First Time Reaction to Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights

[@JosephCampos-g9j]

She a ghost that's come back for her lover

[@mpete42]

Kate Bush when about 10 years old caught on TV the window scene section of a film drama of Wuthering Heights, the famous story of cruelty, passion, class, and revenge written by Emily Brontë. This stuck in her mind and about 7 or so years later she watched another version and this triggered the writing of this song. It is written from the pov of Cathy, a ghost at this point glimpsed through the window of Wuthering Heights the house both Cathy and Heathcliff grew up in. A really good way to get the context for this song is to watch a couple of versions of the window scene and these can be found on tube by looking for "Wuthering Heights window scene comparisons"

[@AnAdorableWombat1]

The second verse gives me chills! She was letting Heathcliff know it’s cold, dark and lonely as a ghost

[@NowVs1980s]

So privileged to grow up in this era of music.

[@majfinan]

It's so nice to see the love Kate has been getting since her song was used on the show. My Dad loves Kate Bush, so it's because of him that I knew of her and fell in love with all of her music. I can listen to her for hours, and it's like she can transport you to another world, her world. You should definitely check out more of her videos. they are all so different and such amazing storytelling.

[@shaunjp2211]

Emily Brontë wrote Wuthering Heights her only novel. It has been made into Films and TV adaptations over the years. Putting it simply Cathy and Heathcliff are in love all their lives . But circumstances occur that Heathcliff travels to America to make his fortune. When he comes back rich Cathy has married Linton.she dies in child birth and Heathcliff curses her to remain a ghost until the day he dies. He's in Cathy's old room at Wuthering Heights he hears her ghost at the window and dies. They're then seen running across the moors together That's what the song is about.

[@patcow9999]

Loved your reaction Tasha. Kate wrote this, inspired after watching a TV adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic book: Wuthering Heights. In the UK, this song was our introduction to her music. In terms of my favourites: The Sensual World, This Woman's Work, Hounds of Love. You're right, she acts the songs and interprets through dance beautifully.

[@delby66]

What is so amazing about this song is that she was only 17 when she wrote it. What a brilliant singer-songwriter she is.

[@daviddeath6029]

How can anyone not be interested in lyrics!

[@steve8510]

THE GOAT... The most obsessive dedication to artistic expression in pop music!

[@PaulHilburger]

Kathy in this song is a ghost

[@markjohnson4217]

You pretty much nailed the theme of this song. It was inspired by tbe novel of the same name by Emily Bronte. We read it at school in Junior High. The scene when Cathy's ghost comes back and is knocking on tbe window is the only thing I remember from tbe book because it creeped me out. Kate is an extraordinary artist snd songwriter. She had written over 200 songs by the age of 16! The themes that she tackles are some of the most austere and deepest concepts that I have ever come across as a lyricist ; The trauma of a nuclear holocaust from the perspective of an unborn child, (Breathing) or the story of a scientist wbo built a machine that could reverse the ion charge in the atmosphere and make it rain, (Cloudbusting) or the desire to know what it would be like to switch places with a lover in order to understand them more deeply. (Running up that Hill) Kate is one of those rare artists that only come along once every 20 or 30 years.

[@pamagnolia]

Incredible! Haven’t seen this before. Really beautiful.

[@keymack2477]

I'm pretty sure she has a cool song called "Babushka" or something like that!! You will enjoy it!

[@DonnaGisellaTranchel]

Also amazing!

[@ebob4177]

All yours! Babushka, Babushka, Babushka-ya-ya!

[@leslieturner8276]

