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
The "Stranger Things effect" propelled the track to unprecedented heights for an older song:
: 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. Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill Stranger Things Season 4
: 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 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. When "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with
: 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.
The Resurgence of Kate Bush: How "Running Up That Hill" Conquered the 2020s 1 in June 2022, setting a record for
: 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.