Wow (Kate Bush song): Difference between revisions

"Wow"
"Wow"
Single by Kate Bush
from the album Lionheart
B-side	"Fullhouse"
Released	9 March 1979
Recorded	1978
Length	3:41 (single edit); 4:00 (album version)
Label	EMI
Songwriter(s)	Kate Bush
Producer(s)	Andrew Powell ; assisted by Kate Bush
Kate Bush singles chronology
Music video
	"Wow" on YouTube

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"Wow" is a song by the English musician Kate Bush. Originally released on her second album Lionheart in 1978, it was issued as the album's second single in March 1979. The single peaked at No. 14 and spent 10 weeks in the UK Singles Chart.^[1]

"'Wow' is about the music business," she told her KBC fan club magazine in 1979. "Not just rock music but show business in general. It was sparked off when I sat down to try to write a Pink Floyd song – something spacey."^[2]

Overview

The single features 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. Brazil and Canada used the full-length LP version.

Bush made a guest appearance on the TV Special ABBA in Switzerland, where she performed this song in April 1979.^[3] Around the time of this release, Bush embarked on her live concert tour. Due to this and the release of the single, Bush's second album Lionheart saw a resurgence of interest in the UK albums chart, by making a re-entry into the top twenty for several weeks.^[4]

The song became a hit in other countries such as Ireland where it reached No.17.^[5] The Canadian single featured a unique sleeve and was pressed on transparent yellow vinyl. The song was a moderate hit on Canada's Adult Contemporary singles chart in RPM Magazine.

"Wow" was a target for comedian Faith Brown who parodied it on her show.^[6] In 2012 The Guardian called "Wow" the "undisputed highlight" of the Lionheart album.^[7]

Releases

"Wow" also appears on Bush's compilation hits album The Whole Story, released in 1986. For the video compilation of this album, a new video was made of "Wow", featuring a montage of Bush performing live in concert.

This song was featured in the 2002 Rockstar North video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City as part of the power ballads radio station Emotion 98.3.^[8] However, it wasn't featured on the 10th anniversary edition re-release nor the Definitive Edition of the game.^[9]

Music video

A video was filmed for the release, featuring Bush performing the song in a darkened studio, and then backed by spotlights during the chorus.

The video for "Wow" was censored by the BBC because the song was considered risqué. The video shows Bush patting her bottom while singing "he's too busy hitting the Vaseline". Vaseline was once defined as a personal sexual lubricant.^[10]

Track listing

All tracks written and composed by Kate Bush.

7-inch vinyl

"Wow" (edited version) – 3:46
"Fullhouse" – 3:13

Personnel

Musicians

Charlie Morgan – drums ("Wow")
Stuart Elliot – drums ("Fullhouse")
Brian Bath – guitar ("Wow")
Del Palmer – bass ("Wow")
David Paton – bass ("Fullhouse")
Ian Bairnson – electric guitar
Paddy Bush – mandolin ("Wow")
Kate Bush – vocals, harmony vocals, piano
Duncan Mackay – synthesizer ("Wow")
Francis Monkman – Hammond organ ("Fullhouse")

Production

Andrew Powell – producer
Kate Bush – assistant producer
Patrick Jaunead – assistant engineer
David Katz – orchestra contractor
Jon Kelly – recording engineer
Nigel Walker – assistant engineer, mixing, mixing assistant

Charts

Chart (1979)	Peak position
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[11]	28
Ireland (IRMA)^[5]	17
UK Singles (OCC)^[12]	14

Cover versions

Jazz singer Liza Lee covered the song on her 2009 album Anima. Lee donated proceeds of the album to the Society for Women's Health Research.^[13]

References

^ "WOW". Official Charts. 17 March 1979. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
^ Quoted in Never Forever fanzine, No. 17, December 1991
^ "ABBA in Switzerland". Abbaontv.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
^ "Kate Bush – Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
^ ^a ^b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Wow". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
^ "Top 5 Kate Bush spoofs". Telegraph.co.uk. 14 March 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
^ Chesterton, George (25 January 2012). "Old music: Kate Bush – Wow". The Guardian.
^ "New Grand Theft Auto Game Features Kate!". Katebushnews.com. 11 November 2002. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
^ Barnes, Jeff (19 November 2021). "GTA Trilogy Music List: Songs Missing from the Original Games". Game Rant. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
^ Petridis, Alexis (28 July 2018). "Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! 60 unbelievable facts about Kate Bush". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4519." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
^ "Kate Bush: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
^ "Jazz Artist Liza Lee Releasing Exciting New CD, Anima, with a Personal Mission on January 27, 2009". Prweb.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.