I've been a Kate Bush fan from the very beginning and this was the video that hooked me forever! 😄 Now, because of Stranger Things and new peoole becoming aware of Kate's musuc, I did prepare some text in advance which also includes "Wuthering Heights" which I hope you wilk find useful. BTW a great reaction, so many can't get use to Kate singing in such a high register for this particular song... anyway here are the notes... ===== A while before Wuthering Heights was written, a younger Kate managed to catch the tail end of a BBC adaptation of the Emily Bronte novel Wuthering Heights when the ghostly Cathy was outside a window of Heathcliff's house wanting to be let in. Kate shares the same Birthday as Emily Bronte and when she was young she was referred to as cathy. In order to get a feel for Cathy Kate read part of the book, interestingly when she did get round to reading all of it after finishing writing the song, Kate noticed certain phrases from parts that she hadn't initially read had ended up in the Lyrics anyway. Kate said that when she sung this song, she was Cathy, she was channelling the character. Kate's vocal performance is a single take with no edits. Kate had to fight her record company to get Wuthering Heights to be her debut single, EMI had chosen a completely different track from her "The Kick Inside" album, in the end EMI released Wuthering Heights because they thought that it would fail and teach Kate a lesson, instead it became a worldwide smash hit. Hitting number 1 in Australia, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal and the UK. It was at least a top 10 (or better) in nine other countries. A single chart performance that would only be surpassed in 2022 by "Running Up That Hill". The song is very unusual in a number of ways, the structure of the song is very different compared to the traditional pop song of the time. It also has some very unusual key changes plus changes to timing. All of the above made it so different to what was in the single charts in 1978. Kate was self taught, so wasn't aware of musical theory, she writes songs that sound nice to her. ==== As for my favourite song it's very tricky...as so many brilliant ones in her extensive catalogue. I can give you ones to follow on from "Wuthering Heights", so in terns of singles we have: 📍The Man With The Child In His Eyes 📍Wow 📍Hammer Horror 📍Babooshka 📍Arny Dreamers 📍Breathing 📍Sat In Your Lap 📍The Dreaming 📍Suspended In Gaffa 📍The Goes A Tenner 📍Night Of The Swallow That will take you up to before Kate's iconic album "Hounds Of Love"

[@vincentryals2478]

This is the best reaction video I've ever seen. I love the look on Tasha's face with the growing realisation that Cathy is not quite what she seems to be. Brilliant!

[@bbarnard950]

She also did this song in one take. I was memorised by this song on the radio when it was first released and have been a fan since. As others have said she is the ghost at the window trying to get into the room and steal his soul. Another great Kate song would be "This Woman's Work". If you are doing any Christmas song reviews would recommend "Kate Bush - December Will Be Magic Again (1979 Xmas Special)".

[@Jason_Taverner]

My favorite Kate Bush song is Army Dreamers

[@steveeverett1736]

that's from the album Lionheart, I also love her piece 'oh England, my Lionheart'. Was Cloudbusting also on the disc? (going from memory)

[@simonpoole2333]

The Man With the Child in His Eyes is my favourite song of hers.

[@stuwhiteman3810]

I did not realise as a kid growing up in the 70's that Cathy was a ghost, but now it all makes it clear. The strange dancing and high pitched voice is because she is a ghost and from the other side from you. Heathcliff was supposed to have heard scratching at his window and went to find out what it was and swore that he saw Cathy but when he went outside there was nobody out there? Great story and sends a shiver down my spine.

[@Simon.v.G.]

Cloudbusting ist one of my all time favorite songs. Lyricswise as well.

[@DonnaGisellaTranchel]

GREAT SONG!!!

[@primalengland]

I walk up to the farm that is ‘Wuthering Heights’ with my dog Molly every few weeks. It is so atmospheric. When you understand the story by Emily Brontë, then this all makes so much sense. She’s a ghost, a spirit trying to get in his window.

[@DonnaGisellaTranchel]

That must be absolutely FANTASTIC!!!🦩✨✨✨✨✨

[@dmuhler]

My absolute favorite Kate Bush song is Moments of Pleasure. Michael Kamen’s arrangement and Kate’s amazingly beautiful vocals push this song to the next level rarely seen in modern music.

[@MFuria-os7ln]

First time I heard this song I was under its spell. Already loved the book, I kept listening again and again and after all those years it is still my nr.1.❤❤❤❤

[@Muckylittleme]

Hi, thoroughly enjoyed that reaction. Kate Bush was/is a wonderful talent and an inspiration. I love a lot her early stuff., "The man with the child in his eyes," "Wow," "Hammer Horror" and several others but my favourites are probably "This woman's work" and "Moments of pleasure" both of which bring a tear to my eye for different reasons.

[@rahuljoshi2728]

This is probably one of these hardest song of all time to sing.

[@Julio-d6y]

I love the timbre of her voice and the choreography in each performance, Kate is unique.

[@eggy1962]

she is as mesmerizing now as she was to me as a 15 yr old back in 78....Thia was her first hit...straight to number 1 in uk, many songs followed . A very talented woman who started writing her own songs from 13yr old...went to arts and drama used literature she read to compose her songs.

