I am aware how potentially unhealthy this website's theme is. Beauty inspiration? One thing similar to 'beauration', to my mind, is 'thinspiration'. Critical body image is harmful. Idolizing unrealistic images, comparing yourself to others, living your life to please, living your life as a reflection in someone elses gaze is not something I would condone, I would aspire to. At the same time, those pressures are a part of my life. I doubt I am alone in this. And by that I mean I ain't no way fuckin' alone in this.
So instead of posting pictures, I will take the time to describe why I find these particular women inspirational. I will also use drugs beforehand beforehand because I am as critical of my writing as I am my appearance. Plus it's not like anyone is actually reading this.So I am merely writing for myself, really. Knowing that, I ask, why Kate Bush? Her music is unique, that would be the first thing to come to mind. She is weird as fuck. No denying that. If you can watch one of her videos without feeling vaguely perturbed . . . then you will disagree with 'weird as fuck'. As for the rest of us simple viewers, it's uncomfortable and borders on funny. But her music is beautiful. I am listening to 'In Search of Peter Pan'. One thing I love about solo female musicians, female artists in general, is that relatability I find with their art. Such subtlety, like the way an autumn breeze makes you feel. There is just this elusive, ephemeral quality to Kate Bush's melodies and lyrics that I am drawn to. In particular I enjoy her songs Wow, This Woman's Work, Under Ice, Hounds of Love, and Cloudbusting. I admit I have not listened to her extensively. I am usually content to listen to songs I like over and over again. I know people the exact opposite, who listen to whole albums at a time and generally only once before moving on. In Search of Peter Pan is on repeat right now. I do think that listening to music that way can be enjoyable, you get to know the song, but it's also true that you get less context, in terms of the artist, in terms of the album as a whole, as a creative effort, as a concept perhaps, yadda yadda.
Anyway. So. Kate Bush. Yes. I also like her style. The fearlessness to be yourself, to be an individual such that you are your own creature, and to which it would be impossible to compare others, or if not impossible, at least irrelevant.
I started listening to Kate Bush in my second year of university, although I remember listening to Wuthering Heights as a child (the Pat Benatar version). Some choice lyrics from Kate Bush songs:
Running up that Hill --
It doesn't hurt me.
Do you want to feel how it feels?
Do you want to know that it doesn't hurt me?
Do you want to hear about the deal I'm making?
I don't know about anyone else, but to me she is talking about sex, about compromise in love, about what it is to be a woman and for a man to love a woman. Are there no pains to be had? Consider sex, the sexual objectification of a person you care for, the conflict between sexual satiation and respecting a partner, of childbirth and watching someone you love sacrifice that way to have a family. It's very intriguing. It sounds also like she is sympathizing with the weight of masculinity, saying she would run up that hill, run up that building. I also love the lyrics:You don't want to hurt me.
But see how deep the bullet lies.
Unaware I'm tearing you asunder.
Is there so much hate for the ones we love?
Just really beautiful lyrics in this song. This Woman's Work reminds me of my father, mostly, although also life in general. The gravity of her music, the particular widow she paints, is unparalleled. It's not really party music, to be honest. Just recently I was hanging out with my boyfriend and his friend in a van, maybe a little intoxicated. They asked me to pick the next song. I chose Patsy Cline. A mistake. So, while I admire and aspire to these women, and think highly of their music, I also know that I come from a particular place. I do not listen to lounge music, party music, really anything that could be considered cool or new. I might be living in the past just a tad with Kate Bush, but I'll take it.
