Kate Bush explains meaning behind Running Up That Hill and original title
Kate Bush’s music is rightly having its moment thanks to Netflix's Stranger Things.
Singer Kate Bush has spoken out about the meaning behind Running Up That Hill and its original title after her recent Stranger Things-inspired chart success.
Running Up That Hill topped the UK charts 37 years after it was first released, after being featured heavily in Netflix’s hit sci-fi drama series.
37 years is the longest time a song has ever taken to each UK No 1, topping Wham!, whose Last Christmas finally made it back in January 2021.
Speaking for first time about the resurgence of interest in the song, Bush said on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour: “I thought that the track would get some attention. But I just never imagined that it would be anything like this. It’s so exciting."
She continued: “But it’s quite shocking really, isn’t it? I mean, the whole world’s gone mad.”
When host Emma Barnett touched on the song’s new, younger audience and asked how the singer would describe the song’s meaning, Bush added: “I really like people to hear a song and take from it what they want. But originally it was written as the idea of a man and a woman swapping with each other. Just to feel what it was like, from the other side."
Speaking about how the song was originally set to be called something different, she added: "It was called ‘A Deal With God’. I think they were just worried, the record company, that it wouldn’t get played on the radio. That people would feel it was a sensitive title.”
What’s more, according to Christian Bale, it turns out Bush’s music was also going to make an appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Telling Total Film about his take on Gorr the God Butcher in Thor: Love and Thunder, Bale revealed there were originally plans to feature a Bush set piece.
"There’s obviously sort of a Nosferatu slight attitude," he said. "Taika and I wanted to do a whole dance, which we didn’t get to do, but we had all this sort of Kate Bush stuff that we worked at.
But apparently the notion of the world going mad for Kate Bush was too much for the MCU. "But I think he just realized he was never going to be allowed to put that in the final film.”
Read more of our Stranger Things coverage:
- Meet the cast of Stranger Things season 4
- How Stranger Things 4 was inspired by real Dungeons & Dragons panic
- When is Stranger Things season 4 volume 2 released on Netflix?
- Will Eleven be the final villain of Stranger Things?
- Who is Joseph Quinn? Meet Eddie in Stranger Things season 4
- Stranger Things season 4 part 1 ending explained: What happened to Eleven?
- Who plays 001 in Stranger Things 4? Meet actor Jamie Campbell Bower
- What is the Stranger Things age rating? Fans say season 4 is 'scariest' yet
- Will Nancy and Steve get back together in Stranger Things?
- Who is Eduardo Franco? Meet Argyle in Stranger Things season 4
- Where did Stranger Things leave off? Recap ahead of season 4
Stranger Things 4 part 1 was released on Netflix on Friday 27th May, with more coming on July 1st. Stranger Things seasons 1-3 are now available on Netflix.
Check out our guides to the best series on Netflix and the best movies on Netflix. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide.
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Authors
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