[@scouttrooperjohnny]

Been a fan of KB since I was a teen. Absolutely love her songs, lyrics and songwriting. She is an inspiration. Great reaction video Tasha, good job.

[@brendanwienand9836]

The song is based wholly on the book 'Wuthering Heights'. Should you ever have the opportunity to read the book, it'll open a whole new perspective to the song. Both book and Kate Bush' rendition thereof are at once dark, mystifying, tragic and real, like all true love stories.

[@robertlanier2235]

My favorite Kate Bush song is Hounds of Love❤❤

[@johngiles-ww8pm]

Written when she was 18, song arrangements dance all by her, so are all of her records, this was 1978

[@timothysassanella272]

Kate invented the headset microphone so she could move while she performs. Her voice was very high and ghostly here, she has a very rich, smooth lower range .

[@briantitchener4829]

"Wuthering Heights" not "Withering Heights". The name of the house in Emily Bronte's novel of 1847. In the video she's playing Cathy's ghost from the novel.

[@chrislind57]

She's dead, and it's her ghost at the window

[@nickwhite7476]

Wuthering heights novel by Emily Brontë is the ultimate source of inspiration.Give it a read,a dark dark tale to be sure but a masterpiece

[@dmuhler]

Highly recommend Moments of Pleasure. It is simply one of the finest songs of the modern era. Written by Kate and masterly arranged by Michael Kamen, sure to induce multiple goosebumps!

[@malvanlondon8683]

Wuthering Heights is my favourite. Followed closely by Wow and Hammer Horror. 🙂

[@Nigel-wu5lj]

She got signed through Dave Gilmore (!Pink Floyd). Rightly so. The best female artist we ever produced..And by quite a stretch.

[@normanmart7933]

Well done I think knowing what the song is about makes it easier to appreciate the song even more.

[@mattking5936]

Firstly, thank you for reviewing this song. I hope you too discover Kate Bush. The song is about Emily Brontë's book Wuthering Heights. Kate is indeed playing the part of the ghost Cathy haunting her once lover Heathcliff.

[@angelaec81]

Wuthering Heights with Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon is one of my favorite movies! If you watch the movie you’ll have a better understanding and appreciation of the song. Great reaction!!

[@zennenn]

This was such a good reaction!! Loved this.

[@kf9346]

This song is a musical interpretation of the novel “Wuthering Heights.” She is the ghost of Kathy and is haunting Heathcliff. She was 19 when this song was released but I think she wrote it at 15 or 16. She had started writing songs at 11. She was/is revolutionary for many reasons. Just one though is that at the time, female musical artists were either tough rockers or coy ingénues. She presented this feminine, sexual energy that was powerful in its own right that was completely unapologetic and proud.

[@greggiovanni1825]

I re-read "Wuthering Hights" every five years.... The secret to understanding it is that there is two of every thing! The most Gothic of the Gothic. And, yes, at this point Kathy's dead and haunting Heathcliff,

[@christopher-ke9nj]

That, the man with the child in his eyes, next the up tempo tracks

[@KevinM2732]

Another great one from Kate is "Wow".

[@sveinlagemyr4215]

Nice laugh...🙂 I've heard bits of this since I was a kid, over 40 years ago. Up until now, never really listened to it (always thought it was part of a musical). Reminds me of "Against the Wind" - a TV-series I watched as a kid. Also reminds me of "Song to the Siren" (Elizabeth Frazer) in where the Sirens are luring the ships and sailors to the rocks. Kate Bush got the main story of the book really well - the contrast of the bad things in the relationship (anger, jealousy, hate, possession) mixed with Cathys vulnerability and softness in the chorus. I wonder what the "switch" in the beginning means? (while in the yoga/Buddhist/hindu position). And the end, I wonder if she's swinging like a tree - on top of those wuthering heights? I bet all the choreography was done by herself - seems very personal. I've even ordered the book now 😀

[@michaelwebster8389]

She's the ghost of Kathy in this song - from the book Wuthering Heights from Emily Bronte.

[@kbretro64]

You might also enjoy Pat Benatar's version.

[@steveeverett1736]

I was thinking that as well. Pats was a more hi-intensity rock version and just as fun

[@descendantoffools9767]

Pat's version is great.

