Classical Composer Reacts to Running Up That Hill (Kate Bush) | Episode 408

[@iangudgin6536]

Worth noting that she wrote this, arranged and produced it, dances amazingly, directed the video and still owns ALL of the rights to her music!!!

[@smithc8355]

Kate Bush is a living legend, a true genius. David Gilmour discovered her at school when was barely 13. He was so impressed by her that he paid and produce a high quality demo tape, presented it to EMI Records to make them put her under contract. They signed her even before she was actually able to perform or record albuns. At 19 Kate Bush was the first ever woman to hit the number 1 spot on UK Singles Chart for 4 weeks, with an authoral composition. It was only the beguinning to world wide stardoom. A remarkable true genius!

[@grahamhowes6904]

And tough too - they did NOT want to release WUTHERING HEIGHTS - she insisted and proved them wrong by having a huge hit.

[@dianequick3127]

Wow, thank you for this background information.

[@ansfridaeyowulfsdottir8095]

*_"David Gilmour discovered her at school when was barely 13."_* She was about 15 or 16, actually. Although some songs on _The Kick Inside_ she had written when she was about 13 or 14. I think "The Saxophone Song" and "The Man with the Child in his Eyes". On the album, she used the demo versions Dave Gilmour paid for in 1975. She started writing songs at about the age of 11. {:o:O:}

[@bostonseeker]

@@ansfridaeyowulfsdottir8095 It's in the biography, Under the Ivy. Bush was not quite 16 when Gilmour heard one of her tapes. She had been writing songs since around age 14, start of high school in American terms.

[@StratsRUs]

Ironically , it's his guitar that dated quickly on her songs.

[@sixbladeknife44]

The whole Hounds Of Love album is absolutely superb, Kate is a genius.

[@JoeKaye959]

I can't contradict you on that.

[@sarah-annecarney5458]

It's just beautiful, every emotion, experience, laid out for the world to see. I was obsessed with the novel wurthering heights (gothic romance) as a teen and my Dad and Mum introduced me to Kate Bush, her dancing at a live performance in a white dress and I was HOOKED.

[@sixbladeknife44]

@@sarah-annecarney5458 I bought Hounds Of Love when it came out, it was my introduction to Kate’s music. I worked my way backward to her other albums and loved them also, her creativity and emotion are undeniable :)

[@ignatiuskhan]

All of her albums are absolutely superb. The Dreaming is the ultimate masterpiece

[@Mistressofthegroove]

Agreed

[@paddyeason9677]

One of the high points of my life - seeing Kate Bush live. Absolutely astonishing. One thing that is often lost, is the fact that Kate is PURE PROG. She also transcends prog. One of the greatest musical artists of our times.

[@andythecrimson8877]

yeah. I always include her in my prog-list band/singer.😀

[@Ahuka]

I think Kate is a genius, and I don't throw that word around lightly.

[@charliechaz1982]

Couldn't agree more. I think she is one of the best female performers of all time. Infact one of the best period. Man or woman.

[@pushpak]

The genius that is Kate Bush. She had a 4 octave vocal range and used it. Self taught on the piano. One of the greatest singer, songwriters ever. Take that deep dive into her musical catalog.

[@lindutchka]

Huge, Kate Bush fan. Have been since the early 80's. Tucked in my Walkman, her music went everywhere with me. On the train, bus, subway. On all my walks through the streets of the city. Her music became the background music of my life. It was magical time.

[@aziel9141]

Thanks for the reaction, Doug! The whole Hounds of Love album is absolutely nuts. I'm always revisiting it, the production, compositions, her VOICE. One of the best of all time, looking forward to your reaction to it

[@kathrynfehon82]

My favourite album of all time.

[@mightyV444]

I too am looking forward to his reaction, especially to the 'Ninth Wave' suite! 😀

[@beeragainsthumanity1420]

Absolute legend. Im happy that more people can appreciate her vision and craft.

[@jeannettesimpson9778]

Dave Gilmour got Kate Bush a recording contract when she was just sixteen. She'd already written 40 or 50 songs by then.

[@Tuning_Spork]

That was Peter Gabriel, I think. But, yeah.

