Kate Bush has seen a revival after a hit from 1985 has soared to first place in the charts thanks to the Netflix series Stranger Things. Bush, who was born and raised in Bexleyheath, has seen a revival after her song Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) was featured on the fourth series of the show.
The song was the first single from her album Hounds of Love released in Britain on August 5, 1985. It was the most successful of Bush's 1980s releases and entered the UK Singles Charts at number 9 and peaking at number 3.
Stranger Things is set in the 80s and in the latest, the character Max Mayfield (played by Sadie Sink) listens to the track through her Walkman. This has caused the Kent-born singer to soar straight to number one on the iTunes charts and number 106 on Spotify's top 200.
READ MORE: The sleepy Kent town that has attracted some of the most famous people who ever lived
But as a testament to the longevity of Kate Bush's music, this isn't even the first time the song has enjoyed a revival. In 2012 the song reached number six on the UK Singles Chart and was included in the official soundtrack album of the 2012 Olympics closing ceremony.
Speaking about the song in 1985 she said: "It's about a relationship between a man and a woman. They love each other very much, and the power of the relationship is something that gets in the way.
"It creates insecurities. It's saying if the man could be the woman and the woman the man, if they could make a deal with God, to change places, that they'd understand what it's like to be the other person and perhaps it would clear up misunderstandings. You know, all the little problems; there would be no problem."
Her early life in Kent
Bush was born July 30, 1958, in the historic Kent county of Bexleyheath. She is one of the world's biggest-selling recording stars and is known for her theatrical dancing, unique voice and allusive subject matter.
She was born into a musical family with her Irish mother loving music and dancing while her father was a doctor but also a very good pianist. The Bush home was a farmhouse in East Wickham, not far from Welling and she says her life in Kent helped her write music.
Speaking to Great British Life, Bush said: "We had an organ in the barn behind the house and I used to go and play on that from an early age. I wasn’t yet in my teens when I started to write songs. I think living where we did was a big help because there were not too many distractions.
“That is one of the nice things about Kent – it can be as urban as you like or as rural as you like; it has the best of both worlds.
"I don’t think I could ever forget growing up in Kent; it has played a part in making me what I am. A lot of musical talent has come from Kent in the past and almost certainly will continue to do so."
Her family were very supportive and helped her make a demo tape. A family friend, Ricky Hopper, was involved in the music industry and made a more professional tape.
The demo made its way into the hands of David Gilmour from the legendary prog-rock band Pink Floyd. Kate added: "I was only 16 when that demo tape was made and I was totally amazed when David Gilmour responded by saying he thought it was great and offered to get me into the recording studio."
Bush was still very young and had to finish her O-levels before embarking on her music career. Because of her contract with EMI, she was able to enrol with dance teacher and performance teacher Lindsay Kemp.
In 1978, she became an international star with her song Wuthering Heights which remained at number one in the Singles Charts. This was an accumulation of her expressive singing voice and unique performance dancing captured in a dazzling music video.
Where is Kate Bush now?
Kate Bush has a son, Bertie, who she shares with guitarist Dan McIntosh who she married in 1992. Her work meant she has moved out of Kent, but her family still live in the county.
The East Wickham Farm is still occupied by the Bush family, according to Kate Bush Encyclopedia. The family first moved into the 1950s and is being used by Owen Bush, Kate Bush's nephew who works as a blacksmith.
Kate Bush has a house in south Devon. It made the news in 2018 after it was revealed it was inches away from the cliff edge and is moving closer.
Her album Hounds of Love was re-released last year on vinyl to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of HMV. Her latest album is The Other Sides on March 8, 2019.
Story Saved
You can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.