The Resurgence of Kate Bush: How "Running Up That Hill" Conquered the 2020s
In Stranger Things 4 , the song is not merely background music; it is a vital plot device. It serves as the favorite song of (played by Sadie Sink), who uses it to cope with grief following her brother Billy's death. Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill Stranger Things Season 4
: At 63, Kate Bush became the oldest female artist to ever score a No. 1 single in the UK, surpassing a record previously held by Cher. The Resurgence of Kate Bush: How "Running Up
When "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)" first hit the airwaves in 1985, it was a career-defining hit for British art-pop icon . However, no one—least of all Bush herself—could have predicted that 37 years later, the track would become a global cultural juggernaut, shattering records and topping charts for a second time thanks to its pivotal role in Stranger Things Season 4 . A Narrative Masterstroke: Max’s Lifeline 1 single in the UK, surpassing a record
: While it peaked at No. 30 in the US in 1985, the 2022 resurgence saw it climb all the way to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
: In the UK, it reached No. 1 in June 2022, setting a record for the longest time (44 years) for a single to reach the top spot after its original release.
: The song saw an 8,000%–8,700% surge in streams immediately following the season's release. By June 2023, it surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify , becoming the first solo recording by a female artist from the 1980s to reach that milestone.