Kate Bush’s hit “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” is historic. The 1985 classic is just one of two singles released before the 2010s to reach #1 on the US Billboard streaming chart. It is the oldest number one single in the United States. According to Luminate, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” hit 29 million streams in the US last chart week.
Previously, no song from the 1980s or earlier could chart at #1. Mariah Carey’s Christmas song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is next in chronological order. The song was released on November 1, 1994 and stayed at #1 for a total of 15 weeks in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Also successful in Australia
The song’s presence in the fourth season of the mystery series Stranger Things also ensured high streaming and sales figures in Australia. Kate Bush recently topped the Australian Singles Chart for the first time in 36 years. While “Running Up That Hill” a week before it had entered the single charts in second place, this time the song was able to climb to the top. Here Bush overtook Harry Styles “As It Was”. In Germany, the piece made it to number four.
“Stranger Things”
The hit series is set in the fictional small town of Hawkins in the 1980s. In the new season, series character Max (Sadie Sink) listens to Kate Bush’s song over and over again on her Walkman. The first seven episodes of the fourth season of Stranger Things were released on Netflix on May 27th. Viewers can watch the season finale in the form of episodes 8 and 9 on the streaming provider from July 1st. Another final season is planned.