Kate Bush explains the meaning behind ‘Running Up That Hill’ to new fans as the song topped the UK charts 37 years after its release.
There was a resurgence of interest in the 1980s anthem after she appeared in a pivotal scene in the new season of Wonderful thing to Netflix.
It is the longest time ever to reach number 1 in the UK and also became Bush’s first song to reach the US Top 10.
Speaking in detail for the first time about the new popularity of music women’s hour Bush of BBC Radio 4 said: “I thought the song would attract attention. But I never thought anything like this would happen. It’s so thrilling.”
“But it’s really shocking, isn’t it? I mean, the whole world has gone crazy.”
Referring to the song’s new and young audience, presenter Emma Barnett asked the singer-songwriter how she would interpret it.
“I really like people listening to a song and getting what they want out of it. But basically it’s as an idea of a man and a woman exchanging positions with each other. It was written in. Just to get a feel for what it was like on the other side,” Bush explained.
Bush also discussed the song’s title, which was originally going to be something different.
Kate Bush (left) and Sadie Sink as Max in ‘Stranger Things’
(Getty/Netflix)
“It was called ‘A Pact with God.’ I think they were concerned, the record company, that it wouldn’t play on the radio.” “People felt it was a sensitive title.”
Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) is heard on the Walkman in the first episode of the Netflix series ‘Running Up the Hill’ and remains an important song for the character in subsequent episodes.
On Friday, June 17, it was announced that ‘Running Up the Hill’ reached number 1 on the Official Singles Chart, a feat never achieved when the song was first released in 1985 and peaked at number 3.
women’s hour Radio 4 airs weekdays at 10am and on BBC Sounds.
