Eat the Music
"Eat the Music" is a song written and recorded by British singer-songwriter Kate Bush. Columbia Records released it as the lead single from Bush's seventh album, The Red Shoes (1993), in the United States, while EMI chose "Rubberband Girl" everywhere else in the world. In the United Kingdom, a small handful of extremely rare 7" and promotional CD-singles were produced, but were recalled by EMI Records at the last minute. A commercial release followed in 1994 in the Netherlands and Australia, along with a handful of other countries. The single reached #10 in the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks chart.[3]
"Eat the Music" | ||||
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Single by Kate Bush | ||||
from the album The Red Shoes | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 7 September 1993 30 May 1994 (Australia)[1] | |||
Recorded | 1990-1993 | |||
Genre | Baila[2] | |||
Length | 4:55 9:19 (12" Version) | |||
Label | Columbia (U.S.) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Kate Bush | |||
Producer(s) | Kate Bush | |||
Kate Bush singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Eat the Music" on YouTube |
Tricky included the song on his edition of the mix album series Back to Mine.
Background
Bush commented on the song, saying: "Eat The Music was inspired by Madagascan music which I was fortunate enough to hear through Paddy, who gave me some tapes that I loved listening to. The music is so joyous and full of sunshine and it's good to drive to. Justin Vali came to Paddy's attention and soon after, they were both playing valihas to a specially written "Madagascan" song. I wanted it to feel joyous and sunny, both qualities are rife in Justin as a person – so I just had to provide the fruit I hope the result is a colourful one. Again, this was a lot of fun to work on and it features Justin's first lines of sung English which he found hilarious. We found both his singing and his reaction to it delightful."[4]
Critical reception
Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel wrote in his review of the single, "The bizarre fruit metaphors on "Eat the Music" are exceedingly pretentious, but the song has a lilting, African high-life feel."[5]
Track listings
All songs were written by Kate Bush, except where noted.
CD single (France)
EMI France - SPCD1716
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Eat the Music" (Edit Radio) | 3:25 |
CD single (US)
Columbia - 44K 77165 44T-77165
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Eat the Music" | 4:55 | |
2. | "Eat the Music" (12" Version) | 9:19 | |
3. | "Big Stripey Lie" | 3:32 | |
4. | "Candle in the Wind" | Elton John, Bernie Taupin | 4:26 |
Cassette single (US)
Columbia - 44T 77165
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Eat the Music" | 4:55 | |
2. | "Eat the Music" (12" Version) | 9:19 | |
3. | "Big Stripey Lie" | 3:32 | |
4. | "Candle in the Wind" | Elton John, Bernie Taupin | 4:26 |
CD single (non-US)
EMI - 7243 8 81317 2 8
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Eat the Music" | 5:10 |
2. | "Eat the Music" (Extended Mix) | 4:58 |
3. | "You Want Alchemy" | 4:22 |
4. | "Shoedance" (The Red Shoes Dance Mix) | 10:05 |
Personnel
- Kate Bush – vocals, keyboards
- Paddy Bush – vocals
- Stuart Elliott – drums, percussion
- John Giblin – bass guitar
- Justin Vali – valiha, kabosy, vocals
- Nigel Hitchcock – tenor saxophone
- Neil Sidwell – trombone
- Steve Sidwell – trumpet
- Paul Spong – trumpet
Charts
Chart (1993) | Peak position |
---|---|
Poland (Związek Producentów Audio Video)[6] | 32 |
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[7] | 10 |
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[8] | 31 |
Chart (1994) | Peak position |
Australia (ARIA)[9] | 133 |
References
- "New Release Summary – Product Available from: 30/05/94 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 224)". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 13 August 2016.
- "Baila Music from Sri Lanka: The Gypsies".
- "Billboard > Artists / Kate Bush > Chart History > Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- "Letter To The Fan Club". Living In The Past.
- Gettelman, Parry (3 December 1993). "Kate Bush". Orlando Sentinel.
- "EAT THE MUSIC – Kate Bush" (in Polish). ZPAV. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- "Kate Bush Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- "allmusic - Kate Bush - Billboard singles". Retrieved 1 February 2009.
- "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 2015-07-15". imgur.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2016.