Running Up That Hill: How Kate Bush Became Queen of Alt-Pop | New British Canon 

The timing of this video is pretty crazy, considering Running Up That Hill is now seeing a resurgence in popularity thanks to being prominently featured in the new season of Stranger Things.

What is weird for me about Kate Bush is how many of her songs I disliked at the first hearing, but as I grew as a person, the songs became richer until I eventually considered them all masterpieces. Kate Bush doesn't come down to your level, you have to grow up towards hers. That's the hallmark of a true artistic genius.

Trash Theory could see the future and prepared this Running Up That Hill retrospective 3 weeks in advance for the influx of new fans!

Kate Bush is one of the few artists, in my opinion, who is truly deserving of the title 'genius'. Such an original talent that remains the blueprint for a lot of great artists that have come up in the past 30 years.

0:14 “Racing Up That Hill”? That is some fine journalism there.

She has influenced so many female artists, that inspiration deeply embedded in the fabric of modern music-I don’t think many young artists even realize how much she has touched them.

And here we are 37 years later, and Running Up That Hill is a bigger hit than it was originally. I hope this inspires a whole new generation or two to experience the genius of Kate Bush's entire catalog!

It was a few weeks before my 15th birthday, I was staying at my friend David Hindley's house for the weekend. We were in the living room and the TV was on in the background (I think it was maybe Swap Shop? (definitely kids Saturday morning twaddle...). Suddenly we both froze and turned to see and hear the most amazing and beautiful creature enchanting our souls. That was Wuthering Heights...it was nothing we'd heard before and, on reflection, I can say, ever since. After remaining spellbound for four or five minutes we rushed upstairs to get dressed and then begged Dave's Mum to drive us into Ashton Under Lyne to visit The Golden Disc where we bought their only copy of The Kick Inside. We almost wore it out that weekend. I fell in love at the first sight and sound of this strange, shrieking genius who has inspired and influenced so many... a love and admiration that has deepened over the last 40 something years. Thank you Robert, Hannah, John and Paddy...also thanks to Dave Gilmour for foresight, and to whatever Muse posessed this amazing lady and brought such delight to generations of people. Last of all...God Bless KT, and thank you.

The audacity for the Rock Hall of Fame to not induct her, just insane.

My mother kept wondering why her Kate Bush LP's were ending up in my room in the 80's as in those days I was a hardcore heavy metal fan but there was something so pure and genuine about Kate that you just can't deny. A prodigy

You didn’t mention that her amazing dance routine, on Running Up That Hill”, which she choreographed, was performed with her brother. She is an incredibly multi talented professional; she’s a dancer, choreographer & singer; a skilled musician playing well on several instruments; an inspirational & innovative song writer of both lyrics & music; a producer and an accomplished actor. A truly extraordinary lady.

THIS is a song about one thing: EMPATHY I want you to know how it feels to be me as much as I want to know how it feels to be you. It makes me teary to just think of the lyrics - the concept is so beautiful.

The Dreaming is such an unparalleled masterpiece, such a shame the audience wasn't developed enough to appreciate it. Bums me out to see her talk about it almost like it's a failure when it's really a resounding success.

I once had the privilege of singing into the same microphone she recorded Hounds of Love with. Still get goosebumps thinking about it. She remains one of the greatest art pop artists ever to live.

Hounds of Love is an example of a perfect album. It's not a matter of taste, it's quite literally a perfect album.

Her song "Wow" is just out of this world. It's so unique, so creative. There's just nobody like her out there in modern music.

Actually loved "The Dreaming" so much and it was my first Kate Bush album. It was so full of ideas and for someone new to her music, it was like being at a gourmet restaurant with a menu and not knowing what I wanted to eat. When "Hounds of Love" came out, it was obviously more cohesive and it did become my favorite of hers.

She is a true artist. Her music, her videos, her performance, her aesthetic- all of it comes together and transports you to another place. Humanity doesn't deserve Kate Bush, but so grateful we have her.