[@nebhoteproville]

@@Tuning_Spork No, this was David Gilmour :) He contributed to some of her songs like "Rocket's Tail", "Pull out the pin" and "Love and Anger". And he was executive producer on "The Kick inside" :)

[@Tuning_Spork]

@@nebhoteproville Ah, you're right! Gilmour was "Co-producer" (whatever that means) on "The Kick Inside". I must have known that at the time and have since forgotten it. Oopsie. 😃👍

[@experience5988]

@@Tuning_Spork No, it was David Gilmour. 100%.

[@experience5988]

@@Tuning_Spork Peter Gabriel couldn´t have done much for Katie at the time. He wasn´t rich and famous like David. Genesis selling were pretty poor at that time whereas David´s band had released Dark Side of the Moon a couple of years earlier.

[@janluszczek1223]

This Woman's Work is one of Kate Bush's best songs and well worth of your treatment. It's unique in many ways.

[@brianmiller1077]

I can pretty much cry on command if I think of that song.

[@Aeva]

I’m glad the new generation is discovering Kate Bush, she influenced so many artists, no doubt we would not have Tori Amos or Sarah Mclachlan without her. She always reminded me of the U.K. Stevie Nicks. Thanks for the video! ❤️

[@FarrellMcGovern]

A friend of mine who managed a record store turned me on to Tori Amos by describing her as "An earthier Kate Bush". Kate is definite "air". Sarah McLachlan is water, and Loreena McKennitt is fire....To be classical about it. :-)

[@Aeva]

@@FarrellMcGovern I always saw Mckennitt as air and Bush as fire, but that could be because Bush is a Leo. Either way I LOVE all these women and wish they had a larger cultural presence. Btw, I used to have Loreena posters all over my bedroom as a teen, back in the days of dial up She has a distributor where you could call and place orders, I believe it was part of Quinlan Road, called at 13 and told them I was her biggest fan and they sent me a box full of merch!

[@FarrellMcGovern]

@@Aeva Awesome! I'v been a big fan of hers for a long time as well. I saw her on the tour for Parallel Dreams. Always a great show!!

[@jonathanhenderson9422]

Bjork is also a huge Kate Bush fan.

[@Aeva]

@@jonathanhenderson9422 you cant throw a rock at any of the musicians in the 90s female alternative scene and not find a major Kate Bush fan.

[@soggytom]

Totally forgot what a talented dancer she was. Pure beauty. Personally "The Dreaming" is my favorite album, but everything Bush has done is magic.

[@RaymondBCrisp]

I couldn't stand this video when it first came out, though I really, really liked the song. I was not much into dance as a teen. Now it's a different story, and I think the dancing in the video is actually very good and fits in with the song.

[@mightyV444]

@@RaymondBCrisp - Same here! And 15-year-old me also didn't like the fact that his celebrity crush was dancing with another guy! 😄

[@mightyV444]

@soggytom - 'The Dreaming' is a great album indeed! But it requires me to be in the 'right' mood for it, as it's not exactly Easy-Listening Music 😄😉

[@RaymondBCrisp]

@@mightyV444 Yeah, she was a bit of a hotty in that vid! And she moves quite sensually, so I can understand your jealousy. 😁

[@mightyV444]

@@RaymondBCrisp - She was a hottie *fullstop* ! 😄 On top of being the amazing artist that she is! 🙂 I had only *read* interviews with her back then, so it's great to be able to *watch* them now, thanks to the Internet and YT; Which I did not long ago, too! And actually hearing her talk almost reignited that old crush with me! 😄

[@samtan4729]

She is an amazing songwriter. Very unique and hugely influential amongst indie musicians. Well worth your time to check out all of her albums. And seriously overdue for her induction into rock and roll hall of fame. You just know you are in the presence of genius when you listen to her astonishing debut single Wuthering Heights.

[@brettlowton6961]

"The Ninth Wave" blows me away every time I hear it - and I've been listening to it since 1985.

[@nothingmuchado]

It's about empathy, wishing we could see things from the person we love's perspective.

[@kobayashiMaroo]

@@ytusersumone to understand each other, yes, but also to enjoy the sheer pleasure of what "the other feels" . . . Kate is hardly alone in thinking about this, but was the first time I had heard a song about it :)

[@direnova6284]

She was a trained dancer who studied under Lindsay Kemp. He said he had no idea she was a musician until she slid her first album under his door.

