The 1985 song has stormed both domestic and global charts after its inclusion in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things last month, introducing it to a new generation of fans.
Bush has broken three UK chart records with her No 1 placing. She is the oldest woman to top the chart, and 37 years is the longest time a song has taken to get to No 1, beating Wham!, whose Last Christmas took 36 years to top the charts when it finally succeeded in 2021. Bush has also had the longest gap between No 1 singles, with 44 years elapsing since her debut, Wuthering Heights (Tom Jones was the previous record holder at 42 years). Running Up That Hill reached No 3 when it was originally released.
"It's hard to take in the speed at which this has all been happening," Bush, 63, wrote on her website this week. "So many young people who love the show [are] discovering the song for the first time.
"The response to Running Up That Hill is something that has had its own energy and volition. A direct relationship between the shows and their audience and one that has stood completely outside of the music business. We've all been astounded to watch the track explode!"
This story is from the June 18, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the June 18, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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