FEATURE:
Kate Bush: The Tour of Life
What Would Be the Ultimate Project to Honour the Icon?
__________
THIS is very much a personal thing…
as everyone would have their own opinions about what the best Kate Bush-related project would be. This year, there have been magazine articles and features. There recently has been a Hounds of Love book from Leah Kardos. Looking ahead to next year, I wonder what might come. As we have marked forty years of Hounds of Love and Aerial turns twenty in November, I wonder if that will lead to any special projects or books. I have said how there should be a book dedicated to Aerial. Her eighth studio album released in 2005, there is a 33 1/3 book in it. There has been a bit written about Aerial, though nothing in the form of a book. It seems a shame that this has not happened yet. I have written features about what projects could come and what gaps there are to fill. I have said how it would be great to have photobooks with unseen photos or maybe an exhibition where we get to see Kate Bush photos, memorabilia and artefacts. David Bowie has this V&A archive. In fact, it is a permanent David Bowie Centre. Even though Kate Bush would not get something as prestigious, I think that she is deserving of something very special. Maybe she would feel this is too exposing. However, I am not sure whether she has been approached about anything like this. There is so much that could happen. However, you wonder what Kate Bush would allow and whether she would want herself exposed in such a way. It is a hard balance. For that reason, I don’t think there will be any documentaries about her. There have been in the past. However, I think we might get audio documentaries but nothing filmed.
I have always thought what I can do. I have written a lot of Kate Bush features, though it is all digital and could disappear at some point. I get people reading my stuff, though I wonder whether it is quite disposable. I am not sure whether I will do a podcast anytime soon. I would love to be a guest on a Kate Bush podcast but, for me, I am not going to do a long-running one. For a regular podcast, I would need to do something in a studio or space that was quiet. I do not have access to that. Even though I have never written a book, I wonder whether it is something that I could do. I do not consider myself to be a great writer. However, with enough research and guidance. I might be able to write something good. In terms of Kate Bush books, there have been ones about some of her albums. There have been some great biographies, including Graeme Thomson’s definitive, Under the Ivy: The Life and Music of Kate Bush. Maybe there is not a lot to offer in terms of a new biography. However, I could always combine some of my features into a book. I have suggested that there could be a Kate Bush Encyclopedia book. There is a website of that name. Maybe a book that combined all her albums, some interviews and graphs. Pictorial representation of facts and figures. I would love to have this opportunity to pay tribute to Kate Bush. Something that is permanent and would be something you could hold. A couple of ideas I have narrowed down to is an equivalent of the book, Quantum Criminals: Ramblers, Wild Gamblers, and Other Sole Survivors from the Songs of Steely Dan, written by Alex Pappademas with artwork by Joan LeMay. This book looks at the characters in Steely Dan’s music. Rather than it being a traditional biography, this looks at the people in the songs. Building worlds and images around that. It is a brilliant book.
There are plenty of characters in Kate Bush’s music where something similar could be created. It is very tempting. There would need to be an original angle. Not repeating what has gone before. Whether it is a book about Kate Bush as a producer or something else, I have been considering something larger. I would love to be specific and write a book about The Kick Inside. A new book, Kate Bush: On Location takes us inside some of the crucial and interesting spots of notes. Where music videos were filmed, various studio and locations important to Kate Bush’s career and story. It is wonderful. I do love that idea of creating a beautiful hardback book with some great illustrations and wonderful insights. That character book like Quantum Criminals: Ramblers, Wild Gamblers, and Other Sole Survivors from the Songs of Steely Dan. Rather than it being a straight Kate Bush biography, a chance to talk about her career and work but focusing on the characters. I think there are at least forty characters, named or otherwise, that could be included. The Kick Inside and Lionheart might not have that many but, from Never for Ever onwards, we do get quite a few. If there was not enough ammunition to match Quantum Criminals: Ramblers, Wild Gamblers, and Other Sole Survivors from the Songs of Steely Dan, I still want to show my love for Kate Bush and how important she is. I want to do something by 2028. That is when Kate Bush turns seventy. It is also when her debut, The Kick Inside, turns fifty. It is going to be a big year. I think something published is the best way to properly salute her, though I would love to be involved in an audio production or podcast. A book about her career through her characters would be new and fertile with possibility. Maybe expand and bring in influences for Kate Bush including literary and film. Artists thar she admired and mentioned. I am very determined to do something wonderful for…
THIS music queen.