[@jeffreywolfe1]

The 10 minute version of "Running Up That Hill" is perfection. Absolute perfection. Growing up in the 80s was a privilege beyond measure.

[@Kae6502]

This song will always have a special place in my heart. As a then 26 year old going through some deeply personal issues at the time of its original release, this song is largely responsible for me becoming the person I am today. I hope the resurgence in this song's popularity reaches those who need it today as well. Thank you Doug.

[@ScottatHouseonaHill]

This entire album is amazing. Side two is called 'The Ninth Wave' and is a linked story... truly, a masterpiece. And its placement in Stranger Things was sublime.

[@ScottatHouseonaHill]

Ahh, there it is - you plan on listening to it. :)

[@swirll360]

Doug, I'm sooooooooooooooo very happy you did this. This song back in 85' was the song that got me interested in Kate Bush. I saw her either on The Midnight Special or Don Kirshner's Rock Concert and was immediately haunted by the melody, Kate's vocals, and her movements (and it didn't hurt to be 15 at the time and develop a crush on her lol) I have a thing for creative, contemplative, thoughtful and basically artsy women and she fit the bill (along with Annie Haslam who absolutely loved). I then started buying her CDs and found them always to be intriguing, unusual, catchy, and challenging. Her music requires focus because it's often hard to find any type of hook in her songs, most are unconventional but for some reason, you'll always want to hear more. I have to say for me many are over my head musically, and you're in for some head-scratching moments when you list more but you'll ALWAYS appreciate her taking chances to expand the boundaries of pop/ progressive music for herself and for others that followed. Lastly she is also known for her performance art. She is a dancer as well as singer, not necessarily formally trained but nonetheless a performance artist which just adds so much to her appeal. A word of warning, her very early stuff has her vocals very very squirrely, very high pitched and most people hear that hate it (I'm not a fan of her voice like that but I get past it), and never listen to any more of her stuff, but thankfully her voice changes to what it is in Running Up That Hill. If you listen to Wuthering Heights her voice is very high pitched almost ear piercing but it's still a wonderful song and I believe was her first hit at age 19 I believe.

[@captaincheese-beard6316]

Glad you're going to do the Ninth Wave reaction, It's an absolute masterpiece and you'll be in for a massive trip.

[@mightyV444]

Indeed he will be! 😁👍

[@svoraborzoi]

Among her many masterpieces!

[@captaincheese-beard6316]

@@svoraborzoi Totally! Her body of work is a testimony of the genius artist she truly is.

[@johnwilliams4658]

Cloudbusting from the same album is also extraordinary.

[@dirtyrotter]

Yeah I think thats up there with this, such a moving track about a father son relationship (and written by a woman)

[@jenhasken]

Yes! Ditto Hounds of Love.

[@ludmilamaiolini6811]

I first heard it in the handmaid’s tale, and the song and scene were also amazing!

[@Cloxxki]

And a true story although easily mistaken for sci-fi.

[@stuartdmt]

It's not only the quintessential 80s sound but the narrative theme of the song that is connected to the Stranger Things series. Max's experiences in season 3 and 4 are quite involved with the concepts of perception, point of view and understanding - she often indicates that others can't know what she's thinking and experiencing, and Bush's lyric actually gives Max comfort in knowing that she's not alone. I think it is a brilliant facet of the series. Good one! Thanks for the review.

[@cliveklg7739]

The Duffers were brilliant in editing that episode, and to include that orchestral version at the end just after we hit that emotional high and coming crashing down in relief after the original version.

[@dianemcgowan2367]

I have loved her music for sooo many years, since vinyl and only getting to hear her on late night radio shows. I hope this encourages a new generation to explore and appreciate her!

[@swirll360]

you HAVE HAVE HAVE HAVE to react to the Official video to the song "Don't Give Up" by Peter Gabriel. She sings the song with Peter and they change vocal parts as a loving couple who have hit hard times. It is the simplest video you'll ever see, but it will get you right in the gut. Kates vocals are spectacular, you feel the emotion in her voice and her facial expressions will get right to your heart. It's the most beautiful song and video about a loving couple that never even uses the word, the love is conveyed solely through the story type lyrics, vocals, facial expressions and the profoundly simple but impactful video. There is no way you can avoid watching Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush together, 2 giants in music and who were willing to expand the boundaries of contemporary music. PLEASE react to this soon, this is truely special.

