Taking Sides: Kate Bush vs. Siouxsie Sioux

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Inspired by a mixtape I'd made for my wife prior to proposing to her that I listened to on my way to work this evening. Both incomparable performers. Both strong, stereotype-bucking individuals. Both in possession of mesmerizingly powerful voices. Both role models. Both fans of Killing Joke (hahaha...sorry, I had to throw that in). Both gorgeous women. Whom do you choose?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 November 2003 06:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Kate Bush is hardly one-dimensional, but Siouxsie is a musical chameleon.

I say Siouxsie.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 22 November 2003 06:06 (twenty-one years ago)

(this choice was tougher than I let on, as "Running Up That Hill" is in my personal top 20)

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 22 November 2003 06:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Sort've surprised Sioux got the first vote, actually. I didn't discover Kate Bush until I was in college (whereas I'd immersed myself in the stylishly malevolent world of the Banshees back in High School). I think Bush may have the edge by being more of an "adult contemporary" artist, and not one teathered to any specific scene (ala Siouxsie's roots in British Punk and her arguable birthing of Gothic). I think Bush gets more respect. I will always count Siouxsie & the Banshees among my very favorites, but Kate Bush has at least three or four songs that can actually make me well up and cry (notably "This Woman's Work," "Cloudbusting" and the afore-mentioned "Running Up that Hill"). Like Bjork and obvious-disciple Tori Amos, there is a starkly emotive strain to her vocals that is utterly stirring.

This is not to say Siouxsie's vocals aren't equally emotive, but they're generally quite a bit icier than Bush's. Siouxsie's choppy staccato delivery always conjures the image of a vexed, exhorting archangel (with jet black wings).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 November 2003 07:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Siouxsie. Clever spelling, almost lost her voice (suffers for her art), and she's Jewish too, right?

― kdjfe, Saturday, 22 November 2003 08:27 (twenty-one years ago)

jesus christ gimme siouxsie sioux easy

― cinniblount (James Blount), Saturday, 22 November 2003 08:28 (twenty-one years ago)

god I knew a guy in italy when every time you were at his house he'd show these goddamn kate bush videos - EVERY FUCKING TIME. I mean I knew people who everytime you were at their house they would show you homemade porn and it wasn't as disturbing as that guy.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Saturday, 22 November 2003 08:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Siouxsie. Clever spelling, almost lost her voice (suffers for her art), and she's Jewish too, right?

No, she's not Jewish. She merely boasted the Star of David shirts (and the "Israel" single) as a means of putting off the Skinhead contingent that was starting to show up at Banshee shows....who'd initially taken to her earlier fashion statement of sporting a swastika for shock value (La Sioux claims never to have harbored any actual Nazi sympathies.)

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 November 2003 08:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I knew a guy in italy when every time you were at his house he'd show these goddamn kate bush videos

The roommate of a friend of mine used to have a simillar preoccupation with Tori Amos. We're talking about a guy in his late 20's who had about seven or eight full sized posters of the woman on her wall (and countless clipped pics of her from magazines). The only NON-Tori poster that hung on her wall? The movie poster from Disney's "Little Mermaid". I always got the creeps being over there.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 November 2003 08:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Musically, there is no competition here. Kate Bush is one of the greatest female singer/songwriters ever.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 22 November 2003 18:25 (twenty-one years ago)

(When I was in college, I knew someone who designed something or other that Siouxsie wore. She was also an ass double for Brooke Shields. Those were her claims to fame.)

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Saturday, 22 November 2003 18:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I think I'd be satisfied with a greatest hits album from both. But Kate made a lot less albums (and a lot less chaff) so I'm gonna go with her.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 22 November 2003 19:00 (twenty-one years ago)

and actually I am satisfied by The Whole Story, so the hits comp deal isn't hypothetical when it comes to her.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 22 November 2003 19:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Do I get 3 votes if I say it three times? Kate Kate Kate, a thousand times Kate, her tragic 1993 disappearance from the face of the earth not withstanding

― Dave Vinson (Gaughin), Saturday, 22 November 2003 19:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Anthony, you should seek out Sioux's Once/Twice Upon A Time singles comps. They do her legacy some justice.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 22 November 2003 19:06 (twenty-one years ago)

will do.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 22 November 2003 19:07 (twenty-one years ago)

SIOUXSIE SIOUX I KISS YIOUX

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 22 November 2003 19:08 (twenty-one years ago)

She was also an ass double for Brooke Shields...

Hahahaha. I just like the concept of an "ass double". I'd probably make for a fine ass double for David Gilmour.

I think I'd be satisfied with a greatest hits album from both

Story of your life, Anthony.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 November 2003 20:08 (twenty-one years ago)

....her tragic 1993 disappearance from the face of the earth not withstanding

I seem to remember Kate coming out of her self-imposed exile just a couple of years ago for a Q Awards ceremony and posing with Johnny Rotten. Ring any bells?

