Rhiannon Hendricks
The Wedding List is a song by Kate Bush, released in 1980 as part of her third studio album, Never for Ever. The song is about a bride seeking revenge for her husband's murder on their wedding day. The lyrics describe the powerful force of revenge and how it consumes the bride, leading to the deaths of her husband, the murderer, and ultimately herself. The song was inspired by François Truffaut's 1968 film The Bride Wore Black, which stars Jeanne Moreau as a widow seeking revenge against her husband's killers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Theme | Revenge |
| Inspiration | François Truffaut's 1968 film The Bride Wore Black |
| Lyrics | "I'll put him on the wedding list", "I'll get him on the wedding list", "I'll get him and I will not miss", "All of the headlines said 'Passion Crime: Newlyweds Groom Shot Dead Mystery Man, God Help the Bride She's a widow, all in red With his red still wet" |
| Album | Never for Ever |
| Release Date | 8 September 1980 |
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What You'll Learn
The song's cinematic influences
Kate Bush's "The Wedding List" is a cinematic song inspired by François Truffaut's 1968 film "The Bride Wore Black" ("La Mariée était en noir"). The song premiered during the 1979 Christmas Special and was released on her third album, Never for Ever, in 1980.
The song's lyrics and narrative draw heavily from the film's plot, in which a bride's groom is accidentally murdered on their wedding day by a group of five people. The bride, consumed by revenge, tracks down and kills each of them, including the last one in jail. This act of vengeance is described as a terrible power that overshadows even the tragic loss of her husband.
The cinematic influence is evident in the song's vivid imagery and storytelling, creating a movie-like experience for the listener. The lyrics allude to newspaper headlines, "Passion Crime: Newlyweds, Groom Shot Dead, Mystery Man", and the bride's pursuit of revenge, mirroring the film's themes and structure.
Bush's work often showcases a strong connection between her songs and cinematic influences, with "The Wedding List" being a notable example. Her songs are known for their rich soundscapes, allowing listeners to visualise the scenes and emotions portrayed in the music. "The Wedding List" is not an isolated instance of Bush's cinematic songwriting; other songs like "Wuthering Heights", "The Infant Kiss", and "The Red Shoes" also demonstrate this quality.
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The protagonist's motivations
Kate Bush's 'The Wedding List' is a song about the powerful force of revenge. The protagonist in the song is driven by a strong desire for vengeance against the people responsible for her husband's death. Her motivation is clear: she seeks to avenge the murder of her groom on their wedding day.
The song is inspired by François Truffaut's 1968 film 'The Bride Wore Black', in which a bride tracks down and kills the five people who accidentally shot her groom on their wedding day. Similarly, in the song, the bride is consumed by thoughts of revenge, and her target is at the top of her "wedding list".
The lyrics describe the bride's state of mind and her single-minded pursuit of revenge: "I'll put him on the wedding list/ I'll get him on the wedding list/ I'll get him and I will not miss". The song also hints at the dark consequences of her actions, suggesting that her pursuit of vengeance leads to her own demise: "Instead of just one person being killed, it's three: her husband, the guy who did it...and her, because when she's done it, there's nothing left".
The protagonist's motivation remains focused on revenge throughout the song. She is driven by a powerful and unhealthy energy that ultimately proves to be her downfall. Her actions are driven by a need for justice and closure following her husband's tragic death.
The bride's pursuit of revenge is so intense that it overshadows all other aspects of her life. This is evident in the lyrics: "All her ambition and purpose have all gone into that one guy. She's dead, there's nothing there". The song's narrative highlights the destructive nature of revenge and how it can consume an individual, leading to tragic consequences.
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The song's structure
"The Wedding List" is a song by Kate Bush, released in 1980 on her third studio album, "Never for Ever". The song's structure is a narrative, telling the story of a bride whose groom is murdered on their wedding day. The song is inspired by François Truffaut's 1968 film "The Bride Wore Black", in which the bride seeks revenge against the people responsible for her husband's death.
The song begins with a verse, setting the scene and introducing the bride's character. The second verse shifts to the bride's perspective, expressing her determination to get revenge on the person responsible for her groom's death, whom she refers to as Rudi. The pre-chorus describes the aftermath of the groom's murder, with headlines announcing the "Passion Crime" and the bride's widowhood.