[@markmiwurdz202]

@Ron Swirson. You may already know this. Isn't it totally selfless of Peter Gabriel to "give" Kate Bush the chorus on "Don't Give Up"? What a top guy!

[@jonibz1456]

Yeah this for sure

[@aka.Mr.French]

there's a recording here on YT of Gabriel performing "Don't Give Up" in the UK (during the initial So tour, I think), where Kate made a surprise guest appearance; I think she started singing offstage, since the audience went wild at the sound of her voice (and the cheering didn't subside 'til the end of the first chorus). Quality of the recording isn't great, but... it was the 1980s, pre cell phones, probably recorded on someone's semi-hidden Walkman. Worth it to hear the outpouring of love for her.

[@multi-purposebiped7419]

They were both spectacular on that song. It might well be the best performance Gabriel ever put in. When he gets to the bridge: "Got to walk out of here, I can't take any more..." the song enters a whole new dimension. And Kate is perhaps the only singer who could have made it sound even better.

[@mattburgess5697]

@@multi-purposebiped7419 Yeah, that bridge is stunning. And Bush's vocals as a kind of grounding for the song are fantastic.

[@auralfixxation6702]

This is classic Kate Bush. She deserves some new attention.

[@stpnwlf9]

Kate is incredibly multi-talented. She is not just a composer, pianist, and singer. She choreographs her videos and is her own cinematographer for many of them. When she toured briefly at the beginning of her career, performances incorporated stage magic and mime, in addition to the dance and general musical brilliance.

[@kenslater7354]

GENIUS! She had dance in pretty much every video and she was always the dancer as she is in this one.

[@thebiffer100]

Kate's ethereal angel voice captured my heart over forty years ago...yes! I am a huge vinyl collector and managed to collect beautiful pressings from Japanese and German audiophile samples and when I listen to her nobody else can come close to her natural talent, seriously. So this resurgence of her hit Running Up That Hill is so deserving after all these decades. Who else can boast that??

[@katesjanice]

I love all of Kate Bush, especially the album "The Sensual World" and her most well known song "Wuthering Heights" from her first album. She dances in almost all her videos.

[@hughcdavies]

Agreed I love "The Sensual World" as well. Don't rate much her work after that.

[@BoBo0807]

@@hughcdavies I disagree; Aerial is absolutely brilliant.

[@chelfyn]

Sensual world is incredible. Rockets Tail is an underrated masterpiece.

[@magicbrownie1357]

Love The Sensual world too. But I always thought The Dreaming was her most daring and creative work.

[@221b-Maker-Street]

@@hughcdavies She speaks very highly of you... 🤔

[@robertosfield]

Great songs like Running up that Hill/Deal With God provide a definitive sound of an era but also oddly timeless. It sounds really fresh and intriguing/other wordly even now after 37 years.

[@TransitDodge]

Her choreography is something else. She studied with the dancer and choreographer Lyndsay Kemp, who in turn had studied with Marcel Marceau. She said of Kemp, 'To call him a mime is like calling Mozart a pianist'.

[@nazfrde]

David Bowie studied with Kemp, too.

[@TransitDodge]

@@nazfrde Thanks for that little gem. I didn't know that.

[@andrewwallace7775]

Kate Bush has been one of my favorite artistss since I heard "Wuthering Heights" in a little bar in Tournai, Belgium when I was an exchange student. Amazing talent. Wait until you do that suite, it's magnificent.

[@m.gideonhoyle409]

The Ninth Wave is Kate Bush's peak artistic achievement, IMO.

[@Boleskinebeatz]

I worked as the sound engineer on a big west end musical with Michael Hervieu the dancer who partners Kate in the video when he shot it. The comedy part is he phoned him sick to do it. The next day he told me all about it in very excited tones completely oblivious to the fact that he was going to be totally busted once the video came out.. He kept his job by the skin of his teeth!

[@et4751]

Thanks for name. I think they made another video together, or might be my wishful eyesight :)

[@kevinhall3265]

I believe he very sadly passed away a number of years ago. His performance in this classic will live on eternally ❤️

[@rog2224]

In an interview, she said the the name change was to avoid hassle from the US market.