[1] "WOW". Official Charts. 17 March 1979. Retrieved 8 October 2024.

[2] Quoted in Never Forever fanzine, No. 17, December 1991

[3] "ABBA in Switzerland". Abbaontv.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2021.

[occ-4] "Kate Bush – Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016.

[Ireland-5] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Wow". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 January 2022.

[6] "Top 5 Kate Bush spoofs". Telegraph.co.uk. 14 March 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2021.

[7] Chesterton, George (25 January 2012). "Old music: Kate Bush – Wow". The Guardian.

[8] "New Grand Theft Auto Game Features Kate!". Katebushnews.com. 11 November 2002. Retrieved 24 April 2021.

[9] Barnes, Jeff (19 November 2021). "GTA Trilogy Music List: Songs Missing from the Original Games". Game Rant. Retrieved 26 November 2024.

[Point_53_in_article-10] Petridis, Alexis (28 July 2018). "Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! 60 unbelievable facts about Kate Bush". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2021.

[sc_Canadaadultcontemporary_-11] "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4519." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 July 2017.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Kate_Bush-12] "Kate Bush: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2017.

[13] "Jazz Artist Liza Lee Releasing Exciting New CD, Anima, with a Personal Mission on January 27, 2009". Prweb.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.

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@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 | album      = [[Lionheart (Kate Bush album)|Lionheart]]
 | B-side     = Fullhouse
-| released   = {{Start date|1979|03|05|df=y}}
+| released   = {{Start date|1979|03|09|df=y}}
 | recorded   = 1978
 | studio     =
-| genre      = *[[Art rock]]
+| genre      =
-*[[baroque pop]]
-*[[progressive pop]]
 | length     = {{Duration|m=3|s=41}} (single edit)<br />4:00 (album version)
 | label      = [[EMI]]
@@ Line 24: / Line 22: @@
 | next_title = [[Symphony in Blue]]
 | next_year  = 1979
-| misc       = {{External music video|type=single|header=Music video|1={{YouTube|ZyuxXWxKSTg|"Wow"}}}}{{Audio sample
+| misc       = {{External music video|type=single|header=Music video|1={{YouTube|ZyuxXWxKSTg|"Wow"}}}}
- | type        = single
- | file        = Kate Bush Wow Sample.ogg
- | description = "Wow"
 }}
-}}
-"'''Wow'''" is a song by the English musician [[Kate Bush]]. Originally released on her second album ''[[Lionheart (Kate Bush album)|Lionheart]]'' in 1978, it was issued as the album's second single in March 1979. It was a top 20 hit in the UK.
+"'''Wow'''" is a song by the English musician [[Kate Bush]]. Originally released on her second album ''[[Lionheart (Kate Bush album)|Lionheart]]'' in 1978, it was issued as the album's second single in March 1979. The single peaked at No. 14 and spent 10 weeks in the [[UK singles chart|UK Singles Chart]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1979-03-17 |title=WOW |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/kate-bush-wow/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Official Charts |language=en}}</ref>
-"'Wow' is about the music business," she told her ''KBC'' fan club magazine in 1979. "Not just [[rock music|rock]] music but [[show business]] in general. It was sparked off when I sat down to try to write a [[Pink Floyd]] song – something spacey."<ref>Quoted in ''Never Forever'' fanzine, No. 17, December 1991</ref>
+"'Wow' is about the music business," she told her ''KBC'' fan club magazine in 1979. "Not just rock music but show business in general. It was sparked off when I sat down to try to write a Pink Floyd song – something spacey."<ref>Quoted in ''Never Forever'' fanzine, No. 17, December 1991</ref>
-The lyrics include a reference to [[Vaseline]] as a [[Personal lubricant|sexual lubricant]]. In the original video, Kate pats her buttock when singing the lyric.
 == Overview ==
-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. Brazil and Canada used the full-length LP version. The Canadian single featured a unique sleeve and was pressed on transparent yellow vinyl. The song was a moderate hit on Canada's [[Adult Contemporary]] singles chart in [[RPM Magazine]].
+The single features 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. Brazil and Canada used the full-length LP version.
