Wuthering Heights: How Margot Robbie is Reigniting a Kate Bush Classic
It’s a song that defined an era, a haunting melody and a powerful vocal performance that cemented Kate Bush as a groundbreaking artist. Now, nearly five decades after its initial release, “Wuthering Heights,” the debut single from the iconic British singer-songwriter, is experiencing a remarkable resurgence. This latest wave of popularity is, in part, thanks to the infectious enthusiasm of Australian actress Margot Robbie.
In 1978, at the tender age of 19, Bush made history. Her debut single, “Wuthering Heights,” propelled her to the number one spot on the UK charts, making her the first female artist to achieve this milestone with a self-penned song. Fast forward to today, and the enduring magic of “Wuthering Heights” is captivating a new generation, spurred on by a contemporary cinematic adaptation of the novel it draws its name from, and a delightful video of Margot Robbie dancing to the track.
This renewed interest offers a perfect opportunity to delve into the fascinating story behind this timeless song and the extraordinary musician who brought it to the world.
The Genesis of a Musical Prodigy
Catherine Bush was born in Kent, England, on July 30, 1958. Music was a natural part of her upbringing; her father was a general practitioner with a penchant for the piano, her mother enjoyed Irish dancing, and her two older brothers were steeped in folk music. Young Kate absorbed this musical environment, teaching herself the piano at 11 and soon after picking up the organ and violin. By her early teens, she was already composing her own songs, complete with original lyrics.
Recognising her extraordinary talent, her family supported her early musical endeavours, helping her produce a demo tape featuring over 50 original compositions. While record labels initially passed on her work, the demo eventually found its way to Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. He was so impressed that he facilitated the recording of her early track, “Passing Through Air,” in his studio shortly after her 15th birthday.
Gilmour’s continued support led to further demo recordings. One of these eventually landed in the hands of EMI record executive Terry Slater, who, recognising Bush’s raw talent, signed her to a contract when she was a mere 16 years old. A significant advance from the record label allowed Bush to pursue further artistic development. She enrolled in interpretive dance classes, tutored by the same instructor who had guided David Bowie, and also undertook mime training. The record label, mindful of her youth, decided to hold off on launching her career immediately. They kept her on retainer for two years while she completed her schooling. During this period of anticipation, Bush’s creative output flourished; she penned more than 200 songs.
The Haunting Melody of “Wuthering Heights”
“Wuthering Heights,” the song that would launch Bush’s illustrious career, was released on January 20, 1978. It served as the lead single from her debut album, “The Kick Inside,” which followed a month later. Legend has it that Bush wrote the song in a single night in 1977, at the age of 18. The inspiration struck after she watched a 1970 BBC adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic 1847 novel. After reading the book, she discovered a shared birthday with Brontë, a synchronicity that seemed to deepen her connection to the story.
The lyrics of “Wuthering Heights” are famously delivered from the perspective of the spectral Catherine Earnshaw, a character renowned for her passionate and tormented spirit. The song’s melody is equally distinctive, characterised by unconventional harmonic progressions and a unique, irregular phrasing that sets it apart from contemporary pop music. Bush’s vocal performance was so powerful and evocative that she reportedly recorded it in a single take.
To complement the song’s ethereal quality, two official music videos were produced. The first depicted Bush with wide eyes, an almost otherworldly presence, clad in a flowing white gown. A year later, a more elaborately produced second video was filmed. In this version, Bush donned a vibrant red gown and a matching floral hair accessory, dancing expressively in a field. Both videos showcased Bush’s own distinctive choreography, further highlighting her artistic vision.
The impact of “Wuthering Heights” was immediate and profound. It soared to the top of the UK singles chart, holding the number one position for an impressive four weeks. Its success wasn’t confined to Britain; the song also topped the charts in Australia, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, and Portugal.
Stardom, Disappearance, and a Resilient Career
Following the phenomenal success of her debut album, which sold a million copies in the UK alone, Bush quickly released her second album, “Lionheart,” just eight months later. While it produced the hit single “Wow,” it didn’t quite replicate the chart-topping success of its predecessor. However, contractual obligations necessitated an extensive European tour in 1979, which would, remarkably, be her last for 35 years.