The chorus, or what could be considered the "wedding list", is a list of the people the bride intends to get revenge on, with the person responsible for her groom's death at the top. The chorus repeats throughout the song, emphasising the bride's obsession with revenge.
The third verse continues the bride's narrative, describing her feelings of vengeance and the actions she plans to take. The fourth verse takes place after the bride has carried out her revenge, describing the violent outcome and her satisfaction with getting revenge.
The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus, reinforcing the idea that the bride has successfully carried out her revenge. The structure of the song, through its verses and chorus, effectively conveys the story and the bride's character, creating a sense of tension and obsession surrounding revenge.
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The song's place in Bush's catalogue
'The Wedding List' is a song written by Kate Bush for her third studio album, Never for Ever, released in 1980. The song premiered on a BBC Christmas Special in 1979, over eight months before the album's release.
The song is inspired by François Truffaut's 1968 film 'The Bride Wore Black', which tells the story of a widow who seeks revenge against the men who murdered her husband on their wedding day. The song's lyrics reflect this theme of revenge, with the bride in the song seeking vengeance against the man who shot her groom, ultimately killing him, herself, and her husband.
'The Wedding List' is notable for its exploration of the powerful and destructive nature of revenge, with Bush commenting that "revenge is a terrible power" and that the song demonstrates how it can consume a person to the exclusion of all else. The song's lyrics and themes of revenge and death are in keeping with Bush's literary and cinematic influences, which are prevalent throughout the 'Never for Ever' album.
The song also showcases Bush's interest in exploring the complexities of human emotions and the interplay between light and dark, as reflected in the album's title and concept. 'Never for Ever' marked Bush's second foray into production, and she has expressed satisfaction with the album, citing its personal nature. The album was well-received, with AllMusic praising Bush's songwriting and imagination, and Rolling Stone including it in their "80 Greatest Albums of 1980" list.
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The song's critical reception
"The Wedding List" by Kate Bush received critical acclaim for its powerful portrayal of revenge and its cinematic qualities. The song, inspired by François Truffaut's film "The Bride Wore Black," premiered during Bush's Christmas Special in 1979 and was later released on her third album, "Never for Ever," in 1980.
Critics praised the song for its exploration of the dark and aggressive side of human nature, with Bush herself stating, "Revenge is a terrible power, and the idea is to show that it's so strong that even at such a tragic time it's all she can think about." The song's lyrics depict a bride seeking vengeance against the people who murdered her husband on their wedding day, reflecting the film's plot.
Kris Needs, in 'Fire in the Bush' for Zigzag in 1980, observed the futility of revenge in the song, noting that instead of just one person being killed, it's three: the husband, the murderer, and ultimately, the bride herself, as her ambition and purpose are consumed by her need for vengeance. This interpretation adds a layer of complexity to the song, highlighting the destructive nature of revenge.
"The Wedding List" also received acclaim for its cinematic qualities, with some critics comparing it to a movie pitch. The song's narrative structure, incorporating flashbacks and newspaper reportage, contributes to its visual appeal. Additionally, the song's premiere on the Christmas Special in 1979, which was entirely composed of song and dance, further showcased its cinematic potential.
Overall, "The Wedding List" by Kate Bush was well-received by critics who praised its exploration of revenge, aggression, and cinematic storytelling. The song's powerful message and visual imagery left a lasting impression, contributing to its critical success.
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Frequently asked questions
"The Wedding List" was inspired by François Truffaut's 1968 film "The Bride Wore Black".
"The Wedding List" tells the story of a bride whose groom is murdered on their wedding day. The bride is consumed by revenge and embarks on a quest to track down and kill those responsible, ultimately taking her own life in the process.
"The Wedding List" explores the powerful and destructive nature of revenge. It highlights how revenge can consume a person to the point of obsession, leading to tragic consequences.
The song "The Wedding List" explores themes of revenge, aggression, and the dark side of human nature. It also touches on the idea of justice and the impact of tragic events on an individual's psyche.
The title "The Wedding List" is a metaphor for the bride's list of targets for revenge. It suggests that the bride is approaching her quest for vengeance with the same level of planning and dedication as one would typically associate with a wedding.
