Aerial Tal

Album: Aerial (2005)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The second CD of Kate Bush's Aerial album is a suite subtitled A Sky of Honey, which begins on a summer day's sunrise and ends twenty-four hours later. The songs are soaked with the sounds of birdsong, in particular this interlude, which consists of Bush imitating the singing of our feathered friends.

    "I've always loved birdsong," Bush told The Independent, "and I suppose that was the starting point for that piece on the record, speculation about whether it's a language. The key idea was this connection between birdsong and light, that singing seems to be triggered by the breaking of light, and in the absence of light, they stop singing." (Pauses) "Though there's a few exceptions – nightjars, reed warblers, blackbirds. And of course, the owl!"
  • The song was performed live as part of Bush's 2014 shows at the Hammersmith Apollo in London and included on the live recording taken from the concerts, Before The Dawn.
  • Other tunes that contain birdsong include "Birds" by Bic Runga, "Morning Mr. Magpie" by Radiohead and "Unknown Caller" by U2.
  • Much of the bird song had been recorded in the garden outside Bush's house. The singer had listened to the recordings and transcribed them in her own voice. "I've always liked wood pigeons," she smiled to Mojo magazine. "That was quite easy because that's quite simplistic actually isn't it? It's an easy shape. But the blackbird that was tricky. Because it's intricate."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

Linda Perry

Linda PerrySongwriter Interviews

Songwriting Hall of Famer Linda Perry talks about her songs "What's Up" and "Beautiful," her songwriting process, and her move into film music.

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.