Kate Bush's "WH" & Other Derivatives
Topic 53 · 14 responses · archived october 2000
~Areia
Mon, Feb 2, 1998 (01:49)
seed
Greetings to all again!
I probably should have mentioned this in my original introduction, but here it is anyway. I am quickly becoming obsessed with this remarkable family, but the REASON why I started on this path is rather odd. I fell in love with the Kate Bush song "Wuthering Heights," from her first album, The Kick Inside. (It has also been recording by other artists, including Pat Benatar.)
For years, I had no idea what the song was about, only that it was based on the novel by a certain Miss Bronte! It wasn't until a friend, who knew how much I liked the song, told me to go out and read the book. I had Jane Eyre under my belt, so it seemed only natural. And now...I've caught Bronte Fever. :)
Now that I have read WH, the song has taken on new proportions for me. I'm rather surprised to see that it hasn't been mentioned on here. It manages to wholly capture the soul of the novel in musical form, IMHO. I can honestly say that it heightened my appreciation of the book; I listened to it many a-time as I read. Does anybody else know this song? What are your opinions on it? Did Kate hit the mark?
I'm as big a Kate fan as I am becoming a Bronte fan, and with some research, I've found several connections. First of all, Kate and Emily share the same birthday (July 30th)! And at the beginning of the song "Wow," Kate simply utters "Emily..." as though she's conjuring her up, like a spirit guide. There is a theory that Kate was intrigued by her, as so many are. Indeed, they have somewhat similar personalities and have the same "feel" to their work, I think.
I hope that didn't go too far off topic...but it's a lead into another subject. I've noticed messages on here about the JE and WH musicals. Derivatives like that have always interested me, and I was wondering if there are other things in the modern world that have been Bronte-inspired (like the Kate song). Derivatives can be as simple as is the place of WH in the Mike Leigh film "Career Girls." :) I've even heard that there was a Bronte ballet-- any truth to this?
I hope that this didn't veer too far off topic, but I'm really getting swept away now. There's so much Bronte stuff out there, I still don't feel I know where to turn! But I suppose I'll cope. :)If anyone would like to take me under his/her wing, and show me the ropes in this vast Bronte world...(grin)
Rolling the ball,
Areia
P.S. I dreamt last night that Branwell and I were lovers, and that I visited Haworth. Now I *know* I'm obsessed. (smile)
~MichaelMullen
Mon, Feb 2, 1998 (14:04)
#1
Hi Aierea. I know and love the Kate Bush song. "Wuthering wuthering
wuthering Heights Heathcliff!" Who can resist? I was once in a karaoke
bar in San Francisco and saw someone try to sing it...an indelible
memory, and a good reason to appreciate Kate Bush!
I think one of the oddest pockets of Bronteana I've encountered was
when I was searching the web for related sites. I ended up in the
middle of an Anne Rice-like role-playing game that featured Branwell,
Charlotte and Emily as undead vampires haunting an ultra-gothic version
of Yorkshire. Not quite my cup of tea, but a good indication of how
the Bronte's permeate the collective unconscious.
Keep me posted about your search for Branwell-related materials.
I'm deep in the Barker book, and would love to hear about your
discoveries elsewhere!
Michael
~amy2
Fri, Feb 6, 1998 (15:00)
#2
Yes, there was a Bronte ballet! Someone saw it performed in England -- she said they portrayed Charlotte as a nervous twist...
I'm not into Kate Bush, but I had heard about her WH song. And there is a new musical of JANE EYRE created in Canada which is supposed to hit Broadway soon, I believe. . .
~martine
Tue, Feb 10, 1998 (01:06)
#3
HI, Areia!
I'm glad you mentionned that song, which I love...but for the music only, so far, because, being French, I have no clue as to what Kate Bush says in it. I can't figure it out. So could I ask you as a big favor to post the lyrics? It would be so great for me to FINALLY understand!
Thanks a million in advance! And welcome to this conference!
PS: JE the musical will start in september, I seem to recall...That warrants a web search to be sure...
~amy2
Wed, Feb 11, 1998 (12:43)
#4
I think there's a web site out there for JANE EYRE: THE MUSICAL. Does anyone know the URL? I'm curious to know when this is coming to Broadway!
~merry
Thu, Feb 12, 1998 (10:44)
#5
Hello all,
I've been following the Bronte conf. on and off for a few months--many interesting ideas here. I myself am a fan of Emily's; I've read WH a hundred times if I've read it once, and I'm fairly familiar with Anne and Charlotte, too. Haven't gotten around to SHIRLEY or VILETTE, but those are next on my list. I'm about knee-deep in the infamous Barker tome, as well--not exactly light reading, is it?
Amy, the URL you are looking for is http://home.istar.ca/~wmatan/janeeyre.htm, I think. Try this and let me know what you think--haven't had a chance to browse it fully myself, but it looks like a goldmine. -merry
~amy2
Thu, Feb 12, 1998 (20:01)
#6
Thanks Merry! I visited that JE: Musical site before, and it looked pretty intriguing. I guess if they can make a musical out of LES MIZ and PHANTOM, then they can do it with Jane Eyre. Don't know if anyone here is familiar with the Cliff Richard musical version of WH, "Heathcliff." I saw the video for sale while I was in England -- kind of funny, with Sir Cliff staring moodily off into space. I have no idea if this was any good or not. . .
~MSchadler
Wed, Feb 18, 1998 (21:42)
#7
Amy and All!
