music.wikisort.org - Composition

"The Sensual World" is a song by the English singer Kate Bush. It was the title track and first single from her album of the same name, released in September 1989. The single entered and peaked at No. 12 on the UK Single Chart. It was later re-recorded using only words taken from Molly Bloom's soliloquy from James Joyce's 1922 novel Ulysses, as Bush had originally intended whilst recording The Sensual World album. This version, re-titled "Flower of the Mountain", appears on the 2011 album Director's Cut.

"The Sensual World"
Single by Kate Bush
from the album The Sensual World
B-side	"Walk Straight Down the Middle" "The Sensual World" (instrumental)
Released	18 September 1989 (1989-09-18)[1]
Recorded	1987–1989
Genre	Art rock
Length	3:57
Label	EMI
Songwriter(s)	Kate Bush
Producer(s)	Kate Bush
Kate Bush singles chronology
"Experiment IV" (1986) "The Sensual World" (1989) "This Woman's Work" (1989)
Music video
"The Sensual World" on YouTube
Audio sample
"The Sensual World" file help

"Flower of the Mountain"
Song by Kate Bush
from the album Director's Cut
Released	16 May 2011 (2011-05-16)
Genre	Art rock
Length	5:15
Label	Fish People EMI
Songwriter(s)	Kate Bush James Joyce
Producer(s)	Kate Bush

The B-side to the original single was "Walk Straight Down the Middle", a bonus track on the CD and cassette editions of The Sensual World album. The 12-inch vinyl release of the single had a double-grooved A-side so that either the song or an instrumental version of the song would be played depending on where the needle was placed.

Writing and inspiration

The song is inspired by Molly Bloom stepping out of the black and white, two-dimensional pages of James Joyce's Ulysses into the real world, and is immediately struck by the sensuality of it all. It was originally supposed to be Molly Bloom's speech (from the end of Ulysses) set to music, but Bush could not secure the rights from the Joyce estate, so she altered it. In 2011, the Joyce estate granted license to the material, and Bush rerecorded the song as "Flower of the Mountain", released on 2011's Director's Cut.[2]

Musically, one of the main hooks in the chorus of "The Sensual World" was inspired by a traditional Macedonian piece of music called "Antice, Džanam, Dušice".[3] As in the traditional version, the melody is played on bagpipes, in this case uilleann pipes played by Irish musician Davy Spillane.[4]

Music video

The video, which features Bush dancing through an enchanted forest in a medieval dress, was co-directed by The Comic Strip co-creator Peter Richardson and Bush herself.

Use in film

The song, particularly the chorus section, features prominently several times in Atom Egoyan's film Felicia's Journey,[5] highlighting the main character's sense of isolation and loss as she leaves Ireland and her estranged father for England.

Track listings

All songs were written by Kate Bush.

Personnel

• Kate Bush – vocals, keyboards
• Paddy Bush – whip (swished fishing rod)
• Del Palmer – bass guitar, Fairlight CMI percussion
• Charlie Morgan – drums
• Dónal Lunny – bouzouki
• John Sheahan – fiddle
• Davy Spillane – uilleann pipes

Charts

Chart (1989)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[6]	44
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7]	31
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8]	58
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9]	35
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[10]	11
Ireland (IRMA)[11]	6
Italy (Musica e dischi)[12]	16
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13]	17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14]	20
UK Singles (OCC)[15]	12
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[16]	6
West Germany (Official German Charts)[17]	29

References

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