1993 single by Kate Bush

"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 handful of 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, and a number of other countries. The single reached #10 in the US Modern Rock Tracks chart.[3]

Tricky included the song on his edition of the mix album series Back to Mine.

Background and release

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] Speaking of the song`s lyrics, Bush told Melody Maker in 1993, "It`s playing with the idea of opening people up, and the idea of the hidden femininity in a man, and the man in a woman."[5]

In April 2024, "Eat the Music" was rereleased as a 10" vinyl record as part of that year`s Record Store Day.[6][7]

Critical reception

Chris Roberts from Melody Maker felt that the song was "misguided", "all ghastly, Lilt-supping, Notting Hill Carnival calypso".[8] Terry Staunton from NME declared it as "a shopping list of exotic fruit, as if Kate is pulling Carmen Miranda`s hat apart looking for metaphors for love."[9] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel wrote, "The bizarre fruit metaphors on `Eat the Music` are exceedingly pretentious, but the song has a lilting, African high-life feel."[10]

Track listings

All tracks are written by Kate Bush, except where noted

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