How Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill' Became Stranger Things' Most Vital Song
Kate Bush’s 1985 synth anthem saved Max Mayfield and broke streaming records decades later. Here’s the story of its pivotal Stranger Things sync.
Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ became the emotional and literal lifeline for Max Mayfield in Stranger Things Season 4. The 1985 synth-pop track is woven into the plot as Max’s favorite song, the one thing strong enough to tether her consciousness to reality and pull her back from the psychic grip of the villain Vecna.
How is the song used in the show?
It’s not just background music. Max’s survival hinges on her friends playing the cassette of ‘Running Up That Hill’ to anchor her in the real world. The song appears first in Episode 4, “Dear Billy,” during the climactic sequence at the cemetery. Composer Rob Simonsen created a bespoke orchestral remix for the series, recorded at AIR Studios in London. He added a choir over a “juggernaut” full orchestra to give the feeling of a lullaby, turning Bush’s driving original into a haunting motif that recurs throughout the season.
Why did Kate Bush agree to license it?
Kate Bush is famously selective about licensing her music. She agreed because she was a fan of Stranger Things. Actor Winona Ryder, who plays Joyce Byers, also championed the song. Ryder has been a Bush fan since childhood and pushed for its inclusion. The sync became a perfect storm of creator admiration and narrative necessity.
What was the song’s original impact?
Released on August 5, 1985, as the lead single from Hounds of Love, ‘Running Up That Hill’ reached number three on the UK singles chart. It was Bush’s highest chart position since ‘Wuthering Heights’ in 1978. The song was nominated for British Single of the Year at the 1986 Brit Awards. Bush wrote it in a single evening, building the track around a distinctive Fairlight CMI synthesiser riff. She originally wanted to call it ‘A Deal with God’, but her label suggested the change.
How big was the Stranger Things resurgence?
The effect was seismic. In May 2022, the song became the most-streamed track on Spotify in both the UK and the US. It soared to number one in eight countries, including the UK, Australia, and Ireland. This gave Kate Bush her second UK number-one single, setting records for the longest gap between number ones by a solo artist (44 years) and the oldest female artist to top the chart (at age 63). In the US, it hit number three on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing its 1985 peak of number 30. The music video’s YouTube views jumped from 48.2 million to over 100 million in under two months.
By June 2023, it had reached one billion streams on Spotify. Bush responded with a poetic thank you, picturing a river flooding into “a billion streams.” After featuring again in the final season in 2025, the track surpassed 1.5 billion streams and re-entered the UK chart in January 2026.
Are there other notable covers?
Yes. Placebo’s 2003 cover is often considered the defining version, described as a “glistening ‘00s update” with a “pulsating heartbeat bassline.” A remix was used in the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony, giving Bush her first top-ten UK single in years. Meg Myers’s version topped Billboard’s Rock Airplay chart in 2020. The song’s legacy of covers highlights its enduring, adaptable power.
Sources
Every Song in Stranger Things
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deal with God in the song's lyrics?
Kate Bush said the lyrics address the fundamental inability of men and women to understand each other’s experiences. She imagined that by making 'a deal with God,' they could literally exchange places to achieve that greater empathy. The original title was 'A Deal with God,' but the record label changed it over concerns about radio play.
Did 'Running Up That Hill' win any awards when it first came out?
No, it did not win a major award on its initial release. It was nominated for British Single of the Year at the 1986 Brit Awards. In 2022, after its Stranger Things revival, it was nominated for Favourite Rock Song at the American Music Awards.
Has Kate Bush performed the song live?
Yes. She performed it on TV shows like Wogan in 1985 and at charity events like The Secret Policeman's Third Ball in 1987 with guitarist David Gilmour. She also included it in the setlist for her 2014 concert residency, 'Before the Dawn.'
What instruments give the song its unique sound?
The track is built on a Fairlight CMI synthesiser playing a sampled cello riff, a programmed LinnDrum beat, a pulsing bassline, and electric guitar. One of its most distinctive elements is the balalaika, a Russian string instrument, played by Bush's brother Paddy.
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