I am horribly sorry to have been absent from this group for a long long time. I wanted to pipe in here because I am very much involved with the musical JANE EYRE. It is indeed coming to Broadway soon - as a matter of fact, it is scheduled to open in the Fall. I have seen it performed this past October in workshop fashion and it is WONDERFUL. A true Bronte fan for years, I was skeptical, but fell in love with this beautiful adaptation.
As usual, things are changed for the stage. There are alterations that allow for a stage production of less than 3 hours, but its overall theme and feel is very Brontean. I have the Original (Toronto) Cast Recording on CD and listen to it religiously.
I also am the editor of "Dear Reader: The Jane Eyre Quarterly" - a newsletter dedicated to the Broadway production. It includes lots of great info on the show and on Jane in general. Here is the URL for more info.
I talking weekly with the composer of this musical and promise to bring that perspective to the group whenever possible. I hope you will enjoy it.
I promise to become more involved here in the future. I am expecting baby number two and find myself at home a lot more often these days. (P.S. - Considering Emily (for Bronte) or Emma (for Austen) for the baby's name!)
Lori
~MSchadler
Wed, Feb 18, 1998 (21:45)
#8
Opps... here is the URL for the newsletter and musical info:
http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Stage/5113/
~amy2
Thu, Feb 19, 1998 (15:41)
#9
Hi Lori, welcome back! I hope that JANE EYRE does well on Broadway -- it's been a pretty dismal season for musicals. I wasn't too shaken up by anything I saw on the Tonys. Any word yet as to casting for Rochester & Jane?
~MSchadler
Thu, Feb 19, 1998 (18:08)
#10
Dismal yes... but that has been good news for us. It opens up potential theaters and leaves out the competition come Tony time next year. As for the casting, it is already done. This show had its world premier in Toronto over a year ago and the cast is primarily the same. The star is Marla Schaffel, a well known Broadway actress (she can also be seen in her own feature film, "I Love You... Don't Touch Me!" which opens on Feb. 28 - a Sundance favorite). As for Rochester, it was originally played by An
hony Crivello (best known for winning the Tony for "Kiss of the Spider Woman." However it seems he has other things on his agenda right now -- the most recent man to play the part is Christopher Innvar (most recently seen as Javert in Les Miserables). Chris is excellent. I saw his Rochester and LOVED it.
Anyone in the Pennsylvania area will be interested to know that my charity is putting on a luncheon in May featuring Marla Schaffel, selections from the muscial, and a panel discussion about the novel. If your in the area and would like ticket information, let me know.
Also, I encourage fans of "Jane" and musicals to buy the Original Cast CD. It is AWESOME. Snips can be heard on some of the musical's websites. They certainly stir the soul!
Lori
~amy2
Fri, Feb 20, 1998 (15:52)
#11
Thanks for the update, Lori! Sounds like an incredibly professional production. Maybe this is a reason for me to go visit the New York office this fall. . .
~Areia
Sun, Mar 8, 1998 (02:04)
#12
This is in response to Martine.
Hello! Wow, you've actually asked me something I can answer! Sorry I've been gone for so long, but here are the requested lyrics to the Kate song (sorry, it's a little long):
Out on the wiley, windy moors
We'd roll and fall in green.
You had a temper like my jealousy:
Too hot, too greedy.
How could you leave me,
When I needed to possess you?
I hated you. I loved you, too.
Bad dreams in the night.
They told me I was going to lose the fight,
Leave behind my wuthering, wuthering
Wuthering Heights.
Heathcliff, it's me, Cathy.
Come home. I'm so cold!
Let me in-a-your window.
Heathcliff, it's me, Cathy.
Come home. I'm so cold!
Let me in-a-your window.
Ooh, it gets dark! It gets lonely,
On the other side from you.
I pine a lot. I find the lot
Falls through without you.
I'm coming back, love.
Cruel Heathcliff, my one dream,
My only master.
Too long I roam in the night.
I'm coming back to his side, to put it right.
I'm coming home to wuthering, wuthering,
Wuthering Heights,
Heathcliff, it's me, Cathy.
Come home. I'm so cold!
Let me in-a-your window.
Heathcliff, it's me, Cathy.
Come home. I'm so cold!
Let me in-a-your window.
Ooh! Let me have it.
Let me grab your soul away.
Ooh! Let me have it.
Let me grab your soul away.
You know it's me, Cathy!
Heathcliff, it's me, Cathy.
Come home. I'm so cold!
Let me in-a-your window.
Heathcliff, it's me, Cathy.
Come home. I'm so cold!
Let me in-a-your window.
Heathcliff, it's me, Cathy.
Come home. I'm so cold!
(What I love about this song is that it's really from the point of view of the dead Cathy! Thus, the window scene...)
--aReIa, who is trying to get involved in this once again. :)
~martine
Fri, Apr 3, 1998 (01:43)
#13
Thank you SO MUCH, Areia! I would never have gotten all the words!! I'm going to keep it preciously!
~Molina
Sun, Apr 5, 1998 (00:43)
#14
Does anyone know anything about a Wuthering Heights musical written by
Bernard J. Taylor? It was called Wuthering Heights, so it's not the Cliff
Richards version. There's a concept recording album out for this one. The
music and voices are good, but the story is all chopped up and disjointed.
I've been able to find very little info about it on the web, and would
appreciate it is anyone had any info on it.