[@gavinholt5428]

We loved her downunder. My early memories are of her dancing through the fields for 'Wuthering Heights' and swinging a sword in her sexy warrior outfit for 'Babooshka'. Her voice so amazing and unique. Brilliant live. It is always surprised me how artists from Britain and Australia seem so big and successful and yet Americans haven't even heard of half of them. Mind you the internet is rectifying that with a lot of reaction youtubes for some of my old favs.

[@thaitim007]

Kate Bush.. my teenage crush in the early 80s. I loved her voice and complete beauty. In interviews too, she was a naturally, warm and lovely lady. In later life i appreciated her even more as her lyrics connected even more. In history, Kate Bush is a leading figure of songwriting, singing and expression.. Love her always.. my big sister.

[@soupdragon151]

My stepfather worked with her brother for a time and actually met her at the height of her fame, said she was really nice and absolutely stunning, I wish I had...

[@brandonmiracle9810]

I feel like Max's attachment to this song has to do with her guilt about her brother's death and wishing she could have swapped places with him. That she's in so much pain right now that she would prefer it if she were the one to have died.

[@SeebsL]

Yes! Which is why it's incongruous that the very first lyric is "It doesn't hurt me." It's such a painful song to start claiming no pain. (Silly Kate Bush, didn't you know that decades after you wrote this it would need to apply to a fictional character?) Maybe Max wishes it didn't hurt her. Or maybe she's relating to the numbness of depression, the flat affect we see when Lucas talks about her being like a ghost.

[@sordel5866]

Yes, you're right about the way the song is used in ST, but I've always felt that the original song lyric is directly about the difference between the way males and females experience sexual intercourse. KB was always very frank about this sort of thing in the first part of her career. Whatever the song meant to its writer, though, I think that people are going to interpret it in the future in the light of Stranger Things.

[@brandonmiracle9810]

@@sordel5866 Oh, you're absolutely right that the interpretation being used in Stranger Things is completely different than the actual meaning of the song itself.

[@amygreen9662]

@@SeebsL Oh yeah. She's telling herself she's not hurt.

[@jasonabercrombie7869]

I think you’re right that it’s about her relationship with Billy but not just theirs, and I don’t think she wants to die. Obviously not anymore when the song is playing, but even before that she has mixed feelings. And I think the song is expressing her true feelings underneath. She has kind of given up on life right up to this moment, but just before this happens she says in her letter to Billy that she wished they could have been like a real family, brother and sister. And later Lucas apologized for ‘not seeing her.’ She has been punishing herself and pushing people away. The character had a rough life, and when you are depressed sometimes you stop worrying about death because it feels like it would just be a relief to not hurt anymore. But under that she really wanted to connect and be understood. That songs is about how relationships are tough, and even painful, but if we could swap places, or really connect deeply and feel understood we could keep, “running up that road with no problems” as the song says. That tiny speck of hope, of wanting to be happy again with her friends who care was like the tiny little opening she could see off in the distance while the overwhelming negative thoughts and feelings and desire to just stop hurting was crushing her. She didn’t lose the desire for happiness and love and connection. In that moment she chose to keep fighting to live and hope for the good. The symbolism of that scene was really moving, and the song was haunting and beautiful and fit perfectly.

[@darrenocallaghan8932]

She was actually considered a musical genius at a very young age , she did after all write over 200 songs before she was 17 including "The man with the child in his eye's"

[@TheAwetist802]

Yes! She was *14* when she wrote The Man With The Child In His Eyes. Absolutely phenomenal.

[@soupdragon151]

@@TheAwetist802 13 years reputedly. Her early demos are or were available somewhere or other and they're astonishing just her sat at her father's piano and there are just these amazng songs most of which have never been rerecorded and they're really worth listening to

[@derfstube]

Thank you for all the knowledge you share in your videos! Every time I listen to anything now, I'm trying to figure out the meter (by clapping) and listening for the notes to ascend or descend. Never gets old - I love it and want to learn more. Thanks again, amigo!

[@chuckhamilton7814]

I'm so glad you did this one ... this album is one of my favorite things ever recorded. It is a true masterpiece form beginning to end, and I'm so excited that she is once again being discovered by a new audience and being listened to. She is a true artistic genius. I can't wait for your reaction to The Ninth Wave!

