Why Kate Bush is back on top
Tiktok has the power to bring back hits from 40 years ago. Read how entertainment today mixes with entertainment from yesterday. PHOTO CREDIT: Katebushnews.com
September 7 marked not only the beginning of classes but also the release anniversary of art-pop legend Kate Bush’s third album “Never for Ever.”
Originally dropped in 1980, the album features three of her greatest hits, including the ever-so-famous “Babooshka.” It was also the first album by a female solo artist to enter the U.K.’s Album Chart at number one.
Even after nearly 44 years since her debut album, the fabulous work of Kate Bush remains relevant. Her song “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” was recently featured in the Netflix original series “Stranger Things” this summer, leading to it becoming a viral sound on TikTok.
Though I love Kate Bush, I have to ask: Why has this song captivated the Gen Z and Millennial audience over 40 years after its initial release?
Bush’s career began in 1978 when she was only 19 years old with her debut single “Wuthering Heights.” Despite her young age, she quickly became known for excellent songwriting and experimentation.
“Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” came later in her career in the mid-1980s, a time which many critics have deemed to be the peak of her artistic career. Without spoiling anything, the song is used in the fourth season of “Stranger Things” in one of the season’s most memorable scenes.
This choice may seem odd at first, considering the song is about gender. This may be hard to believe, but “making a deal with God” and “swapping places” is Bush wishing for men and women to better understand each other – a theory confirmed by Katherine Factor at PopMatters.
So why was this song chosen to be featured in such an alien context when compared to its original intent?
The song features classic 1980s drum machines and synthesizer sound, bold vocals and Kate Bush’s iconic whimsical songwriting. Additionally, as an artist known for creativity and storytelling, Bush is a perfect fit for the supernatural horror universe that takes place in “Stranger Things.”
These factors have led to a resurgence in Kate Bush’s popularity. Young viewers are being introduced to new music playing alongside their favorite actors, such as Noah Schnapp and Sadie Sink, and older viewers get sent back in time to the 80s.
Bush has said publicly that she is very pleased by the many new fans, but many Gen Z and Millenials do not know any of Kate Bush’s music besides her song featured in “Stranger Things.” They don’t yet know that there is a lot more to love in her discography.
Not only did her music push boundaries musically for pop and rock, but also boundaries of gender and sexuality. She is a well-known ally to the LGBTQIA+ community, and has been a beloved source of escapism for queer people ever since her debut single “Wuthering Heights.”
Bush’s outsider aesthetic, lyrics about defying gender norms and camp style are just some of the parts of queer culture to her music. She even wrote a lesbian love song in 1978 titled “Kashka from Baghdad.”
Over the years, Bush has certainly earned a place in queer pop culture history. Well-known artists of today such as Fiona Apple, Björk, St. Vincent, Lorde and Lady Gaga have looked to her discography for inspiration.
Despite her music being decades old, there are still wonderful discoveries and innovations to be found for listeners old and young. With this resurgence, I can see Bush’s legacy continuing for new generations of fans to discover, whether that be via “Stranger Things” or from popular music streaming platforms.