Kate Bush's 1979 TV special and 1980 Christmas single
As we approach the end of the year in which Kate Bush's 1985 song "Running Up That Hill" became a surprise worldwide smash hit 37 years after it was first released (thanks to its use in the Netflix series Stranger Things), let's take a look at two Christmas-themed Kate Bush creations from long ago: a TV Christmas special which aired on British television in late 1979, and a non-album Christmas single released in 1980.
On December 22, 1979, Bush starred in a BBC-TV Christmas special broadcast in the U.K. Simply titled Kate, the surreal 44-minute program featured Bush performing songs mostly drawn from her first three albums, as well as a new holiday song called "December Will Be Magic Again". That song was released as a non-album Christmas single in Europe and Australia the following year, in remixed form.
First off, here is that 1979 Christmas special, which includes the original 1979 mix of the song "December Will Be Magic Again", and features none other than Peter Gabriel as a special guest. The delightfully bizarre program is sometimes reminiscent of '70's TV variety shows, and other times reminiscent of '80's MTV videos.
The A-side of the 1980 single, "December Will Be Magic Again", is much like the songs on Bush's first two albums from 1978, composed on piano, with moments of orchestration which were not present on the TV version. Does it have potential to become a popular holiday song, now that a whole new generation has apparently discovered Kate Bush? The sound of the song is warm and pleasing to the ears, but after the first few verses, the lyrics and vocals become possibly too quirky for Yuletide mass appeal. However, for those who are attuned to Bush's art, the song may serve as a suitably magical addition to their personal Christmas playlists. The B-side, "Warm And Soothing", is ironically a less warm and soothing song, a more somber piano ballad recalling a "holiday in the Alps", not in a festive sense so much as with a chilly winter theme. Maybe that's what flip sides are for, as the A-side of this single looks at Christmas time with an unusual sort of youthful cheeriness, while the B-side takes the point of view of a disillusioned adult.
Although it was initially released as a non-album single, "December Will Be Magic Again" has been reissued on a number of collections. Both of the tracks were re-pressed for the 1984 U.K. singles box set titled The Single File 1978-1983 (EMI KBS 1). Remastered versions of both songs were included on the 2019 CD box set The Other Sides (Fish People 0190295568887). The 1979 mix of "December Will Be Magic Again" appeared on a various-artists U.K. holiday compilation called It's Christmas (EMI EMTV 49) in 1989. Another alternate mix of the song appeared as a B-side track on Bush's 1993 CD/cassette-single Moments Of Pleasure (EMI United Kingdom CDEM 297).
Kate Bush - Kate (1979 Christmas Special)
Songs featured:
(Intro)
Violin
(Gymnopédie No.1 - composed by Erik Satie)
Symphony In Blue
Them Heavy People
(Intro for Peter Gabriel)
Here Comes The Flood (performed by Peter Gabriel)
Ran Tan Waltz
December Will Be Magic Again
The Wedding List
Another Day (with Peter Gabriel)
Egypt
The Man With The Child In His Eyes
Don't Push Your Foot On The Heartbrake
Kate Bush "December Will Be Magic Again" (b/w "Warm And Soothing") (EMI single 5121) 1980
Track Listing:
a. December Will Be Magic Again
b. Warm And Soothing
On December 22, 1979, Bush starred in a BBC-TV Christmas special broadcast in the U.K. Simply titled Kate, the surreal 44-minute program featured Bush performing songs mostly drawn from her first three albums, as well as a new holiday song called "December Will Be Magic Again". That song was released as a non-album Christmas single in Europe and Australia the following year, in remixed form.
First off, here is that 1979 Christmas special, which includes the original 1979 mix of the song "December Will Be Magic Again", and features none other than Peter Gabriel as a special guest. The delightfully bizarre program is sometimes reminiscent of '70's TV variety shows, and other times reminiscent of '80's MTV videos.
The A-side of the 1980 single, "December Will Be Magic Again", is much like the songs on Bush's first two albums from 1978, composed on piano, with moments of orchestration which were not present on the TV version. Does it have potential to become a popular holiday song, now that a whole new generation has apparently discovered Kate Bush? The sound of the song is warm and pleasing to the ears, but after the first few verses, the lyrics and vocals become possibly too quirky for Yuletide mass appeal. However, for those who are attuned to Bush's art, the song may serve as a suitably magical addition to their personal Christmas playlists. The B-side, "Warm And Soothing", is ironically a less warm and soothing song, a more somber piano ballad recalling a "holiday in the Alps", not in a festive sense so much as with a chilly winter theme. Maybe that's what flip sides are for, as the A-side of this single looks at Christmas time with an unusual sort of youthful cheeriness, while the B-side takes the point of view of a disillusioned adult.
Although it was initially released as a non-album single, "December Will Be Magic Again" has been reissued on a number of collections. Both of the tracks were re-pressed for the 1984 U.K. singles box set titled The Single File 1978-1983 (EMI KBS 1). Remastered versions of both songs were included on the 2019 CD box set The Other Sides (Fish People 0190295568887). The 1979 mix of "December Will Be Magic Again" appeared on a various-artists U.K. holiday compilation called It's Christmas (EMI EMTV 49) in 1989. Another alternate mix of the song appeared as a B-side track on Bush's 1993 CD/cassette-single Moments Of Pleasure (EMI United Kingdom CDEM 297).
Kate Bush - Kate (1979 Christmas Special)
Songs featured:
(Intro)
Violin
(Gymnopédie No.1 - composed by Erik Satie)
Symphony In Blue
Them Heavy People
(Intro for Peter Gabriel)
Here Comes The Flood (performed by Peter Gabriel)
Ran Tan Waltz
December Will Be Magic Again
The Wedding List
Another Day (with Peter Gabriel)
Egypt
The Man With The Child In His Eyes
Don't Push Your Foot On The Heartbrake
Kate Bush "December Will Be Magic Again" (b/w "Warm And Soothing") (EMI single 5121) 1980
Track Listing:
a. December Will Be Magic Again
b. Warm And Soothing
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