Open Post: Hosted By Speculation That Kate Bush Might Be The Scuba-Otter On “The Masked Singer UK”
The summer of 2022 was super eventful for Kate Bush as she catapulted back into the spotlight when her 1985 song “Running Up That Hill” got dusted off and flew up the charts after being heavily featured in arguably the best scene of season 4 of Stranger Things. Kate embraced the love, and a whole new generation gained an appreciation for Kate’s eclectic musical styling, as many from the older generation she first gained notoriety with (see: Taika Waititi) sulked about how they were into her music before it was cool. Over the years, Kate has been very private and even hasn’t said much since her unexpected resurgence, but some viewers of The Masked Singer UK think that one of the show’s current costumed contestants could be Kate. Others are adamant that Kate Bush is way above donning a furry suit and being judged by the likes of Masked Singer UK judges such as Rita Ora.
Uproxx says that speculation began when a new contestant recently took the stage dressed as an otter to sing the Baywatch theme song/”I’m Always Here,” and sounded a lot like Kate.
Some of Bush’s fans have taken to social media to share theories that Bush is one of several competitors on the latest season of The Masked Singer UK. In a recent episode, a singer dressed as a singing otter sang “I’m Always Here” by Jimi Jamison, which gained a lot of popularity in the ’90s as it was used as the theme song for Baywatch.
“Can’t believe we live in a world where it’s entirely possible Kate Bush is on The Masked Singer UK, I felt a fool suggesting it earlier but now I’m convinced that’s her voice and diction,” said one fan.
Pitchfork founder Ryan Schreiber quoted the fan’s tweet, adding that he also believes that the mysterious creature is Bush, given her eccentric nature.
“Kate Bush, lover of the absurd and theatrical, has been gearing up in costume to perform quirky songs on British television her entire adult life,” he said. “This honestly tracks.”
Here’s Otter’s voice in action:
Many are convinced it’s Kate:
Now I've convinced myself Otter is Kate Bush… Her mum is Irish, should be heard and not seen is a reference to her shying away from the public, the vicar… A deal with God. IMAGINE #MaskedSingerUK
— SHANE REACTION (@imshanereaction) January 1, 2023
otter is kate bush because the budget went somewhere and it wasn’t on this shit pic.twitter.com/wTSq6COOuP
— cole (@coleasincheryl) January 2, 2023
And about just as many insist that a private, esteemed artist like Kate would do no such thing:
It is truly embarrassing that people are theorising that Kate Bush is on Masked Singer
do you know how rich that woman is, how reclusive, how respected and how much pride she has
She is not doddering around on a stage dressed as an OTTER singing the theme from BAYWATCH
— Tim/Better (@BetterThanToday) January 4, 2023
kate bush hasnt sang live on television since the 90s and you think she’s gonna make her re-debut to tv in an otter costume singing someone else’s music???? https://t.co/hylzpgmHWO
— maybe: david (@davidxaIan) January 2, 2023
Absolutely cannot believe that people think Kate Bush – famously private, didn’t even release her last live shows on DVD because she couldn’t properly control how it would look and sound Kate Bush – would dress up as an Otter and do the Baywatch theme tune on ITV.
— Michael Lee Richardson 🦡 (@HRFMichael) January 2, 2023
Whether Kate decided The Masked Singer UK was the route she wanted to take to tiptoe back in the public eye after years of seclusion or she retired to Mallorca to luxuriate in solitude while fanning herself with her recent Stranger Things windfall won’t be revealed until Otter’s time on the show is up. Either way, let’s all hope David Hasselhoff didn’t take Otter’s homage to Baywatch as an omen to launch a comeback. We’ve all been through enough this year, and we’re only a week in.
Pic: Richard Young/Startraksphoto.com/YouTube