After the tour, Bush established her own music publishing and management companies. She continued to release critically acclaimed albums, including “Never for Ever” in 1980, which featured the hit “Babooshka,” and “The Dreaming” in 1982, her first album to break into the US Top 200.
Her fifth album, “Hounds of Love,” released in 1985, contained the enduring hit “Running Up That Hill.” This song reached number three in the UK and number 30 in the US. Bush had initially intended to title the song “Deal with God,” but was reportedly dissuaded by music executives. That same year, she collaborated with Peter Gabriel on the powerful duet “Don’t Give Up.” A compilation album in 1986 included a re-recorded version of “Wuthering Heights.”
In 1989, Bush released “The Sensual World,” which became her most commercially successful album in the United States. She continued to release new music throughout the 1990s, culminating in her seventh studio album, “The Red Shoes.” Following this release, she largely withdrew from the public eye.
A Deliberate Break from the Limelight
Bush made a conscious decision to step away from the intense spotlight of stardom. During this period, she gave birth to her son, Albert, affectionately known as Bertie, in 1998. She and her partner, Danny McIntosh, embraced a more reclusive lifestyle in Devon, England. Bush has often spoken about her desire to shield her family life from the media, even as one of the world’s most recognisable musicians. In a 2014 interview, she explained, “My life and my work are very interlocked. That’s partly why I like to keep my private life private.”
What was intended as a one-year hiatus from recording new music stretched into twelve years. Bush finally made her return to the recording studio in 2005 with the album “Aerial.” Her tenth studio album, “50 Words for Snow,” was released in 2011. It wasn’t until 2014 that she embarked on another tour, a full 35 years after her previous one.
Her comeback tour was met with immense demand; the first show sold out within 15 minutes. However, Bush maintained a strict policy of banning cameras from her concerts, a testament to her desire to control her artistic presentation. The immense pressure of returning to the spotlight after such a long absence took a toll. In a 2016 interview with BBC 6 Music, she confessed to the “terror” she experienced performing live again after decades away. “I was so terrified that if my mind wandered off, that when I came back I wouldn’t remember where I was,” she admitted.
Despite the speculation surrounding her periods of absence from the public eye, Bush has consistently rejected the notion that she is a “weirdo recluse.” In a 2005 interview with The Guardian, she stated, “I go out of my way to be a very normal person. I just find it frustrating that people think that I’m some kind of weirdo reclusive that never comes out into the world.” Her last known interview was in 2016, where she revisited the profound fear she felt during her return to live performances.
A New Generation Discovers a Legend
The year 2022 saw an extraordinary revival for another of Kate Bush’s iconic tracks, “Running Up That Hill.” The song surged back to the top of the charts, an astonishing 37 years after its initial release, thanks to its prominent feature in the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things.” This resurgence introduced the song to a new demographic of fans and prompted a rare public statement from Bush on her website.
“You might’ve heard that the first part of the fantastic, gripping new series of Stranger Things has recently been released on Netflix,” she wrote. “It features the song Running Up That Hill, which is being given a whole new lease of life by the young fans who love the show – I love it too! Because of this, Running Up That Hill is charting around the world and has entered the UK chart at No. 8. It’s all really exciting! Thanks very much to everyone who has supported the song.”
The Margot Robbie Effect
Now, it appears another of Bush’s seminal works is poised for a revival, courtesy of Margot Robbie. The Australian actress was recently captured dancing enthusiastically to “Wuthering Heights” in an Instagram post that quickly went viral. Robbie, dressed in a striking red and black ensemble, was seen performing her own interpretation of Bush’s iconic moves on the Yorkshire moors, the very landscape that serves as the setting for Emily Brontë’s novel.
The charming video was shared this week by William Conacher, the film’s dialect coach, on his Instagram account. He captioned the post, “Cathy may not have a great time in the movie but we had a lovely time making it. Here is the joyous Margot on our last day of shooting.”
“Wuthering Heights” has amassed over 255 million streams on Spotify, making it Bush’s third most popular song on the platform. It trails behind a remastered version of “Army Dreamers” and “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God),” which boasts an staggering 1.6 billion streams. This latest surge in popularity, driven by Robbie’s infectious energy and the new film adaptation, is undoubtedly introducing this enduring classic to a fresh audience, proving that Kate Bush’s musical legacy continues to resonate across generations.