God bless Kate Bush not only for her phenomenal work, but also for opening the door for all "eccentric/weirdo woman musicians" out there (a title I contest because it feels like any woman that doesn't sing in the mainstream pop way is a "weirdo", but I digress).

For me The Dreaming was a real breakthrough album. Not just for KB, but for musicians everywhere. The use of the Fairlight and the limitless imagination combined with the genius to make them into an audio masterpiece. It is my favourite of her albums.

So damn cool to hear this in Stranger Things. People always come back to Kate Bush for a reason, her shit was just weird and cool AF.

You KIDDING ME???? She’s been a legend for DECADES!!!!!

'The Houds of Love/Ninth Wave' LP is arguably one of the best albums to be released between 1980-1989, in any genre. Certainly in my top 20.

Thank you to the Queen Kate Bush for saving Max Mayfield's life it is very much appreciated.

"To share pain is far more complex than the usual I-love-yous of pop music, but that has always been Kate's role; an emotional detective making deals woth God in an attempt to understand the human condition. Do you want to know how it feels? Because she does."

2022. Kate Bush is currently at #1 for Top Songs on iTunes (Running Up That Hill). Thanks to Stranger Things.

"The Dreaming" album may not have sold well commercially upon release, but it has long been considered one of Kate's masterpieces. I don't have a favorite Kate "era," but my favorite album is her 2005 masterpiece "Ariel"

What impeccable timing

Running Up That Hill is where my mind automatically goes to if I think of if I try to think of music in the 80s. I was only about 5 when it came out but it just seemed ubiquitous and sounded immense and amazing.

This woman is an amazing artist. I’m so glad she is being recognized by a whole new generation because of Stranger Things. It is charting all around the world and has become one of the most streamed songs on Spotify currently. She even made a rare public statement thanking her new fans and how she is excited about the rest of the series

Thanks to a certain show on Netflix, Kate Bush's popularity is exploding all over again. 🙂

Crazy that you came out with this video 2 weeks before the release of Stranger Things season 4.

It is so odd thinking of Kate Bush as starting her career with a number one album, because in the US she was pretty unknown. I remember "Suspended in Gaffa" and "Running Up That Hill" getting a little airplay, but that was mostly it. I would try to expose people to her music and I mostly got a "ugh, that's weird" kind of responses until around the 2000s when suddenly it seemed like the whole world rediscovered her at once.

My favorite era of Kate Bush? All of it. Kate Bush, along with Laurie Anderson and Brian Eno, has had a huge influence on the music I make for my short films, dance choreography, and when I play local live shows.

Running up that Hill has one of my favourite lines in any song. "Unaware, I'm tearing you asunder.". Brilliant. Plus the video is incredible, wonderful dancing. Cloudbusting is an incredibly addictive song, simple drums but a hook that grabs you and pulls you in, plus a fantastic story. I dare anyone not to nod their head when the drums kick in. I love Kate Bush, and everything she has done, but Hounds of Love is an exquisite masterpiece. Brilliant video of a wonderful artist of our time.

Simply the best essayist on popular music on RU-vid. Love seeing the notification icon when a new Trash Theory drops.

Love Kate, good to see Stranger Things introducing music to younger audiences. Love that she is a musician/singer and the focus is the music, her inspirations and the electronic, musical instruments used, as opposed to nowadays having to ve an 'entertainer' to be relevant. PR relationships, casting couch- sleeping your way to the top, being a 'womaniser' or 'maniser', being cruel to other musicians, copying other music/musicians, being protected as a sex symbol/object to sell music. Hopefully people being introduced to Kate can bring it back to the music again 🙏🏽 😀 ❤️

Kate is like Bowie and Prince. A true original who ignores what other people are doing and follows her own path. She is an extremely talented person,

I need to give Kate Bush the credit she deserves, such a unique artist. Great story as well.

