Running Up That Hill

"Running Up That Hill" is a song by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush from her fifth studio album, Hounds of Love [en] (1985).^[1] When it was first released in August 1985, the song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was the main theme song for the 1986 BBC 1 children's drama serial, Running Scared [en].^[2] In 2012, a remix of this song premiered during that year's Olympic closing ceremony [en]. In 2022, "Running Up That Hill" became popular again when it was heard in the fourth season [en] of the Netflix series Stranger Things.^[3][4] This made the song the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the charts in eight countries.^[5]

"Running Up That Hill"
Single by Kate Bush
from the album Hounds of Love [en]
B-side	"Under the Ivy"
Released	5 August 1985 (1985-08-05)
Studio	Wickham Farm Home Studio (Welling, England)
Genre	Synth-pop
Length	4:58
Label	EMI
Songwriter(s)	Kate Bush
Producer(s)	Kate Bush
Kate Bush singles chronology
"Night of the Swallow [en]" (1983) "Running Up That Hill" (1985) "Cloudbusting [en]" (1985)
Music video
"Running Up That Hill" on YouTube

Personnel

• Kate Bush – vocals, Fairlight CMI [en]
• Alan Murphy [en] – electric guitar
• Del Palmer [en] – bass guitar, LinnDrum [en] programming
• Stuart Elliott [en] – drums
• Paddy Bush – balalaika

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1985–2022)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[6]	1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7]	6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[8]	23
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[9]	2
Denmark (Tracklisten)[10]	6
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11]	6
France (SNEP)[12]	3
Germany (Official German Charts)[13]	3
Global 200 (Billboard)[14]	1
Ireland (IRMA)[15]	1
Italy (FIMI)[16]	18
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17]	16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18]	3
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19]	1
Norway (VG-lista)[20]	4
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[21]	48
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[22]	1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23]	1
UK Singles (OCC)[24]	1
US Billboard Hot 100[25]	3
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[26]	9
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[27]	5
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[28]	1
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[29]	2
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[30]	5

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[31]	2× Platinum	160,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[32]	Platinum	60,000
Germany (BVMI)[33]	Gold	250,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[34]	Platinum	60,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[35]	4× Platinum	2,400,000
Sweden (GLF)[36]	Platinum	8,000,000†
*sales figures based on certification alone ^shipments figures based on certification alone