[@alexforshaw]

I remember listening to Kate Bush when I was growing up, and seeing her videos on TV. You're absolutely right about the unique colour of her voice: instantly recognisable, and I still love her music. Video is the perfect medium for her songs because you get to see her wonderfully expressive dancing; The fluidity of her movement is captivating and I love to watch it as much as I love to listen to the songs. There;'s such a lot of emotional power in her performances.

[@AEB1066]

Having been alive in 1978 when The Kick Inside was released it is almost impossible to describe just how far from the mainstream of the time Kate Bush was. The charts were full of disco and suddenly Wuthering Heights appeared like a supernova lighting up the sky.

[@mikejennings4549]

When you get to Ninth Wave, be sure you take a look at the performance of the suite on the remarkable 2014 live album Before the Dawn. It's expanded and more impactful. Hearing it on Hounds of Love in 1985 completely changed my expectations of what pop music can do, even more than did David Bowie. I think the new version is considerably improved.

[@ifritmog9011]

I think it's awesome for Kate Bush that her music is being appreciated by a new generation of music fans.

[@Problembeing]

So glad this wonderful song that I grew up with is getting a fresh audience. It deserves it. This song is perfection. It’s a song about wanting to be understood implicitly.

[@Plantagenet1956]

The wonderful Kate Bush! ❤ No other singer quite like her. She’s unique.

[@TerryT304]

Thank you for doing Kate Bush, you really must do the entire Hounds Of Love album.

[@shanejb2121]

She's such an immense talent. Her use of dance, and facial expression is as integral to her vocal performance as well. Kate Bush is true emotion.

[@yes_head]

I became aware of Kate Bush around the time this album was released, but a friend was dating a girl who was a fan of her really early stuff. I remember listening to some of that and going, "What's with the squeaky high voice?" I've come to appreciate that early music, but it's songs like this that sell her talent to me. Re: 37 years passing since this song's original release, I've read that most "legacy" artists are now making movie and TV rights a big part of their sales and marketing efforts, just because they can be hugely lucrative.

[@macsnafu]

This is a great song. It was the first Kate Bush song I heard on college radio back in the day. The production, arrangement, and layering of sound in the song is just amazing! It's not a difficult or complicated chord progression, but she uses interesting sounds instead of your typical rhythm guitar or piano sound. And the way she uses the backing vocals towards the end of the song is incredible.

[@kathrynfehon82]

The Ninth Wave suite is masterful.

[@Rich6Brew]

Kate Bush: The leader in a field of one.

[@JaneDoe396Hz]

Good for you! I'm so glad Kate Bush has entered your consciousness, xoxo (it is in Cm) It is totally 80s, the Deal with G-d, make it easier to see each other's perspective, and actual equality to be able to run up that Hill with no problems- that's what it's about. Equality. and Love.

[@ryangerrard4048]

Also Kate bush is the female dancer in this video, I’m glad America is finally discovering what much of the world already knows of her

[@andersgranstrom7128]

Ahh Kate...ahh Kate... No one like you! An artist, creator of art. Totally unique and amazing!

[@inxe8]

Kate's most powerful gift is her ability to act as a kind of emotional lightning rod in her voice and music, she finds the feeling in whatever she's singing about and just blasts it through the sound. To be honest I'm a little doubtful she can do it any other way, because if you listen to Red Shoes, there's a dark, hurt, undercurrent from stuff in her private life that just kinda seeps through, despite her intentions for the album being quite different.

[@stephenbanks5952]

I think that is because she was dealing with the deah of her mother.

[@paulstroud2647]

Kate studied dance from choreographer Lindsey Kemp, who also worked with Bowie on his Ziggy Stardust concerts. The Hounds of Love is just about a perfect album imo, not a weak track on it.

[@andresskl1]

Excellent review, Doug. You're better and better every time. Congrats!

[@whaleshark2672]

Welcome to the KB fan club. Please do Wuthering Heights, unreal vocal and great guitar solo. As many others have mentioned, there are loads of songs to get into, a joy awaits…

[@douggrant]

As always, another thoroughly enjoyable breakdown. Keep up the great work.

[@splifftachyon4420]

At the time it came out, I loved Kate's previous albums but for some reason The Hounds of Love album didn't resonate with me immediately like the others had. But over the years it has slowly and steadily become one of my favourites. The use of this song in Stranger Things was extraordinary, and I can't image a better song for that scene.

