Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mit-eddie.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!mit-eddie!nessus From: nessus@mit-eddie.UUCP (Doug Alan) Newsgroups: net.music Subject: Kate Bush's "The Dreaming", Peter Gabriel, & "The Kick Inside" Message-ID: <3544@mit-eddie.UUCP> Date: Sat, 2-Feb-85 12:01:58 EST Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.3544 Posted: Sat Feb 2 12:01:58 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 4-Feb-85 05:38:30 EST Distribution: net.music Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA Lines: 95 > From: sherouse@unc.UUCP (George W. Sherouse) > First, may I be the first to say that "The Dreaming" is neither > the best record ever or even the best Kate Bush album ever > because *I* say so. Well, you're entitled to your opinion, even if it is wrong. > As the original slavering review pointed out the sound is highly > derivative of the Peter Gabriel sound which is highly derivative > of various third world artists' imitations of western music. "The Dreaming" is certainly not "derivative" of Peter Gabriel (and I never said such a thing). It is true that Kate Bush has been influenced by Peter Gabriel, but she is also highly original. I think it is also fair to say that Peter Gabriel has been influenced by Kate Bush. They have worked together, and their music has evolved together. (Kate Bush's influence on Peter Gabriel is certainly apparent in his recent concerts, where he does mime and stuff while singing. Kate Bush was doing this a long time ago.) Peter Gabriel's music is not "derivative" of the African music that influences him. He uses some African rhythms in his music, but he certainly isn't copying or imitating anyone. Your argument is like saying that because Picasso was influenced by Van Gogh, his art is "derivative" of Van Gogh. Art is always based in what others have done. No musician sits in his basement, totally isolated from the entire history of music, and creates masterpieces. Artists build upon what is being done and what has already been done -- creating the new out of the old. If your accusations about Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel were true, we would expect to find pseudo-African rhythms on "The Dreaming", wouldn't we? But there aren't any African-sounding rhytms on it. Kate Bush isn't imitating Peter Gabriel, and Peter Gabriel isn't imitating anyone else. > Kate's *real* best work is her earlier stuff (literally) before > her loss of innocence. In particular, check "The Kick Inside". Her earlier stuff is certainly excellent, but it doesn't approach the greatness of "The Dreaming". "The Dreaming" is probably significantly different than her other albums, because Kate produced "The Dreaming", giving her complete artistic control over it. "The Kick Inside" was produced by someone who was much more conscious about commercial success. Kate Bush didn't really pick the songs that appeared on "The Kick Inside". She had written about 200 songs at the time. Most of them were about things like murder, mayhem, mythology, and the occult. The record company selected for the album the songs of her that were innocently sensous and lusty, knowing that they could make loads of money off of the sex-appeal of an innocent/naughty 15-17 year old girl. The album is still wonderful, because even though she didn't select the songs, she, of course, wrote them all and her genius shines through. You do Kate Bush a disservice by saying that her early album which was targeted for commercial success is better than her recent work into much more artistic areas, and expressing such opinions certainly can't help in the uphill battle to shun commerciality. "Welcome to the ofshoots of Jupiter," Doug Alan mit-eddie!nessus Nessus@MIT-MC P.S. I don't want to discourage anyone from buying "The Kick Inside" (In fact I'd encourage you strongly to buy it!) It is truly an excelent album, and is unusual in that it often expresses strong sexuality and sensuality in a very innocent and pure way, even when it discusses the enjoyment of sex without love necessarily being involved. ("It could be love, or it could be just lust, but it will be fun.") Example lyrics from "L'amour Looks Something Like You", a song about a one night stand: You came out of the night Wearing a mask in white colour My eyes were shining on the wine And your aura All in order, we move into the boudoir But too soon, the morning has resumed I'm hanging on the Old Goose Moon You look like an angel Sleeping it off at a station Were you only passing through? I'm dying for you just to touch me And feel all the energy rushing right up-a-me L'amour looks something like you The thoughts of you send me shivery I'm dressed in lace sailing down a black reverie My heart is thrown to the pebbles And the boatmen All the time I find I'm living in that evening With that feeling of sticky love inside