Kate Bush's 1985 song hits a billion streams after 'Stranger Things' boost
Kate has thanked her fans for sending 'Running Up That Hill' "on such an impossibly astonishing journey" nearly 38 years after its release.
British singer Kate Bush just made music history thanks to a song she recorded in 1985. Her track, 'Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)', has reached one-billion streams on Spotify.
It's the first 80s song by a solo female artist to achieve the feat. Kate took to her website to celebrate the milestone.
"A billion streams! I have an image of a river that suddenly floods and becomes many, many tributaries - a billion streams - on their way to the sea. Each one of these streams is one of you… Thank you! Thank you so much for sending this song on such an impossibly astonishing journey. I’m blown away," the 64-year-old wrote.
The song, which was featured on her album 'Hounds of Love', got a major boost in 2022 when it was featured on an episode of Netflix's hit series, 'Stranger Things'.
It plays in the background during a dramatic scene involving Max Mayfield (played by Sadie Sink).
The track climbed to the number two spot on Spotify shortly after the episode aired. 'Running Up That Hill' also peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 last year - earning Kate her first Top 40 hit - and climbed to #3 on the UK Singles Chart.
Max running from Vecna set to “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush in Stranger Things season 4 pic.twitter.com/rBH3yTell6
— Miss S 🧣🇵🇰🫶🏾🪩✨🕰️✨ Daisy Jones & The Six Era (@supermormongirl) June 14, 2023
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Kate's newfound fame with the younger generation has pushed her back into the spotlight. She was officially inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.
Rage Against the Machine, Missy Elliot, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, George Michael, and the Spinners were also inducted.
"I have to admit I'm completely shocked at the news of being inducted into the Hall of Fame! It's something I just never thought would happen," Kate said after the announcement was made in May.
She thanked everyone who voted for her.
"It means a great deal that you would think of me. It’s such a huge honour. Now as part of the initiation ceremony I get to find out about the secret handshake... there is one, right?"
Kate described 2022 as a "rollercoaster year" for her.
"I still reel from the success of RUTH, being the No 1 track of this summer. What an honour! It was really exciting to see it doing so well globally, but especially here in the UK and Australia; and also to see it making it all the way to No 3 in the US.
"It was such a great feeling to see so many of the younger generation enjoying the song. It seems that quite a lot of them thought I was a new artist! I love that!" she wrote in a Christmas message to her fans.
Main image credit: Kate Bush's 'Hounds of Love' album cover/ EMI Records via @katebushmusic on Instagram.
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