[@MeleeStormbringer]

Been a fan of Kate for a long time. Happy to see her work getting a new life. And I always took this song the same way you have - to be able to see each other through the other's eyes, their gifts and flaws, to truly understand how worthy we truly are. What a gift that would be, to see yourself just once through the eyes of someone who loves you no matter what.

[@woodyamsterdam]

Your analysis is spot on as always. Thanks for doing this song from my favorite female singer of that era.

[@egeo03]

The first time I heard this song (many many lives ago) the hair on my arms and the back of neck stood up. To this day I still have the same reaction whenever I hear it.

[@lundsweden]

I love that eighties naiive synth/early sampling sound. The dancing is bloody awesome too!

[@5roundsrapid263]

It was a Fairlight CMI, the very first digital sampler. She was one of the first handful of people to own one. It’s been used countless times since then by many artists. It has a fascinating timbre.

[@aka.Mr.French]

tech innovation note: Kate was among the first artists (possibly THE first, as she did this in 1979) to use a wireless mic in a headset-like setup so she could keep her hands free for onstage choreography.

[@robwealer5416]

I hear a lot of Irish ballad note jumps and emphasis... phrases often start with high end vowels, sharp entries that lilt down in triplets... her Mom was Irish (and an entertainer).. probably lots of old Irish song albums about in her childhood.

[@johnallen8230]

Great review and great insight as regards the possible meaning of the song. Love your channel Doug. Keep doing your thing.

[@waimunyan7007]

I was there when it came out! And now, I'm here to hear it again in its full glory!

[@YaMomsOyster]

I love a bit of nostalgia from my childhood and Kate deserves all the appreciation she is finally getting. For her tiny stature she has a massive talent. ….it was only Bush that got me to watch Stranger Things….and now I’m Hooked

[@marcelotto6825]

Number 8 on the UK Singles charts on 4 June 2022!!!

[@soupdragon151]

No. 1 now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! June 18

[@loiseaunoir1021]

Music, back then, was REAL

[@lynnetblake1743]

Thank you! I was born in 1985, and have been listening to Kate Bush half of my life. I am really excited that this song „Running up that Hill“ has reached no. 8 in the US charts and getting attention and awareness from young people due to Stranger Things!

[@Florophase]

I love that the musical theatricality of Kate Bush is captivating a new generation!

[@bohdan469]

37 years ago when I first heard it , I thought it was the greatest song ever, now, I know it's the greatest song ever

[@neilfleming2787]

Kate dancing was always one of my favourite parts of her performances...and to say she is beautiful is a total understatement

[@neilfleming2787]

Love all of Kate's stuff...I had the great pleasure to see Kate live at Hammersmith way back when...was one of the most stunning concerts I've ever experienced

[@Ozymandi_as]

Kate Bush is unique, and one of the most original and singular musical artists that Britain has ever produced - as a singer, a song-writer, a producer and a performer. You should give a listen to Wuthering Heights, her debut single, released in 1978 when she was just 19 years old, and try to imagine how startling it seemed back then; no-one had ever sounded quite like her before, or had the same creative sensibility. It was also immensely seductive, and went straight to No 1 in the UK and several other countries across Europe. As I write this, Running Up That Hill has just gone to No 1 in the UK; her second UK No 1, after a record-breaking interval of 44 years! It's also the slowest rise to No. 1 (37 years), and Bush becomes the oldest female artist to go to No 1, at 63 years and 10 months. She has been surprising us across five decades now, and I daresay she is not done yet. I hope she will win many more admirers of her art from this success. Her albums are a trove of musical delights and enigmas, ranging from some hauntingly beautiful piano ballads, through to elaborately composed, orchestrated and produced song-cycles. She is amazing!

[@thaitim007]

Kate Bush - Breathe (about our 80s fear of a nuclear war) is a must react.

[@zedcarr6128]

A large part of the Kate Bush sound back in the day was her use of the Fairlight CMI. It was horrendously expensive at the time, the cost of a house price tag, but she had the creative ability to get the very best out of it. I'd guess that the record company bought it for her at the time. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairlight_CMI

[@musicdroog7666]

You will also notice that in episode 408 there is “Prophecies” by Philip Glass from the soundtrack of Koyaanisqatsi.

