Explosive resurgence of Kate Bush’s 1985 art-pop masterpiece “Running Up That Hill” following its prominent use in Netflix’s Stranger Things Season 4, becoming one of entertainment’s most dramatic musical revivals.
Song Background
Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” from her 1985 album Hounds of Love was a moderate hit in the ’80s but never reached #1 in the U.S. The song’s themes of empathy and gender role-swapping resonated but remained cult favorite status.
37 years later, Netflix’s use of the song as character Max’s emotional anchor in Stranger Things Season 4 (May 2022) catapulted it to unprecedented success.
Stranger Things Effect
The song’s integration into Max’s storyline — where music literally saves her life from supernatural forces — created profound emotional resonance. TikTok exploded with:
- Fan edits of the iconic “Dear Billy” episode scene
- Personal stories about music as emotional lifeline
- 1980s aesthetic videos
- Covers and interpretations
- Mental health awareness content using the “music saves” metaphor
Historic Chart Performance
“Running Up That Hill” reached #1 on charts worldwide 37 years post-release — the longest gap between release and chart-topping in history. The song hit #3 on Billboard Hot 100, Kate Bush’s first-ever Top 10 U.S. hit.
Spotify streams jumped from ~200K daily to 8+ million daily. Bush earned more from streaming in 3 weeks than decades of catalog sales.
Cultural Phenomenon
The revival introduced Gen Z to Kate Bush’s artistry and sparked discourse about TV’s power in music discovery. Bush (63 at the time) issued rare public statements expressing gratitude and bewilderment at the unexpected career resurrection.
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