Songfacts®:

• This song is about how sometimes scientists get so caught up in the pure science of what they are developing that they don't realize what purpose others may have for it. For example,when scientists started splitting atoms they probably did not think of the possible future applications as weapons.
• The origin of this song came from Kate's consideration of music as such a beautiful thing and a positive force. The idea of something so beautiful being used to kill people was fascinating. There likely are sonic experiments of a similar type actually being carried out by militaries somewhere.
• The Whole Story is a greatest hits album. This was the only new song included with songs from previous albums. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Lee - Ottawa, Canada, for all above
• The music video marks Bush's third directorial effort, following "Hounds Of Love" and "The Big Sky." The clip tells the story of a sound monster that destroys a secret military facility. The singer makes a small cameo as an orderly serving tea, but several other recognizable faces show up, including actors Hugh Laurie, Peter Vaughan, Gary Oldman, and actress Dawn French, along with Bush's bass guitarist Del Palmer. Bush's brother Paddy also appears as a disturbed patient. The video was filmed at an abandoned military hospital near Blackheath that was allegedly co-designed by the iconic nurse Florence Nightingale. Bush recalled the experience in a 1987 fan club newsletter: "There were some wonderful moments, like filming in East London. We had a field full of 'dead bodies' who kept moving about to get more comfortable, so we had to shout out over a loud-hailer, 'Stop moving - You're supposed to be dead!'"
• A faux music shop was created for the video as a secret entrance to the facility. It was so realistic, Bush said, that passers-by kept popping in wanting to buy some of the instruments.
• Top Of The Pops refused to air the video because it was deemed too violent.
• The video was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Concept Music Video, but lost to Genesis' "Land of Confusion."
• The 12-inch single features a version of her seminal hit "Wuthering Heights" with a new vocal, as well as her 1980 holiday tune, "December Will Be Magic Again." The latter song and "Experiment IV" also shows up on the CD single for "Moments Of Pleasure" in 1993.