Althouse: "'When she sings the song Pi,' whose chorus is a recitation of the mathematical digits, 'she really brings the emotion to it.'"

August 22, 2014

"'When she sings the song Pi,' whose chorus is a recitation of the mathematical digits, 'she really brings the emotion to it.'"

"'She’s able to deliver things that on the surface seem odd.'"

From "An Encore 35 Years in the Making/Kate Bush Fans Travel to See Rare Concerts in London."

(Video of "Pi.")

18 comments:

rhhardin said...: I memorized pi to 20 digits because you'd want to type it in for scientific Fortran programs.

Or you can type ATAN2(1.,1.)*4. which I still use today.; 8/22/14, 9:52 AM
oleh said...: My favorite Kate Bush:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp43OdtAAkM

My second favorite Kate Bush:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk-4lXLM34g; 8/22/14, 9:54 AM
Nonapod said...: One of my favorite vocalists (along with Mike Patton and Kyo from Dir En Grey); 8/22/14, 10:17 AM
Kevin said...: I never thought I'd see an Althouse post about Kate Bush.

I've probably listened to the album Hounds of Love over 1000 times. No other single piece of art has had a greater effect on my life.

Not the Ring Cycle, not Turnadot, not Woman with a Parasol - Madame Monet and Her Son, not Pictures from an Institution, not Il Duomo di Firenze, not Sleater-Kinney.... Nothing else in the whole history of human endeavor.; 8/22/14, 10:19 AM
cassandra lite said...: The way she sings 9, and also sometimes 4, just kills me.; 8/22/14, 10:35 AM
Michael said...: I am a great fan of Kate Bush. Love "running up that hill.

But on the Althouse blog I believe we should take a few hours and think about the inherent racism in her music and the need for reparations. Vital to get some quality discussion on that urgent topic.; 8/22/14, 10:57 AM
Bart Hall (Kansas, USA) said...: rhhardin -- oh, my, does that bring back memories of my days with WatFor in Canada.

And for all you hackers out there, my password is the last four digits of PI ...; 8/22/14, 11:04 AM
Fred Drinkwater said...: Kate Bush. Excellent.
One more thing I have to thank R.M.Richardson for. (I can't believe I just had that epiphany now. Hell, it was over 30 years ago that he was responsible for me meeting my wife. He wasn't INTENDING that, but it happened anyway, so...); 8/22/14, 11:56 AM
Jay Vogt said...: Kate Bush makes me ache for vinyl. Listening to her in analog is breathtaking.

She's a (much) better version of Marianne Faithfull.

Wish I could go to a show.; 8/22/14, 12:11 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Big fan from way back.

Huge,...; 8/22/14, 12:14 PM
Be said...: Currently, am listening to "Lionheart." Don't know how many times I've listened to that album in particular, but "Symphony in Blue" and "Heartbrake" never fail make the eyes water.

Would have given my remaining eye tooth to see her live.; 8/22/14, 12:43 PM
Peder said...: Let me add another bit of praise for 'Hounds of Love'. The obvious question here: is Althouse a Kate Bush fan? If so, which albums or songs speak to you most?; 8/22/14, 12:49 PM
Fred Drinkwater said...: I'm a sucker for "Lionheart".; 8/22/14, 1:15 PM
Peder said...: And if you're a fan from way back, give her 2005 album 'Aerial' a listen. Some absolutely heartbreaking stuff. My favorite is 'A Coral Room'.; 8/22/14, 2:53 PM
Be said...: My favorite album changes weekly. I love "Never Forever," as edgy as it is. Favorite track: "Wedding List." How to distill "The Bride Wore Black" into three or so minutes?

"Aerial" is brilliant. I fall asleep to the second side, much like I did to the second side of "Hounds of Love."; 8/22/14, 5:49 PM
Be said...: Any opinions on "50 Words for Snow?" Head's been under a rock lately, so only just learned of its existence.; 8/22/14, 5:51 PM
Peder said...: Be, '50 Words for Snow' is a bit more hit and miss. I like the title track quite a bit though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8Aytn3Fcu0; 8/23/14, 7:27 AM
jr565 said...: there's no emotion in Pi. It's math digits.; 8/23/14, 12:21 PM