I've said it before and I'll say it again: Kate Bush is an icon. She's one of the foremost musical talents who's ever lived, and if you don't know about her, you really are missing out on a hell of a lot!
So when I heard about all this Stranger Things x "Running Up That Hill" commotion, it made total sense to me that people were freaking out about Kate's music and talent.
Stranger Things fans after watching Dear Billy:
Since featuring in Season 4, Vol. 1 of the show, the song has hit No. 1 on iTunes, returned to UK singles charts, and been all over TikTok.
Stranger Things has been using the 1985 track throughout its latest season, but it features most prominently in a scene in Episode 4 entitled "Dear Billy". I won't say too much, but basically, people are LIVING for it.
So I thought, Why not keep this love train rolling with a ton of other songs you should definitely listen to if you love "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush?!
1. "Little Lies" by Fleetwood Mac
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Fleetwood Mac — especially Stevie Nicks — have a similar sound and look to Kate's and were around at the same time. This song is a classic, and it uses that same synthesiser sound as "RUTH" – so if that's what you love about it, you're in for a treat! See also "Everywhere" and "Gypsy".
2. "What the Water Gave Me" by Florence + the Machine
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I LIVE for Florence, but there's no denying her similarity to Kate. I think Florence's paean to Virginia Woolf and Frida Kahlo is a comparable vibe to "RUTH", but I've also got to shout out "Patricia", "Queen of Peace", "Drumming Song", "Seven Devils", and "Never Let Me Go"...I told you they were similar.
3. "Waiting Game" by Banks
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Banks is such an underrated artist, and her subtle yet melodic tunes are definitely the kind of thing I think Kate would be making if she were starting out today. The engrossing end to "Waiting Game" really reminds me of the way "RUTH" ends with those electric drums and synthesisers. Hopefully you hear it too!
4. "Games Without Frontiers" by Peter Gabriel
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I have to mention Kate's friend and collaborator Peter Gabriel, and what better choice than a song she actually did the backing vocals for! This anti-war song is hella catchy, but I guess I could also have chosen "Don't Give Up", Peter's other collab with Kate.
5. "Daniel" by Bat for Lashes
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This synthy song is apparently about Daniel LaRusso, the character Ralph Macchio played in the Karate Kid movies! It's probably one of Natasha's (her real name) best songs, along with "Prescilla", "Laura", and "The Wizard".
6. "Winter" by Tori Amos
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Self-confessed Kate Bush stan Tori has spoken countless times about the influence the British singer has had on her work, and I think "Winter" is a great example of that.
7. "Mothercreep" by FKA Twigs
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FKA Twigs does something that's both very similar to and yet entirely different from Kate. Her enchanting vocals paired with soaring instruments definitely remind me of "RUTH", and though she's probably more gritty than Ms Bush, quite a few of her songs are comparable to Kate's work, including "Two Weeks" and "Holy Terrain".
8. "Canvas" by Imogen Heap
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You could liken Imogen's music generally to Kate's, as they both have very experimental voices and use instruments in a really interesting way. I think "Canvas" has a big-enough sound to compare to "RUTH", and pulls the listener in in a similar way.
9. "Ixode" by Zola Jesus
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I just love the drama of Zola's work, and you could totally believe she listened to Kate Bush growing up. This song is emblematic of Zola's kind of gothic, post-punk style and is replete with Kate Bush–like wailing that just makes you *feel* things.
10. "Teen Idle" by Marina
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Marina loves singing high and then low in much the same way that Kate loves vocal acrobatics. This song is just iconic, and though the subject material is totally different, I think the execution is very similar aurally to "RUTH".
11. "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd
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I couldn't not include a song from one of the people who low-key discovered Kate! David Gilmour and his prog-rock band Pink Floyd were arguably a massive influence on a young Kate, and she even sang "Comfortably Numb" with the band back in 2002 at a Royal Festival Hall gig!
12. "Dreams" by the Cranberries
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You might know this song as the Derry Girls theme tune! I think the unstoppable bass, the airy guitars, and the way the vocals swing from soft to shouty (in the best way) will definitely resonate with "RUTH" fans.
13. "Wolf" by First Aid Kit
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First Aid Kit have that similar ethereal aesthetic that Kate has, and this song is definitely one of their best! I guess "Silver Lining" also bears a resemblance to "RUTH", but I think the intensity of the way "Wolf" ends is similarly engrossing.
14. "Army of Me" by Björk
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The Icelandic singer is often compared to Kate Bush, probably because they're both female alternative musicians with incredible artistic visions. Although it could also be that they're both a bit...weird. Björk once told Far Out Magazine that one of her fave albums ever is Kate's The Dreaming, and I like to think Kate would love this song by Björk just as much!
15. "How Soon Is Now?" by the Smiths
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Similarly meditative and a little bit rocky, the Smiths are an '80s act who were doing a different thing from a lot of the upbeat pop acts at the time, just like Kate. Although former lead singer Morrissey once said he finds Kate "unbearable" in a letter to a friend, there's no denying this gothic song has hella "RUTH" vibes!
16. "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurythmics
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Another contemporary of Kate's are the Eurythmics. Annie Lennox was definitely channeling a different aesthetic from Kate's back in the '80s, but her music with Dave Stewart is still comparable for its use of synth and soaring vocals. Also, I think "Sweet Dreams" is probably just as iconic a song as "RUTH", tbf.
17. "Cloudbusting" by Kate Bush
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This list wouldn't be complete without another Kate Bush recommendation! I think "Cloudbusting" is probably the most similar song to "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)", to use its full name. I'd also recommend "Breathing" and "The Man With the Child in His Eyes", though.