Actually, I'm listening to the Banshees' live Nocturne today, and it struck me that Kate would absolutely NEVER dare to sing as off-key as often as does La Sioux here (though Siouxsie is invariably doing it on purpose or simply can't be arsed to hide it...which almost makes her cooler). Thus, the chasm between them widens.

Sub-question: Has Kate Bush ever actually rocked ?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 November 2003 20:12 (twenty-one years ago)

kate bush = incredibly talented
siouxie = more interesting

― teeny (teeny), Saturday, 22 November 2003 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Kate Bush is one of the greatest female singer/songwriters ever.

If by "greatest," you mean "most boring and hippied-out," yes

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Saturday, 22 November 2003 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

embrace your inner unicorn J0hn!

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Saturday, 22 November 2003 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

"most boring and hippied-out,"

Greater contenders for this title: Joni Mithcell, Stevie Nicks, Patti Smith, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Grace Slick,....

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 November 2003 20:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Is "boring and hippied-out" tied only to female artists for you, Alex?

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 22 November 2003 20:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Sub-thread: Which is guaranteed to get you crying: Bush's "This Woman's Work" vs. Siouxsie's "The Last Beat of My Heart"?

Gotta go with "This Woman's Work", which is so palpably heartbreaking, it could make Osama scramble for a hanky. It's positively visceral.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 November 2003 20:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I always associate "This Woman's Work" with the childbirth scene in She's Having A Baby. And yes, in the right setting, it's made me reach for a Kleenex.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 22 November 2003 20:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not very sentimental, but "This Womans Work" is one of the only songs in creation that chokes me up.

― Lord Custos Omicron (Lord Custos Omicron), Saturday, 22 November 2003 22:51 (twenty-one years ago)

ever heard Maxwell do it? It's pretty faithful and on the MTV Unplugged version he announces that Kate Bush is "completely the bomb"!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 22 November 2003 22:53 (twenty-one years ago)

"Ass double" is the term she used, incidentally.

She wasn't a career ass double, just for one particular movie Shields appeared in, I think.

I haven't answered the quetion, have I? I'd probably have to say Kate Bush for her singing, and for being more varied. I'm not hugely enthusiastic about either one anymore, but still like some songs by each. I have the two Siouxsie singles collections, and would maybe by the first two albums on CD, if I saw them for cheap.

― Rockist Scientist, Saturday, 22 November 2003 23:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Sub-question: Has Kate Bush ever actually rocked ?

Has Mozart ever actually rocked?

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 23 November 2003 01:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Of course he has, why else would falco beg "Rock Me Amadeus"?

― Lord Custos Omicron (Lord Custos Omicron), Sunday, 23 November 2003 01:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I give Siouxsie the nod mostly for still being around (I don't blame anyone for early retirement, but I also appreciate someone who can turn out "Cish Cash" 25 years on). But I think people are going a little hard on Kate's Elfquest side; that's there, but The Dreaming has some seriously weird stuff on it. I love that album. And "Sat in Your Lap" doesn't rock, exactly, but it sure jumps around. (plus also, it's not like Siouxsie doesn't have her own arty pretense)

― spittle (spittle), Sunday, 23 November 2003 06:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Man, ILM makes me realize what a total unicorn NERD I am.

Both cool but I am gonna side with Kate.

― Blood and sparkles (bloodandsparkles), Sunday, 23 November 2003 06:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Both have a penchant for inconsistency, oscillating between songs that are genius and songs that are really irritating. Kate's way hotter. Siouxsie's more punk rock. Siouxsie And The Banshee's "Peek A Boo" gives me the willies like I don't know what (in a good way). Kate Bush's "This Woman's Work" gets me all choked up. . . . I'm going to have to say tie, dead even.

― Joshua Davis (josh_anomaly), Sunday, 23 November 2003 07:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Sioux is amazing up to and including Peepshow. And the first 2 Creatures album were great. I don't know Kate Bush that well since I could never stand her voice. Where should I start to try and change my mind?

― Seb, Sunday, 23 November 2003 07:51 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't know Kate Bush that well since I could never stand her voice. Where should I start to try and change my mind?

The fluttery aspects of her voice are kept to a minimum in two of her best tracks, "Running Up That Hill" and "This Woman's Work."