-The song was released in the UK on 9 March 1979 and peaked at number 14 in the [[UK Singles Chart]], remaining on the chart for ten weeks.<ref name=occ>{{cite web|title=Kate Bush – Full Official Chart History|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/27937/kate-bush/|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=20 January 2016}}</ref> This was an improvement on Bush's previous single, "[[Hammer Horror (song)|Hammer Horror]]" which had stalled at No.44 a few months earlier. A video was filmed for the release, featuring Bush performing the song in a darkened studio, and then backed by spotlights during the chorus. She also made a guest appearance on the TV Special ''ABBA in Switzerland'', where she performed this song in April 1979.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abbaontv.com/1979/description-switzerland.html|title=''ABBA in Switzerland''|website=Abbaontv.com|access-date=24 April 2021}}</ref> Also around the time of this release, Bush embarked on her first of only two [[The Tour of Life|live concert tours]]. Due to this and the release of the single, Bush's second album ''[[Lionheart (Kate Bush album)|Lionheart]]'' saw a resurgence of interest in the [[UK albums chart]], by making a re-entry into the top twenty for several weeks.<ref name=occ/> The song became a hit in other countries such as Ireland where it reached No.17.<ref name="Ireland"/> "Wow" was a target for comedian [[Faith Brown]] who parodied it on her show.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/8381089/Top-5-Kate-Bush-spoofs.html|title=Top 5 Kate Bush spoofs|website=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=24 April 2021}}</ref> In 2012 ''[[The Guardian]]'' called "Wow" the "undisputed highlight" of the ''Lionheart'' album.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jan/25/old-music-kate-bush-wow?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487|title=Old music: Kate Bush – Wow|first=George|last=Chesterton|date=25 January 2012|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>
+Bush made a guest appearance on the TV Special ''ABBA in Switzerland'', where she performed this song in April 1979.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abbaontv.com/1979/description-switzerland.html|title=''ABBA in Switzerland''|website=Abbaontv.com|access-date=24 April 2021|archive-date=5 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605091222/http://www.abbaontv.com/1979/description-switzerland.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Around the time of this release, Bush embarked on her [[The Tour of Life|live concert tour]]. Due to this and the release of the single, Bush's second album ''[[Lionheart (Kate Bush album)|Lionheart]]'' saw a resurgence of interest in the [[UK albums chart]], by making a re-entry into the top twenty for several weeks.<ref name="occ">{{cite web |title=Kate Bush – Full Official Chart History |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/27937/kate-bush/ |access-date=20 January 2016 |publisher=Official Charts Company}}</ref>
+The song became a hit in other countries such as Ireland where it reached No.17.<ref name="Ireland" /> The Canadian single featured a unique sleeve and was pressed on transparent yellow vinyl. The song was a moderate hit on Canada's [[Adult Contemporary]] singles chart in [[RPM Magazine]].
-==Release==
-"Wow" was released on 5 March 1979.<ref name="ws-sleeve">{{cite AV media notes |title=[[The Whole Story]] |publisher=EMI Canada |id=PWAS17242}}</ref>
+"Wow" was a target for comedian [[Faith Brown]] who parodied it on her show.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/8381089/Top-5-Kate-Bush-spoofs.html|title=Top 5 Kate Bush spoofs|website=Telegraph.co.uk|date=14 March 2011 |access-date=24 April 2021}}</ref> In 2012 ''[[The Guardian]]'' called "Wow" the "undisputed highlight" of the ''Lionheart'' album.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jan/25/old-music-kate-bush-wow?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487|title=Old music: Kate Bush – Wow|first=George|last=Chesterton|date=25 January 2012|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>
+==Releases==
 "Wow" also appears on Bush's compilation hits album ''[[The Whole Story]]'', released in 1986. For the video compilation of this album, a new video was made of "Wow", featuring a montage of Bush performing live in concert.
-This song was featured in the 2002 [[Rockstar North]] video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'' as part of the [[power ballad]]s radio station [[Emotion 98.3]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.katebushnews.com/2002/11/11/new-grand-theft-auto-game-features-kate/|title=New Grand Theft Auto Game Features Kate! |website=Katebushnews.com|date=11 November 2002|access-date=24 April 2021}}</ref> However, it was not featured on the 10th anniversary edition re-release.