[@trsidn]

I have that record

[@magicbrownie1357]

"World out of balance"

[@misha-jz4yx]

Koyaanisqatsi. - that would be a great reaction

[@NotAyFox]

"A quest for empathy". That's the most appropriate description of this song I've heard so far.

[@Christina-71]

Stranger Things season 4 has been my favorite season by far and hearing this song throughout really makes an impact and takes me right back to that time! Love it!

[@hughcdavies]

I still have my original vinyl versions of this. Doug you must do the Night Wave Soon, and the rest of The Hounds of Love as well. The strings on Hounds and Cloudbusting are great.

[@daveman439]

Glad you've discovered Kate. Welcome to her/our collective consciousness since 1985.!

[@glynlewis5512]

You can’t go wrong with Kate Bush and Genesis!

[@dansheppard2965]

I grew up with all her songs, and the Fairlight CMI and LinnDrum, and the patches she used are still a major timbral reference whenever I hear a new style or instrument. I was so excited when I saw a Fairlight "in real life" at a museum a few years back. Not just for Kate's work (though mainly for hers) but because it's the sound of so much of my eighties.

[@SPQRTempus]

And the irony is you can now buy a virtual version of the Fairlight CMI for iOS for less than $50. The original cost more than a car.

[@lv2465]

Kate Bush is a master at her craft. In a league of her own. Two words to discribe her art "other worldly."

[@AnOldGreyDog]

Ninth Wave is stunning. So inventive, so many different textures and influences. Now I've got to go and listen to it again...

[@mightyV444]

... I still think that choir in 'Hello Earth' sounds spooky, though! 😬😄

[@Relyx]

Interesting trivia about this song: This is the favourite song of Big Boi, one half of the legendary hip-hop duo Outkast. Kate Bush is also his favourite musician, and he's apparently been begging to work with her for years! More interesting trivia: Kate Bush wanted to work with Prince for years, and vice versa, and eventually it happened for the song Why Should I Love You. Kate Bush sent over what she felt was a fairly complete version of the song to Prince for him to add his parts, and he changed it massively, adding a very Prince touch to the song. Kate Bush didn't mind though because she loved it, even if it wasn't what she'd had in mind. Also the song features backing vocals from British comedian Lenny Henry, who is one of the founders of the Comic Relief/Red Nose Day charity organisation.

[@petilili1976]

Thanks for this lesson. Wow!

[@lukasduno9125]

Showed this vid to a friend. Classical danser and master classes judge. So I simply asked her « how much would you give her as a note? ». Without hesitation she said « 19,75 ».

[@LosAngelesClassicRockOrchestra]

Thanks to P. Gabriel for introducing many of us "rockers" to Kate Bush. Unique and wonderful voice for sure.

[@solsussman742]

Kate Bush is a universal treasure. Never made a bad album in my opinion

[@erikberg5363]

Awesome! I’m mainly a Metal- and Prog-Head but I have been slightly obsessed with Kate Bush recently. She’s just so unique and seemed to be close to fearless during most of the 80s as far as trying new things within her songs and I’m just totally blown away by her memorable songwriting as well, both musically and lyrically. Definitely looking forward to seeing her more often on the channel!

[@AqualungsBreath]

I can't wait for you to do the Ninth Wave. I am German and there's a sequence where Kate says in German "Tiefer, tiefer irgendwo in der Tiefe gibt es ein Licht." It's in Hello Earth and it means. Deeper, deeper somewhere in the deep there is a light. When I first listened to that I had my headphones on and I didn't realise that it was on the album. I was absolutely frightened...

[@soupdragon151]

...just before the opening notes of "The Morning Fog" begin. That is SO magical. n.b. she had a friend who was german who did the translation for her iirc

[@cosmicjohn174]

You took the words right out of my mouth 😂 John always finish the videos before commenting! Also Philip Glass has a track in the show once you find it please please do a video on it! I was like ohhh man ohhh man!!!!

[@JoriDiculous]

Nice one! Kate Bush was unique. Unique video in the sense she is only preforming the dance, and not any "singing". She brought "pop" back from its dark disco hell and got people into contemporary dance with her very expressional music videos. Stil as an amazing artist today as she was back then. A bit funny, when she was touring in Norway she got really fascinated by our local fiddle , the 8 (9)string Hardingfele and gave it some use.