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Sunday, 23 November 2003 10:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Anyway, just collecting "The Whole Story" doesn't give you the full picture regarding Kate Bush. For instance, that album doesn't include even one of all the excellent tracks on side two of "Hounds Of Love" - that side is IMO her best moment.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 23 November 2003 11:20 (twenty-one years ago)

_Hounds of Love_ Is an astounding album, isn't it?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 23 November 2003 13:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Absolutely. But I find that the real gems are on side 2, not on side 1 where the hits were.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 23 November 2003 14:48 (twenty-one years ago)

May God richly bless whoever is responsible for album #4 in the "similar/related" albums here: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDSUB040311231015192331&sql=A7sn20rnac48j

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Sunday, 23 November 2003 15:14 (twenty-one years ago)

haha brilliant!

― bad jode (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 23 November 2003 16:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Geir I'm surprised you like The Ninth Wave!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 24 November 2003 02:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Gosh you lot are mentalists! Would you rather Sparks or Sham 69?!

(Anyone who says Sham 69 here is probably drunk and singing 'weeeee're all gaaaaaaaaaaahing daaaaahn the paaaab' but this is only cos they're too pissed to reach the high notes).

― Sarah (starry), Monday, 24 November 2003 14:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Is your point, Sarah, that Bush and Sioux are veritably apples and oranges (as Sparks and Sham 69 are?)?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I just wanna hear Kate Bush singing "Zoo time, is me and you time..."

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Incidentally, Sham 69 completely trounce Sparks.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:25 (twenty-one years ago)

The Ninth Wave is indeed mind-blowing. Hello Earth and Morning Fog = one of the best closing one-twos in history (up there with 'Vanishing Point' and 'Dream Attack').
But i've only really really enjoyed Hounds of Love and The Sensual World, so I'll have to go with the Siouxster.

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:29 (twenty-one years ago)

the Siouxster!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Siouxsie > Kate Bush > Sparks > pretty much everything that's left except possibly Bryan Adams, Phil Collins and Sting > Sham 6fuckin'9.

I've seen Kate Bush shopping in my local Savacentre a couple of times, if anyone's remotely interested.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Sparks never wrote anything as cool as "Borstal Breakout" or "If the Kid are United".

Siouxsie's cover of "This Town Ain't Big Enough" discreetly defecates on the original from a lofty, height like a divine brown deluge.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Incidentally, Sham 69 completely trounce Sparks.

You are dead to me.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 24 November 2003 16:22 (twenty-one years ago)

They never wrote anything as moronic as "If The Kids Are United"!

All other considerations (e.g. the catastophic and irrepairable damage they did to the UK punk scene!) aside, the first 2 or 3 Sham singles were OK - but they were only ever one trick ponies musically, and it wasn't even a particularly clever trick at that. Jimmy Pursey's subsequent periodic attempts to reinvent himself / Sham 69 have all been as laughably dreadful as his lyrics have always been.

Sparks on the other hand have written hundreds of clever, funny songs in innumerable different styles and successfully reinvented themselves repeatedly.

Give me "Amateur Hour" or "Looks Looks Looks" or "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us" or "Tips For Teens" or "I Predict" or "Cool Places" or "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth" or "The Number One Song In Heaven" or "Beat The Clock" or "Tryouts For The Human Race" or "Wonder Girl" raather than that gurning imbecile Pursey bellowing some pile of bollocks about how going down the pub, or inisisting that coming from Hersham somehow makes him a Cockney, any day!

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 24 November 2003 16:26 (twenty-one years ago)

did you know?

Sham 69 started out as a Bay City Rollers tribute band...

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 24 November 2003 16:28 (twenty-one years ago)

DON'T POLLUTE THIS THREAD WITH SPARKS CRAP DAMMIT!!!!!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 24 November 2003 16:36 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.psyche-hq.de/links/Sparks.jpg

"Siouxsie covered us, you know."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 24 November 2003 16:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Taking Sides: Sparks vs. Sham 69

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 24 November 2003 16:38 (twenty-one years ago)

"Siouxsie covered us, you know."

Yes, Ned, and if you scroll up, you'll see how I felt about it.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 24 November 2003 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I bet Siouxsie and Kate prefer Sparks to Sham 69....

Siousxie's already covered "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us" - and can you imagine Kate Bush covering "What Have We Got? (Fuck All)"?

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 24 November 2003 16:40 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't much like Kate Bush but she's definitely an artist, Siouxise is just a schlockmeister, Alice Cooper in drag

― The Spotlight Kid (kid), Monday, 24 November 2003 16:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Siouxise is just a schlockmeister,....

Oh you're so wrong.

... Alice Cooper in drag

Err...isn't he already?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 24 November 2003 16:49 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.psyche-hq.de/links/Sparks.jpg http://wolverinesds.metropoliglobal.com/movies/movie1/reparto/ma03.jpg
with Sir Ian McKellen as the creepy guy from Sparks with the hitler mustache.

― Lord Custos Omicron (Lord Custos Omicron), Monday, 24 November 2003 17:47 (twenty-one years ago)

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