’s music, it makes people more aware of that song – and, in turn, the album it is from gets recognition. Whereas most of the time people use singles and well-known Kate Bush songs, you cannot rule against deeper cuts being featured. Regardless, it is great news that This Woman’s Work is back at the forefront. With award nominations and chart recognition happening, it means that Bush is speaking to young listeners and showing how relevant she is. I think we will see other Bush classics on the small and big screen soon. It is marvellous that we get to still talk about her amazing catalogue this many years later! The fact that material released decades ago is finding new lease and meaning. Long may it continue! Go and see The Mother if you can and, obviously, stick around to hear This Woman’s Work feature at the end! You never know. Maybe The Sensual World will get increased sales and get back into the charts. As we all guess whether Kate Bush will release another album soon, it is very clear that her existing music…
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in 1989/PHOTO CREDIT: John Carder Bush
IS hugely popular.