MOMENTS OF PLEASURE ( KATE BUSH COVER ) (SECOND VERSION) 11.01.10

This is my second pass at this great song.

In 1985 Kate Bush tore my head off with The Hounds Of Love album. I played it religiously, every day, for almost a year, trying to decipher what was happening in the music, wondering how she was able to make a recording that was so technically original, dynamic, and new-sounding. That album was my direct portal into the world of Kate Bush. It's in my top ten all-time favourite albums, very high up on the list. The Dreaming (1982) is my second favourite.

My first exposure to Kate Bush came about seven years earlier while watching the syndicated UK export, The Kenny Everett Video Show. It was on that show that I first experienced Kate Bush. Kate showcased her idiosyncratic, then-new song, Wow. My younger brother and I looked at each other after seeing it for the first time. We didn't know what to make of it. It was like no other pop music we had been exposed to. I will admit, we did have a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to it. What did we do? We laughed at it, thinking it was just too weird for us. Then again, we were only around 12 and 9 at the time. The funny thing is, my brother and I mimicked her windmill arm gestures for days afterwards, singing "Wow, wow, wow, unbeLIEVABLE" repeatedly.

After The Hounds Of Love came out though, when I was just starting my second year of art college, my borderline obsession with Bush began. In the years following, I purchased every studio recording she ever released. I kick myself for not ever picking up the Live video, from 1979. It's no longer available. She only toured once, which only added to her mystique.

My favourite song of Kate's is This Woman's Work from the She's Having A Baby movie soundtrack (1987), but the one I like to play is Moments Of Pleasure, from her 1993 album, The Red Shoes. Oddly enough, that one is my least favourite Kate album, although I must clarify that there are no bad Kate Bush albums. I remember walking in to pick up that album at Toronto's now-defunct Sam The Record Man the day The Red Shoes was released. The first song I heard blasting out of the store speakers was Moments Of Pleasure, and when Kate sang "Hey there Michael... do ya really love me," I was stopped dead in my tracks. Kate Bush was singing to ME!

At least that's what I like to think anyway.

It's a song I like to play when I just want to roll on the keyboard. It has a reoccurring motif that I really like, which repeats through the entire song. There are some incidental lyrics in the tag that I left out, because they seem very specific to Kate's studio and personal experience with her fellow musicians and friends. But I kept the last two lines in the song.

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Category:

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[crayonsaint]

stumbled upon you by accident but what a find! your story about jane siberry sealed the deal for me. so much like my discovery of her and her magic. for me "the taxi ride" can still move me to tears like it did that first time over two decades ago. and kate....

ah.... well, great job. you have won another fan!

[michaelthorner]

@crayonsaint Thanks a lot! I discovered Jane first, but several of my college friends told me "if you love Siberry, you're going to love Kate Bush!" And I did, and do.

[lennardfeddersen]

terrific, great interpretation, made my evening

[michaelthorner]

@lennardfeddersen Thanks for listening! It's one of my favourite Kate Bush songs; an overlooked gem in my opinion.

[mrsskagtrendy]

you have a sweet little voice

[michaelthorner]

@mrsskagtrendy Thank you! I clicked on your page. Tame might very well be my favourite Pixies song! ;-)

[pjkwatches]

I'd feel so chuffed if you were a neighbour...but we would be constantly drunk and singing away! We'd be exhausted! heehee!

[mrsskagtrendy]

@michaelthorner cheers, yes i thought it suited the video haha

[misterjoecool]

@michaelthorner I love the "adult" arrangements on Director's Cut but the songs aren't strong, other than MOP, This Woman's Work and Never Be Mine. Unfortunately, in the last two, she's cut the guts out of them, so there's little contrast and for me they work musically but not dramatically.

Actually, I've been "living" with Kate for much of this year - I've written an epic movie musical script around a number of her songs. Now I've just got to find $50 million to make it!

[michaelthorner]

@misterjoecool Thank you! Have you heard Kate's new album Director's Cut yet? She reimagines this song with a new arrangement.