‘Running Up That Hill’ Engrosses New Generation Thanks to Netflix

Almost four decades after its release, Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” regains popularity after its inclusion in the Netflix hit Stranger Things. 

Off her fifth album Hounds of Love, “Running Up That Hill” reached the top of the charts once again, this time in 2022. Whether it’s for its silky quality, memorable rhythm, or alluring vocals, everyone can’t get enough. Music supervisors love using the 80s hit⁠—you can hear this beloved song in a variety of circumstances, like in the TV show Bones or the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympics. This time, Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things propelled it into stardom once more.

Featured on Netflix’s Stranger Things

Stranger Things is arguably Netflix’s most prominent show yet. With a perfect mix of sci-fi and nostalgia, the show revolves around a group of teens and adults saving their town from the supernatural. With over 285 million hours of streaming in its opening weekend, fans couldn’t get enough of Stranger Things. And from glancing at this week’s top songs, fans can’t get enough of its music too.

Just four days after the Stranger Things 4 release, “Running Up That Hill” reached Apple Music’s Top 100 Chart and was No. 1 on Amazon’s Best Sellers in Songs. To top it off, the song collected the most streams on Spotify in the United States. This wave of love for “Running Up That Hill” comes after Stranger Things writers dub it as Max’s favorite song. Played by Sadie Sink, Max grieves over the recent loss of her brother. Fans applauded Sink’s acting range which can be seen in the fourth episode of this season.

i just have to say the inclusion of kate bush’s running up that hill (a deal with god) in stranger things 4 episode 4 changed the trajectory of my life and permanently altered my brain chemistry thank you kate bush thank you sadie sink

— ⁂ (@gob1inatrix) May 28, 2022

However, some fans of Kate Bush are hesitant to celebrate the song’s latest wave of glory, worrying about its attachment to Stranger Things.

If y’all start calling Kate Bush’s music the stranger things songs I’m gonna kill you

— Evan (@_evanbaranowski) May 27, 2022

Despite the mixed feelings, one thing’s clear: Stranger Things fans adore Kate Bush. You can watch the official music video for “Running Up That Hill” below. Don’t forget to catch the latest season of Stranger Things on Netflix.