I still remember seeing her on SNL fo the first time in the 70's. She performed "the Man with Child in His Eyes". I was kinda in awe of her voice, her performance...her. Many years later, I would be more formally re-introduced to her canon of music by my former roommate in the mid 80's.

the timing of this was so serendipitous

I always feel like Suspended in Gaffs should be way more well known than it is. It's not obscure exactly, but I utterly adore it

Kate Bush is one of the most important artists that ever lived and Hounds of Love is easily one of the greatest albums ever made

God bless her. A talented, innovative, creative artist. Beautiful inside and out. Never had to resort to cheesy tactics but her music and talent speaks for itself. Her impact across generations is immeasurable. Love seeing her being rediscovered by so many.

Kate Bush is the original blueprint of Alternative Pop and gave birth to these artists of our generation.

I feel like the only person alive who adores “The Dreaming” unconditionally. It’s the record I hoped she’d make since I first saw her on Saturday Night Live.

"Hounds of ..., what's it?" - Idk how much it messes with your own ground rules having two Kate Bush videos already but I am thankful to you for it. "Love!"

I was coming into my teens and too young to appreciate to "Running up That Hill" at the time of its release. When Placebo did that excellent cover it drew me back to the original artist Kate Bush. I love at lot of her songs, but for me "Running Up That Hill" and "Cloudbusting" are the best. THANKS for the work you guys put into your productions. Trash Theory is THE best channel that covers music artists and their career. Spot on!

The dreaming will forever be my favorite album of any artist.

Wow, you posted this video at the RIGHT time. There is NO such thing as a coincidence.

I've been listening to Running Up that Hill for almost 40 yrs. ! I was a kid when it came out but it has stuck with me ever since. Kate should do Broadway. Her music was and is so intelligent with just a little bit of sex appeal but not too much to take away from her natural talent . There is & will only be one Kate Bush :0)

Oh this video is about to do numbers after stranger things 4

A genius with almost no peers in her time except for Bowie, Peter Gabriel, and maybe Prince. I prefer the Wuthering Heights through The Dreaming early period, but her whole output through The Sensual World is an astonishing body of superb work in a mere dozen years.

great timing

I first heard this song on Stranger Thing, despite I am actively looking for retro music, I totally missed this song, never heard it before. I thought it is newly made song by some synthwave artist. Damn I was wrong, this song predict synthwave, like, she was 40 years ahead of her time, almost like she invented synthwave before it was cool.

I waited for this video since the " Wuthering Heights" one.❤️

so you're telling me this guy uploaded a video about Kate Bush with that title weeks before ST came out to make her song blow up? thats crazy

Thanks for this documentary. I have to admit that I'm an American who only heard of Kate when "Hounds of Love" came out. But after that amazing album became ensconced in my brain, I rapidly did what I typically do - a reverse catalog deep dive. I was pleased that her prior albums were also of very high quality with "The Kick Inside" being so lovely and melodic and "The Dreaming" being so extremely, excitingly exploratory and nearly toppling "Hounds" as my favorite. "The Sensual World" also hit an artistic peak similar to "Hounds" and she's been great on other post US breakthrough albums. Her brilliance and courage are so similar to Peter Gabriel's (another artist I consider a musical genius...along with Prince) and my life has been much happier for being able to hear her music.

people were not ready for Kate then, some are not even ready now.... the magnificent perfection of her art is insurmountable

She was Björk before Björk

It's so funny to think that Trash Theory uploaded this just a few weeks before Stranger Things season 4. They could not have known, but it was the perfect timing to release this video, which is now getting a huge boost because of the song being featured in Stranger Things.

Placebo's cover of Running Up That Hill was actually my introduction to Kate Bush, and how lucky I am that it did! Cloudbusting is one of my absolute favorite songs out there.

wow what are the odds this song would be in the top 10 just a few weeks after this video haha

She's a top 10 artist for me. She's there for me with Bowie, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Velvet Underground and Talking Heads.

guess what. Stranger things just make an awesome tribute to her and the song. epic comeback