+This song was featured in the 2002 [[Rockstar North]] video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'' as part of the [[power ballad]]s radio station [[Emotion 98.3]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.katebushnews.com/2002/11/11/new-grand-theft-auto-game-features-kate/|title=New Grand Theft Auto Game Features Kate! |website=Katebushnews.com|date=11 November 2002|access-date=24 April 2021}}</ref> However, it wasn't featured on the 10th anniversary edition re-release nor the ''[[Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition|Definitive Edition]]'' of the game.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Jeff |title=GTA Trilogy Music List: Songs Missing from the Original Games |url=https://gamerant.com/gta-trilogy-definitive-edition-music-tracklist-missing-songs/ |access-date=November 26, 2024 |work=Game Rant |date=November 19, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
+==Music video==
+A video was filmed for the release, featuring Bush performing the song in a darkened studio, and then backed by spotlights during the chorus.
+The video for "Wow" was censored by the [[BBC]] because the song was considered risqué. The video shows Bush patting her bottom while singing "he's too busy hitting the [[Vaseline]]". Vaseline was once defined as a personal sexual lubricant.<ref name="Point 53 in article">{{cite news |last1=Petridis |first1=Alexis |title=Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! 60 unbelievable facts about Kate Bush |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jul/25/60-unbelievable-facts-about-kate-bush |website=The Guardian |date=28 July 2018 |access-date=22 May 2021}}</ref>
 ==Track listing==
@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 {{col-2}}
 '''Musicians'''
-*[[Charlie Morgan]] – drums ("Wow")
+*[[Charlie Morgan (musician)|Charlie Morgan]] – drums ("Wow")
 *[[Stuart Elliott (drummer)|Stuart Elliot]] – drums ("Fullhouse")
 *Brian Bath – guitar ("Wow")
@@ Line 80: / Line 80: @@
 ==Charts==
-{| class="wikitable"
+{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
-!Chart (1979)
-!Peak<br>position
 |-
+! scope="col"| Chart (1979)
-{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|28|chartid=4519|access-date=6 July 2017}}
+! scope="col"| Peak<br>position
 |-
+{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|28|chartid=4519|rowheader=true|access-date=6 July 2017}}
-|align="left"|[[Irish Singles Chart]]<ref name=Ireland>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=4|title=The Irish Charts - All there is to know|website=Irishcharts.ie|access-date=24 April 2021}}</ref>
-|align="center"|17
 |-
-{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|14|artist=Kate Bush|song=Wow|access-date=6 July 2017}}
+{{single chart|Ireland2|17|song=Wow|rowheader=true|access-date=26 January 2022|refname=Ireland}}
+|-
+{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|14|artist=Kate Bush|song=Wow|rowheader=true|access-date=6 July 2017}}
 |}
 ==Cover versions==
-* Jazz singer Liza Lee covered the song on her 2009 album ''Anima''. Lee donated proceeds of the album to the [[Society for Women's Health Research]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/01/prweb1857654.htm|title=Jazz Artist Liza Lee Releasing Exciting New CD, Anima, with a Personal Mission on January 27, 2009|website=Prweb.com|access-date=24 April 2021}}</ref>
+* Jazz singer Liza Lee covered the song on her 2009 album ''Anima''. Lee donated proceeds of the album to the [[Society for Women's Health Research]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/01/prweb1857654.htm|title=Jazz Artist Liza Lee Releasing Exciting New CD, Anima, with a Personal Mission on January 27, 2009|website=Prweb.com|access-date=24 April 2021|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107085713/https://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/01/prweb1857654.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 ==References==
 {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
+{{Kate Bush songs}}
-==External links==
-*{{MetroLyrics song|kate-bush|wow}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->
-{{Kate Bush}}
 {{Authority control}}
@@ Line 114: / Line 111: @@
 [[Category:1970s ballads]]
 [[Category:Rock ballads]]
-[[Category:LGBT-related songs]]

v t e Kate Bush songs
Discography
The Kick Inside	"Moving" "Strange Phenomena" "Kite" "The Man with the Child in His Eyes" "Wuthering Heights" "Them Heavy People"
Lionheart	"Symphony in Blue" "Wow" "Hammer Horror"
Never for Ever	"Babooshka" "Army Dreamers" "Breathing"
The Dreaming	"Sat in Your Lap" "There Goes a Tenner" "Suspended in Gaffa" "The Dreaming" "Night of the Swallow"
Hounds of Love	"Running Up That Hill" "Hounds of Love" "The Big Sky" "Cloudbusting"
The Whole Story	"Experiment IV"
The Sensual World	"The Sensual World" "Love and Anger" "Deeper Understanding" "This Woman's Work"
The Red Shoes	"Rubberband Girl" "And So Is Love" "Eat the Music" "Moments of Pleasure" "The Red Shoes"
Aerial	"King of the Mountain"
50 Words for Snow	"Wild Man"
Other songs	"December Will Be Magic Again" "Ne t'enfuis pas" "Don't Give Up" "Rocket Man" "The Man I Love" "Lyra"