“Wow” by Kate Bush

Kate Bush has a thing for the highly dramatic arts, and no doubt she has a subscription to Theatre Arts magazine. This song showcases what a bouncy songbird Miss Bush truly is and in no uncertain terms, and any person with the gift of hearing is not safe from her undeniably wonderful vocal onslaught. “Wow” is taken from the follow-up to her nightmarishly beautiful debut “The Kick Inside,” and the album always struck me as a concept record, and all Bush maniacs know I’m referring to “Lionheart.” The cover of the record greets the listener with Kate essentially sprawled out over a box in an animal suit obviously meant to resemble a lion, although she has removed the lion head in favor of her superior face. Something sexual no doubt, but quite intriguing and mysterious as well.

There is a continuous flow coming from her piano playing that is somehow terrifying and beautiful simultaneously. There is an element of humor at times as well, such as with the following lyrical puzzle:

He’ll never make the screen.
He’ll never make the Sweeney.
Or be that movie queen.
He’s too busy hitting the Vaseline.

Rather curious and thoughtful, but this is Kate’s interpretation of theatre life, apparently. Once the song builds to that powerful vocal hook, we are somehow floating in space. It is a strange starship that Bush commands, but she never fails to fascinate. She is almost like Marilyn Manson, except her act is not a complete and utter sham. In fact, she seems to be a different woman in every song, which goes to fascinate the listener all the more. She sounds eerily insincere at times as well, as if she is just essentially giving mock-praise to a sad and laughable unworthy performer. However, build a perspective of your own by enjoying this monster ballad…