If you watched the latest season of Stranger Things, then you’re probably acquainted with the now viral song “Running Up That Hill” by ’80s pop singer Kate Bush. While she certainly had a niche following back in the ’80s, ever since the most recent season of Stranger Things was released in May 2022, her popularity has soared to unprecedented heights. Here’s what this teaches us about music and how we relate to it.
We Need to Care Somehow
It doesn’t really matter how talented an artist is. If they don’t give the listener a reason to care, they’ll simply move past it. The listener isn’t to blame for this at all—it’s just human nature. There are millions of talented artists out there, and people don’t have a responsibility to cater to their egos. Rather, it’s on the artist to find a way to emotionally touch the listener in a way that they understand.
Stranger Things Made Modern Listeners Care About Kate Bush
In the fourth season of Stranger Things, fans of the show immediately started “caring” about Kate Bush’s music and here’s why. Without spoiling too much, we’ll just say that the song was deeply and intrinsically connected to the life and wellbeing of a beloved character. Since fans love this character, as a result, they fell in love with the song!
