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.
The "Stranger Things effect" propelled the track to unprecedented heights for an older song:
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 Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill Stranger Things Season 4
The Resurgence of Kate Bush: How "Running Up That Hill" Conquered the 2020s
: 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
: 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.
The song reaches its peak emotional resonance during the episode "Dear Billy," where Max’s friends play the track through her Walkman to anchor her to reality while she is under the psychic control of the villain . The sequence, which depicts Max running toward safety as the synth-heavy anthem swells, became an instant hallmark of the series. Music supervisor Nora Felder noted that the lyrics about making a "deal with God" to swap places perfectly captured Max’s isolation and her desperate need for connection. Shattering Global Records However, no one—least of all Bush herself—could have
: 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.