The Republic of Heaven

Kate Bush Records Original Song 'Lyra' for the New Line Cinema Fantasy Epic The Golden Compass

Song Will Be Featured Over The Film's End Titles And On New Line Records' Golden Compass Soundtrack

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Acclaimed British singer/songwriter Kate Bush will contribute an original song titled "Lyra" to the end title credits of New Line Cinema's upcoming epic fantasy adventure The Golden Compass, which is scheduled for a Dec. 7 worldwide release. The song will also be available for download as part of New Line Records' The Golden Compass soundtrack, which will be released Dec. 11. The song, named for Lyra Belacqua, the lead character in The Golden Compass, is written and produced by Kate in her own studio, and features the Magdalen College Choir, Oxford. The song will be available for digital download as part of The Golden Compass soundtrack on December 11th. Over the course of her career she has released eight albums, earning three Grammy nominations and was recognized with an Ivor Novello Award for "Outstanding Contribution to British Music" in 2002. She has previously had songs featured in the films Castaway and She's Having a Baby.

Based on author Philip Pullman's bestselling novel, The Golden Compass tells the first story in the "His Dark Materials" trilogy. An exciting fantasy adventure, the film is set in an alternative world populated by talking bears who fight wars, witches, Gyptians, and daemons. In the world of The Golden Compass, a person's soul lives on the outside of their body in the form of a daemon, an animal spirit that accompanies them through life. At the center of the story is Lyra (played by newcomer Dakota Blue Richards), a 12-year-old girl who starts out trying to rescue a friend -- and winds up on an epic quest to save not only her world, but ours as well. The Golden Compass stars an ensemble cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Sam Elliott (Ghost Rider), Eva Green (Casino Royale) and the voices of Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings), Ian McShane ("Deadwood"), Freddie Highmore (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Kathy Bates (Charlotte's Web), and Kristin Scott Thomas (Gosford Park). The film is written and directed by Chris Weitz (About A Boy, Antz) and produced by Deborah Forte and Bill Carraro.

About New Line Records: New Line Records, a division of New Line Productions, has been releasing recorded music since 2002. Distributed through Warner Music Group's independent arm ADA, NLR has released over 50 titles including the soundtracks to Hairspray, Wedding Crashers, The Notebook, A Prairie Home Companion and Elf. It is also the artist home to The Sounds, Albert Hammond Jr., OFFICE, Allison Moorer and Elijah Kelley, among others.

About New Line Cinema Corporation: Celebrating its 40th anniversary year, New Line Cinema is the most successful independent film company in the world. Its mission is to produce innovative, popular and profitable entertainment in the best creative environment. In addition to the production, marketing and distribution of theatrical motion pictures, the fully-integrated studio has divisions devoted to home entertainment, television, music, theater, merchandising and an international unit. In 2005, New Line partnered with HBO to form Picturehouse, a new theatrical distribution company to release independent films. A pioneer in franchise filmmaking, New Line's Oscar-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the most successful film franchises in history. New Line is a division of Time Warner, Inc. (TWX). Contact: Candice McDonough New Line Cinema (310) 967-6991 Candice.mcdonough@newline.com

Kate Bush (born 30 July 1958) is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic lyrics have made her one of England's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years. Bush was signed by EMI at the age of 16 after being recommended by Pink Floyd's David Gilmour. In 1978, at age 19, her début song "Wuthering Heights" topped the UK charts for four weeks and made her the first woman to have a UK number one with a self-written song.

After her 1979 tour, which was the sole tour of her career, she released the 1980 album Never for Ever, which made her the first solo female British singer to top the UK album charts. In 1987, she won a BRIT Award for Best British Female Solo Artist. She released eight albums, three of which topped the UK album charts, and had UK top ten hit singles with "Running Up That Hill", "King of the Mountain", "Babooshka", "The Man with the Child in His Eyes", and "Don't Give Up".

In 2002, her songwriting ability was recognised with an Ivor Novello Award for "Outstanding Contribution to British Music". In 2005, she released Aerial, her first album in 12 years. The album was a UK success and earned her a BRIT Award nomination for "Best Album" and another for "Best Solo Female Artist". She has also been nominated for three Grammy Awards.

Is this news a good thing? I've never heard of Kate Bush...