This Woman's Work

What an incredible dance performance the other night, on SYTYCD, to the song This Womans Work.

"This Woman's Work" is a song written and performed by the British singer Kate Bush. It was originally featured on the soundtrack of the American film She's Having a Baby (1988). The song was released as the second single from her album The Sensual World in 1989 and peaked at 25 in the UK singles chart (From Wikipedia)

Like "She's Having A Baby", the movie for which the song was written, the lyrics are about being forced to suddenly confront reality and adulthood in times of crisis. Director John Hughes uses the song during the film's dramatic climax, when Jake (Kevin Bacon) learns that the lives of his wife (Elizabeth McGovern) and their unborn child are in danger. As the song plays, we see a montage sequence of flashbacks showing the couple in happier times, intercut with shots of him waiting for news of Elizabeth and their baby's condition.
The version of the song that was featured on The Sensual World was re-edited from the original version featured on the film soundtrack.

The song was featured on the Felicity soundtrack, and has been used at key moments in episodes of Alias, Party of Five, Crossing Jordan, 7th Heaven and Without a Trace. It was used to promote the season opener of the 2007-2008 season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Since 2006 the song has featured on two long-running TV adverts for the British charity the NSPCC. The 2007 Special Christmas edition of the Ricky Gervais comedy series Extras, which aired 16 December in the US on HBO and 27 December on BBC One in the UK, featured two scenes using the song as a soundtrack. Due to the songs inclusion in Extras, the song entered the UK chart once again in January 2008. In June 2008, the song was played at the beginning and end of an Emmerdale episode featuring a custody battle between two sets of parents.

In 1997, American R&B musician Maxwell covered the song for the release of his album MTV Unplugged. The artist later re-recorded the song in studio for his album Now (2001). This version of the song was released as the album's second single in 2001 and peaked in the US Billboard charts at #58 (Billboard Hot 100) and #16 (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs). This version also appeared in the movie Love & Basketball, but was not included in its soundtrack.

The music video for "This Woman's Work", which was directed by Sanji, begins with pictures of Maxwell and his lover in black-and-white photography. One picture reveals that his lover has died. In the next scene, Maxwell sees his lover in the street and proceeds to confront her, but he falls through the street, and begins to drown. Maxwell then begins to swim across the street, and pulls himself up by holding on to the side walk. He then enters an almost-empty diner, where every one is waiting for a loved one. Throughout the music video, Maxwell sees his lover in practically every direction. The video is noted for its compelling special effects.
[edit]Use in popular culture

In Love and Basketball, the song is played as the main characters realize their true feelings and have sex. In the movie Stomp the Yard (2007), Columbus Short and Meagan Good kiss for the first time, when they decide to go out. Maxwell's version of the song was played in the background. It has been used three times in the US version of So You Think You Can Dance. The first time in an August 2006 episode, when contestant Allison Holker danced her final solo to the song. The second time in a July 2008 episode, when contestant Katee Shean danced her solo to the song. The third time in a July 2009 episode, for a contemporary routine by Tyce Diorio for Melissa Sandvig and Ade Obayomi, depicting a woman's struggle with breast cancer.