3 Kate Bush Songs That Were Inspired by Niche Movies

Kate Bush is an incomparable singer/songwriter and one of the most fascinating musical figures to come out of England. And like many artists of Bush’s ilk, she has been inspired by other forms of art, including film. Let’s look at just a few amazing Kate Bush songs that you may not know were inspired by movies!

“Between A Man And A Woman”

This classic from Kate Bush’s 1989 record Sensual World is actually inspired by the iconic Francis Ford Coppola film, The Godfather. With a bit of context, it makes perfect sense how “Between A Man And A Woman” took some cues from the classic mafia film.

“The whole thing really came from a line in ‘The Godfather’, during some family argument, when Marlon Brando says, ‘Don’t interfere, it’s between a man and a woman,’” said Bush of the song. “It’s exploring the idea of trying to keep a relationship together, how outside forces can break into it.”

It’s worth noting that Bush was mistaken here. Mama Corleone delivered that iconic line, not Marlon Brando’s character. Still, the connection is still intriguing.

“Wuthering Heights”

Alright, this one’s pretty obvious. But it’s still worth including on our list of Kate Bush songs that were inspired by movies. Bush’s most recognizable and pop-culture-influencing song, the 1978 single “Wuthering Heights”, was inspired by the 1939 film of the same name. For reference, that film was based on the famed book by Emily Brontë, which follows the story of two West Yorkshire families and their complicated relationship with a man named Heathcliff.

“Great subject matter for a song,” said Bush. “I loved writing it. […] Also, when I was a child, I was always called Cathy, not Kate, and I just found myself able to relate to her as a character.”

“Hounds Of Love”

Hounds Of Love is this writer’s personal favorite Kate Bush album. I know that a lot of people out there feel the same way about this gorgeous 1985 record. And some might not know that its title track is actually inspired by the 1957 horror film, Night Of The Demon. In fact, the opening line “It’s in the trees, it’s coming!” is an almost direct quote from the movie.

Photo by David Redfern/Redferns

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