[@isobeljames1328]

You must be Ricans and Benatar fans, cos for the rest of the world it's a joke, just sayin'

[@descendantoffools9767]

I haven't polled the rest of the world, that might take some time. ; )@@isobeljames1328

[@peteriuliano5846]

How Awesome Is This - Yes It Is.

[@grantwyatt2780]

❤love this song from England

[@SuperKevin57]

This whole thing is sheer genius.

[@hahatoldyouso]

Such a distinctive voice love her

[@diamantestres]

Gran libro.excelente canción. Morire pero seguire visitandote...que bonito...y tétrico.

[@paullakowski2509]

this was all the rage while we were in art school but me i always got hooked on the entire album ....re this is about book /movie ...the ghost is heathcliff

[@Newfie-zc7ug]

Sister Kate is one special ARTIST........ :)

[@FredtheFrisian]

Such a great album from such a young person! Props to Pink Floyd's David Gilmour who discovered this awesome unique talent.

[@granfall00n]

You got it. I’m impressed.

[@kentmains7763]

The Faerie Goddess!

[@g0fvt]

Kate Bush has always utterly bewitched me, she is a few months older than I am. Babooshka is probably the other best known video performance.

[@zybenson3367]

React to Stan Walker - Amazing Grace. He adds one of his own songs to it. New Zealand’s best singer ever. You’ll love it.

[@chrisnagle2902]

Love it! Thank you for sharing.

[@sonicart1808]

You would need to read the book Wuthering Heights to understand the song better.... great reaction thanks.

[@uwescholer8791]

If you have to describe what is an artist, say her name….unbelievable, outstanding, hilarious !!!

[@Cassandra-xj9yp]

Tasha great reaction, thank you very much. I love KB, check out Babooshka, you’ll be surprised she’s an amazing story teller

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Fine and beautiful.

[@shayneerwin2809]

Babooshka - Another classic Kate Bush tune 👌

[@steveeverett1736]

true, but I think Tasha would need to have the lyrics to understand it (or some backstory)

[@merlosanluis2024]

She's playing a ghost from a famous Victorian novel, a young woman haunting her lover after a passionate, doomed affair. Hence the very high register in which she sings, the exaggerated facial expressions. Its meant to be creepy and mesmerising. This was a massive hit, was number 1 in the charts. Britain has a long tradition of gifted, eccentric geniuses, so the public is quite flexible when it comes to musicians. So you get songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, I am the Walrus, and Wuthering Heights. Not in the normal pop categories, yet widely embraced.

[@knucklehoagies]

The song is about a woman who died and came back as a soul to see her still living lover. She sings in a higher pitched voice because it's supposed to represent the "higher vibration" that spirits are when they leave their bodies. Pretty deep song honestly.

[@mikelm222]

She demanded that her recording company that "Wuthering Heights" would be her first single. They didn't want to but she insisted and it worked out pretty well for her

[@nintendy]

The character she's being in the Song (Cathy) is dead in the story; she lost the fight against illness and things were wrong between her and Heathcliff, when she died, and so she is desperately trying to get back from 'the other side' (the grave) to make things right between them. She haunts Heathcliff and visits him each night at his bedroom window pleading with him to let her in. Of course he can't because she's dead, and so she is asking for his soul. (in other words to join her)

[@mrnaughtycat]

The song is about the book withering heights some people will swear on there bibles that they still walk the Yorkshire moors

[@billmeret]

Emily Brontë and Kate Bush share the same birthday, day & month. Trivia

[@ryaneccles1237]

You got it on your first listen!

[@FalkinerTim]