The Dreaming is a true masterwork. Even the cover art reveals its excellence. It’s so uninhibited. Side 2 is absolutely stunning in variety and intensity. It makes me sad that Kate was made to feel self conscious about it after the fact. I wish she’d stand up for its greatness like Rush and 2112 or Radiohead’s Kid A or Stevie Wonder Innervisions, Prince’s Controversy or Sgt Pepper’s for that matter, marked leaps forward in creative vision and confidence. I love Hounds of Love but to me The Dreaming is the more fully realized artistic expression as an album because it’s seems to lack any obligated contrivance. Like the aforementioned examples there are individual songs or groups of songs she did before and after that are more popular and perhaps even better in some sense, but I feel the cathartic moment is the Dreaming.

i’m the rare fan whose favorite of her albums is the red shoes but no one can deny the hounds of love has been her most culturally impactful work

Hounds of Love is one of the few Albums... i got tears in me eyes, every time i'm listening to "Running Up that Hill" & "Cloudbusting" a bad Breakup & and an estranged Father... can do that to you... Strange... as always your Video was a very very good. Thank you.

The timing on this video was stellar lol

I bought two Kate Bush cassette tapes, Never For Ever and The Hounds Of Love, from a charity shop for 50p each when I was 15 just on the off chance I might enjoy them and they changed my musical outlook forever. The lyrics had such a strong narrative thread and the music was filled with so much sonic filigree. So ambitious and experimental and making musical worlds all her own. So glad I took a chance that day.

And SHE just become number 1 again!

If you were to ask me my favorite things about having been alive on this planet at the this time (for the past 50 years), the top things would include love, travel, becoming and being a parent, the space program, friendship, thankfulness, Kate Bush... If I could only experience one artist's work, it would be Kate. Thanks for the video!

Kate is timeless, unique, brilliant...love that people are rediscovering this totally unique artist. The dreaming has now reached critical acclaim....just shows how long it takes to catch up to these amazing artists. Great music is eternal....always rediscovered, refreshed for the next generation....Her work lies with the canon of the other vary rare top rated artists....who not only exploded onto the scene, but left a legacy that will continue to shine long after their mortal time has passed.

Kate is one of my biggest inspirations. Especially as an introvert musician with sensory issues. I adore her. She doesnt get the credit she deserves (over here in the States at least). To me, she embodies what an artist is. I cover her song Moving on my channel. Cheers to all the fellow Kate fans ❤️

SO many of your videos have Killing Joke references, I'd love to see a video dedicated to these innovators. Jaz is such a bizarre character wrapped in myth and they were (supposedly) the forerunners of industrial metal.

Once again you've made 30 minutes feel like 10 and left me with a feeling of 'there isn't more?' Well done you. Yours is the only channel that I subconsciously (and then consciously) start looking for after 2 weeks. It is also one of only 3 channels that I recommend to others to watch. With respect to Kate Bush; In the 80's I was in military service north of San Diego, CA. I met a thin and giggly Dead Head girl that would play Pink Floyd, Yes, Grateful Dead and Hounds of Love all weekend (possibly all week, don't know) that was my first exposure to Kate Bush.

About time somebody did a proper appreciation of Kate Bush. I am not her biggest fan. Some of it goes above my head to be honest but I know what I like (Peter Gabriel reference there LOL) and when she is good, she is not just good. She is darn well brilliant and unstoppable. I am off to listen to her back catalogue again now and rediscover some gems I have probably not appreciated properly in the past. Great work. Thanks

Canada - where I’m from - was the only region the Dreaming was not considered a disappointment and had massive radio play upon its release. As a 14 year old quickly getting interested in music and audio engineering, it was and still is one of the most important records in my artistic development. As good as her records were prior, I’m eternally glad the Dreaming was how I discovered Kate Bush, with unbridled creativity, emotional expression, and production pushed to its limits. It certainly had a good influence on me cause I’m still working in the music / creative industry 40+ years later :-)

It's so interesting that you made this video a few weeks before and renewed interest in Kate Bush because of her song that is heavily featured in season 4 of Stranger Things. On the generation is going to pay attention to her brilliance and influences because her song is a major deus ex machina for the plot. My 10-year-old has listened to "Running Up that Hill" on repeat for the past 2 days!

Holy! This is so timely for the US audience. Well played, sir!

