Wow

According to Kate, the song was about the music business and show business in general. There are two versions of the studio recording of ‘Wow’: the album version and the single version. The single version is an edited version of “Wow”, although it is not labelled as such on most editions. On all European “Wow” singles, the first 12 seconds of synthesiser chords have been removed. There was also a live version from Hammersmith Odeon. ‘Wow’ was released as a 7″ single in various territories. The Canadian single featured a unique sleeve and was pressed on transparent yellow vinyl. A video was filmed for the single release, featuring Bush performing the song in a darkened studio, and then backed by spotlights during the chorus. When a video compilation was released in 1986 for the compilation album The Whole Story, a new video was made of “Wow”, featuring a montage of Bush performing live in concert. I hear this mediocre chanteuse crooning her way through this silly song. (…) I realise that a lot of people would like to go to bed with her, but buying all her records seems a curious way of expressing such desires. An eerie gentle number with perceptive lyrics. The verses still sound a little muddled but get better with playing. The most precisely focused Kate Bush single since Wuthering Heights despite the self-indulgent lush production. I’ve really enjoyed recording ‘Wow’. I’m very, very pleased with my vocal performance on that, because we did it a few times, and although it was all in tune and it was okay, there was just something missing. And we went back and did it again and it just happened, and I’ve really pleased with that, it was very satisfying. ‘Wow’ is a song about the music business, not just rock music but show business in general, including acting and theatre. People say that the music business is about ripoffs, the rat race, competition, strain, people trying to cut you down, and so on, and though that’s all there, there’s also the magic. It was sparked off when I sat down to try and write a Pink Floyd song, something spacey; Though I’m not surprised no-one has picked that up, it’s not really recognisable as that, in the same way as people haven’t noticed that ‘Kite’ is a Bob Marley song, and ‘Don’t Push Your Foot On The Heartbrake’ is a Patti Smith song. When I wrote it I didn’t envisage performing it – the performance when it happened was an interpretation of the words I’d already written. I first made up the visuals in a hotel room in New Zealand, when I had half an hour to make up a routine and prepare for a TV show. I sat down and listened to the song through once, and the whirling seemed to fit the music. Those who were at the last concert of the tour at Hammersmith must have noticed a frogman appear through the dry ice it was one of the crew’s many last night ‘pranks’ and was really amazing. I’d have liked to have had it in every show. We’re all alone on the stage tonight. We’ve been told we’re not afraid of you. We know all our lines so well, uh-huh. We’ve said them so many times: Time and time again Line and line again Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Unbelievable! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Unbelievable! When the actor reaches his death, You know it’s not for real. He just holds his breath But he always dives too soon, too fast to save himself He’ll never make the screen. He’ll never make the ‘Sweeney’, Be that movie queen. He’s too busy hitting the vaseline Ooh, yeah, you’re amazing! We think you are really cool We’d give you a part, my love, But you’d have to play the fool Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Unbelievable! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Unbelievable! Wow (Kate Bush song) . Wikipedia, retrieved 27 September 2014. Krystyna Fitzgerald-Morris (ed.), Peter Fitzgerald-Morris (ed.) & Dave Cross (ed.), Homeground: The Kate Bush Magazine Anthology One , 2014. ISBN 978-1861714794