Kate Bush breaks silence on Running Up That Hill's 'extraordinary' Number 1 success thanks to Stranger Things in rare interview: "It's so special"

Kate Bush has opened up about reaching Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart with Running Up That Hill; an achievement which saw her break three Official Chart records in the process.

In a rare, world exclusive radio interview with BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour host Emma Barnett, Kate discussed gaining a new generation of fans thanks to Netflix show Stranger Things, revisiting the song and why, to her, it'll always be called A Deal with God.

MORE: Cher has the best response as Kate Bush breaks her Official Chart record

What did Kate Bush say about reaching Number 1 on BBC Woman's Hour?

Speaking to host Emma Barnett about her Number 1 success, Kate said: "It's just extraordinary. [Stranger Things] is such a great series. I imagined the track would get some attention, but nothing like this.

"What's really wonderful is that this is a whole new audience, and I love that...It's so special."

So, what's Running Up That Hill actually about? "I really like people to take from a song what they want, but originally it was written with the idea of a man and woman swapping places with each other; seeing what it was like from the other side."

Chatting about the song's original working title, Kate explained: "It was called A Deal with God. The record company were worried it wouldn't get played on the radio, and that people might think it was a sensitive title.

"Some of [my songs] have had very strange titles. You have a working title, which you often forget. For me, this is still called A Deal with God."

Asked if the unprecedented revival's made her revisit her own back catalogue, Kate said: "I never listen to my old stuff, but when things like this come along I'm sometimes involved in doing an edit or a new version of it."

MORE: Does this mean a new version of Running Up That Hill is on the way?

As she topped the Official Singles Chart last week, Kate wrote on her website: "I’m overwhelmed by the scale of affection and support the song is receiving and it’s all happening really fast, as if it’s being driven along by a kind of elemental force.

“I have to admit I feel really moved by it all. Thank you so very much for making the song a No 1 in such an unexpected way.”

This comes after Cher congratulated Kate on breaking her Official Chart record to become the oldest female ever to reach the Official Singles Chart summit.

As Kate smashed her 23-year-long record, which she held with 1998 Number 1 Believe, Cher tweeted: "Bravo Kate. Records Are Meant 2 Be Broken. Remember Back In The Day, When Women Had SHORT SELL BY DATES?!

"We Had 2 Fight Our Way Through The Testosterone Curtain,& We Did it So The Girls Who Came After Us Could Sing As Long As They Want To. With Mega Respect, Me." [sic]."

Speaking on Woman's Hour, long time Kate Bush fan and How to Build a Girl author Caitlin Moran said: "I hugely enjoyed Cher's message to Kate...There are so many great things in [her tweet].

"My daughter's a musician, and I try to explain to her just how few women were in the music industry when Kate Bush was around...things have changed so much. So much of that is to do with Kate Bush. Previously, female artists felt they have to compete with the same kind of rage male artists did."

WATCH Netflix's Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2 trailer featuring a new mix of Running Up That Hill below:

Is there a new version of Running Up That Hill on the horizon?! 👀

Don't tease us like this, @NetflixUK 😭 https://t.co/0CsVapnQsV

— Official Charts (@officialcharts) June 21, 2022