Kate was sometimes awkward, almost always creatively out there on her own, and often capable of astonishingly powerful, beautiful, and mesmerizing performances and creations. I almost feel bad for how much she affected people. She both deserves it, and deserves to be free of it.

I saw Kate for the first time in 1978 on SNL. She did The Man With the Child in His Eyes & Them Heavy People. I'd never seen or heard anyone like her & was smitten with her. I bought her LP the Kick Inside and played it nonstop for months. I had to special Order Never Forever & played it nonstop as well. I was head over heels in Love with Kate. The LP that finally broke the spell she had over me was, Join Hands by Siouxsie & the Banshees. The Banshees were drastically different from Kate. They were stark, jagged & urgent. Like a "fear of a totalitarian state" kind of thing. I was lucky enough to see the Banshees 3 times. To this day I'm a big Banshees fan but Kate's always going to hold a special place in my heart.

How did you predict this song gonna be popular before stranger things 4 came out?! Wow!

I still remember doing my homework, listening to the radio, while this brand new song, Wuthering Heights came on. Got her album immediately and all her subsequent ones ever since. Such genius!

Saw this was posted moments after it hit RU-vid, but wanted to savor it. Kate Bush’s “Hounds” and Gabriel’s “Melt” are at the very core of whatever essence-ethos, aesthetic, resonance, matrix, palette, membrane… whatever the hell!-I am, entering into my consciousness at exactly the moments I needed them most. As fuel, fodder and food. BRILLIANT vid.

Hounds of Love changed the life of this small town, Wisconsin boy and continues to be my favorite album of all time. Thank you Kate for this masterpiece and for introducing to me what would become the soundtrack of my youth and beyond. 💕

This was so well timed, it's almost like you knew this song was going to feature prominently in Stranger Things S4.

Every ears of Kate Bush has it’s own quality. Kates voice deepened as each new album arrived. There is a noticeable change of timbre, resonance and depth to her performance. And the themes explored varied and expanded. That is why she is Kate the Great!

The Dreaming and Hounds of Love are two of the best albums ever made

Kate Bush is a real artist: as a musician she is a pioneer and an experimenter. As a lyricist, she tackles deep topics with quirky intelligence. She has always been one of my guiding lights, giving me hope that, at least occasionally, this world can offer real meaning, not just money making superficiality.

To write a song like running up that hill you have to be a genius. It's still relevant today it took my breath away the first time I heard it

I fell in love with her as a teenager seeing her perform Them Heavy People on SNL wearing her London Fog long raincoat. Thanks for making this follow up to your earlier video on her, excellent as always.

When Kate did her run of shows at Hammersmith in 2014, The Ninth Wave was played in its entirety as well as three of the songs from side one of Hounds Of Love. In fact she didn't play anything that predated Hounds Of Love. It's clearly still an important album for her.

Talk about things that were meant to be, this was not only the first time this RU-vid channel makes a second video essay on the same artist (the first was for Wuthering Heights), but it came merely days before this song resurfaced into pop culture. Excellent timing.

Nobody ever talks about how Ninth Wave has a Death Metal style demonic harsh vocal on it. I heard this album soooo munch as a child in the 80s. Years later when I became involved with extreme music and encountered grunts and screaming vocalisations, my first thought was that it reminded me of Hounds of Love.

The Futurehead's Hounds of Love cover, and Placebo's Running up that hill, are both phenomenal covers.

I’ve adored Kate and her music since the release of Wuthering Heights. Your video is an insightful and researched piece that I loved - interviews with others and Kate that I’d never heard before. Thank you. ❤️

so happy to see all the love for The Dreaming in the comment section :) My favorite kate record along with Aerial

Total GENIUS The Dreaming and HOL are both total MASTERPIECES she’s the greatest imo she doesn’t always get it right but when she does it’s unparalleled

Very thoughtful documentary, well timed (and somewhat prophetic) for what has happened with this song the past couple of weeks! I love all Kate Bush's music, with HOL, The Dreaming and Aerial being my 3 favourites. For me there are 2 catergories of music I have/listen to: - there is 'Kate Bush' and then there is 'Everything else I like'. Thanks for the documentary.