This time, I remembered I was lying in the oak closet, and I heard distinctly the gusty wind, and the driving of the snow; I heard, also, the fir bough repeat its teasing sound, and ascribed it to the right cause: but it annoyed me so much, that I resolved to silence it, if possible; and, I thought, I rose and endeavoured to unhasp the casement. The hook was soldered into the staple: a circumstance observed by me when awake, but forgotten. “I must stop it, nevertheless!” I muttered, knocking my knuckles through the glass, and stretching an arm out to seize the importunate branch; instead of which, my fingers closed on the fingers of a little, ice-cold hand! The intense horror of nightmare came over me: I tried to draw back my arm, but the hand clung to it, and a most melancholy voice sobbed, “Let me in-let me in!” “Who are you?” I asked, struggling, meanwhile, to disengage myself. “Catherine Linton,” it replied, shiveringly (why did I think of Linton? I had read Earnshaw twenty times for Linton)-“I’m come home: I’d lost my way on the moor!” As it spoke, I discerned, obscurely, a child’s face looking through the window. Terror made me cruel; and, finding it useless to attempt shaking the creature off, I pulled its wrist on to the broken pane, and rubbed it to and fro till the blood ran down and soaked the bedclothes: still it wailed, “Let me in!” and maintained its tenacious gripe, almost maddening me with fear. “How can I!” I said at length. “Let me go, if you want me to let you in!” The fingers relaxed, I snatched mine through the hole, hurriedly piled the books up in a pyramid against it, and stopped my ears to exclude the lamentable prayer. I seemed to keep them closed above a quarter of an hour; yet, the instant I listened again, there was the doleful cry moaning on! “Begone!” I shouted. “I’ll never let you in, not if you beg for twenty years.” “It is twenty years,” mourned the voice: “twenty years. I’ve been a waif for twenty years!” Thereat began a feeble scratching outside, and the pile of books moved as if thrust forward. I tried to jump up; but could not stir a limb; and so yelled aloud, in a frenzy of fright.

[@aacevedo42900]

A masterpiece. They don’t make them like that anymore ✔️

[@garymanu6201]

If ever a ghost had to make a entrance and make a statement..."this is it" in it's full glory. Emily Brontë just needed to find the right medium to go through. Kat Bush is no doubt the spiritual channel for Emily. Rest easy Emily, the world has heard your heart breaking story ☝️🙏❤

[@stevetaylor2233]

Coreography! Operatic! Mesmorizing!

[@Nanashi845]

You should read Wuthering Heights, the song is based on that story

[@Onz70]

Read the novel or listen to the audiobook. You will understand what the song is about. It's a beautiful song and you get a better understanding once you have read the novel. Don’t watch the 2011 movie and you can’t understand the song from just reading the lyrics.

[@nodroGnotlrahC]

I suggest you check out her song The Dreaming.

[@JosephCampos-g9j]

Please do the man with the child in his eyes Kate Bush

[@christopherearnshaw6306]

Kate is singing about Catherine Earnshaw and her Love for Heathcliff......... Kate was "discovered" by Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd

[@EsotericArctos]

When you analyse the lyrics, you have to look at it from the perspective of Catherine being a ghost at this point, she's come home. You kind of need to understand the story of Wuthering Heights to really understand this song better. You should take a look at the song from Stranger Things, Running Up That Hill, and see a different aspect to Kate Bush.

[@MarkoMakela-mv8dt]

Cathy was already dead in this song when he asked Heathcliff to let him in... She died in pheunomia, but also Kathy had married a man she didn't really love and was grieving for the love of her life... The book is pretty sentimental, but it is for men too, if you have some heart... It is a bit creepy book, the sickness and death of Kathy and all, but adults can take that...But not really a childrens book though.

[@chrisbanks5925]

Nice reaction . . . just read Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

[@pawlee77]

Check out the Anna Maz cover of this song!

[@robertspeakman1174]

Since the age of 10 she was my dream girl so beautiful and different to the rest of the world

[@philipmilner9638]

Cathy Earnshaw, has come back as a ghost, to interact with her long time 'love' Heathcliffe - she is on a different 'etheral plane'

[@malvanlondon8683]

BTW, the red dress video of this has a slightly longer cut of the song.

[@alyarout]

perfect.

[@peteriuliano5846]

"The Window.." See The Classic Movie.

[@andersgranstrom7128]

😍😍😍

[@greggiovanni1825]

I ALWAYS want ti jibe the lyrics!

[@robertspeakman1174]

Thank you for reacting to her i like heavy music and hard punk i play music very loud but kate bush gets played loud you mention her movements .....im 46 years years older than when i see her swinging her hips gently for the first time and heard her voice ..... you are hot too xxx

[@greggiovanni1825]

LYRICS!!!!

[@reneedumont2474]

She's singing as Kathy's ghost

[@The_Crucible714]

Kate Bush took dance and mime lessons so she could perform to her lyrics. There’s something transfixing about her songs, especially this one.

[@colinmusgrove8080]

she was 18 and did this in one take wow

[@WarrenBridges-um5cg]

@colinmusgrove 8080 Or very close to 19. The album was finished in August '77. Just after her 19th birthday in July.

[@terryallen345]

Woman's work, will snap your heart like it's a dry twig