Expert: Lee Bastian - 10/13/2005

Question


Hi, I asked you a Kate Bush question once and I have another one so here it goes.

I read in a Kate Bush biography that she was one of the first songwriters to focus on gay relationships in her songs. Do you have any idea which songs deal with this topic.

I imagine the reference was due to her earlier work. Any thoughts?

Thanks a lot

Margaret

Answer
    Hello Margaret and thanks for your question.Kate Bush is known for writing songs dealing with controversial topics such as incest,nuclear war,and gay relationships.There are two songs on her second album,1978's Lionheart,that fit the bill.
    The song "Wow",which was a hit for her in the U.K.,was really about show business in general and the phoniness of some of the people in that field.Kate,upon being asked about the line in that song "He's too busy hitting the vaseline",replied that it was an observation of her's that there were a lot of homosexuals in show business.Not that she was criticizing but simply observing.
    The other song is more about a gay relationship."Kashka From Baghdad" is about two gay men living together.While the two are apparrently not public with the relationship you get the feeling that people know.The narrator says that at night you can see their shadows as they dance,that they know the way to be happy,and that the narrator longs to be with them.So, you can see,that it is certainly not portrayed as a negative thing.To better understand this song,I suggest you view the lyrics(web site "Gaffaweb")and see what Kate herself has said about it(web site "Cloudbusting:Kate Bush in her own words").
    Also, there is a song she wrote titled "Eddie the Queen" but I unfortunately know nothing of this song.It was on one of her homemade demos recorded when she was very young and as yet unsigned.And these demos are rare and hard to find.
    Anyway,I hope this answers your question Margaret,and thank you again.It's always a pleasure and please don't hesitate if you have other questions about Kate or her songs.And,in case you are not aware,KATE'S NEW ALBUM,"AERIAL",IS OUT IN NOVEMBER!!! It will be a double disc and record company insiders are calling it her crowning achievement.I've heard the first single,"King of the Mountain"(released for downloading very recently)and it is great.Bye for now and have a great day!