Newsbits: In the Metro newspaper on Monday 21 Feb, Kele Okereke from Bloc Party gave his “six-track mix” in the On My iPod column, and listed Wuthering Heights as one of his favourite tracks: “This song’s so theatrical and intense and melodramatic. That might turn people off, but I was exposed to Bush when I was very young and it really hit me. She’s an amazing lyricist, so playful with her words.” (Thanks to Rob Jones)…Word Magazine (March issue) has an interview with the 61 year old French singer Francoise Hardy. Mark Ellen the interviewer asked her about other female artists. He mentioned that Kate is making a comeback and gets this response: “I can’t stand Kate Bush. Too sharp, too high, too much…(she wrinkles her nose) shrieking.” Hardy was equally dismissive of Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez, but likes Annie Lennox, Norah Jones and Dido…The ARTE TV channel in Europe has aired a documentary about the artist Paul Gauguin that featured Hello Earth and Waking the Witch as part of the soundtrack….Peter Gabriel has put a dance remix of ‘Don’t Give Up’ up on his official website…in this month’s Record Collector Kate has been voted number one Female Solo Artist in the magazine’s annual Reader’s Poll. She also makes an appearance in the results for Most Wanted DVD with the Hammersmith Odeon at no. 10 (thanks to Goldfishnation)…Australian singer Delta Goodrem chose Wuthering Heights on a recent BBC Radio 2 “Tracks Of My Years”…Canadian singer Martha Wainwright (sister of Rufus) has been featured in the 25th February edition of Metro explaining who is on her iPod. On Wuthering Heights she says: “I love the melody, it’s really great. She does this song so well. I think anyone that can write a song this good and do it at such an early age is probably a genius.” (thanks to Jon Morte)

A jazz guitarist, Deirdre Cartwright has recorded an instrumental version of Wuthering Heights on her new album called ‘Blow the Fuse’ (thanks Tony)…Kiki and Herb (Justin Bond and Kenny Mellman) released their new album on Feb 1st – “Kiki & Herb Will Die For You.” The two-disc CD from the popular cabaret act includes “Running Up That Hill. For more information, visit www.kikiandherb.com (thanks KT)…Tori Amos has released a new album, The Beekeeper, resulting in several reviewers comparing her unfavourably (and some would argue unfairly) to Kate in light of the latter’s impending return – see this site forum’s Medialog section for plenty of Tori reviews with Kate mentions…and finally, thanks to Peter & Jonathan for sending in a scan of the latest “Up Queer Street” comic strip which mentions Kate from ‘The Pink Paper’. See the scan here.