“Running Up That Hill” is a song by the English singer-songwriter Kate Bush. It was the first single from her 1985 album Hounds of Love, released in the United Kingdom in August 1985. It was her first 12-inch single. It was the most successful of Bush’s 1980s releases, entering the UK chart at number 9 and eventually peaking at number 3, her second-highest single peak. The single also had an impact in the USA, providing Bush with her first chart hit there since 1978, where it reached the top 30 and featured prominently in the Dance Charts.
Representatives at EMI were hesitant to release the song with its original title of “A Deal with God” owing to possible negative reception because of its use of the word “God”. Bush relented and changed the title. However, the album version of the song is listed as “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)“. The executives of EMI initially wanted to release another song, “Cloudbusting”, as the lead single from the album. Bush successfully persuaded them to release “Running Up That Hill” first, claiming that it was the first song written for the album, and felt that it better represented the broader feel for Hounds of Love. Bush also performed the song live for the first time with David Gilmour of Pink Floyd at the Secret Policeman’s Third Ball in 1987.
Alternative rock band Placebo covered “Running Up That Hill”, releasing it originally on the bonus disc of their 2003 album Sleeping With Ghosts, then featuring it on Covers and the US version of Meds in 2007. Placebo’s take on the song is more downbeat than the original. It has been described by Q magazine as “sounding more like a pact with the Devil” than the original “deal with God”. The video is an amalgamation of fan submitted videos, entered as part of a competition to be included in the Official Video.
Electronic band Chromatics released a cover on their 2007 album Night Drive. This version was stripped back considerably and made heavy use of electronic drums, synthesizers and breathy vocals, effectively reimagining the song in the style of Italo disco.
American alternative music artist Meg Myers released a cover of the song in March 2019. Her cover reached number one on both the Billboard Rock Airplay chart and the Alternative Songs chart in January 2020. Fueled with emotion, you could feel every ounce of life within her as she so beautifully, and powerfully sang this iconic song. Not to mention, the instrumentals in this version are brilliant.
The sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg bring that graceful First Aid Kit harmony into light with their gorgeous cover of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill.” Quite possibly, the most tender version of the song, First Aid Kit give those feels justice through their enveloping harmony and range, and of course those soft strums of acoustic guitar. Stripped down and pure, this version is absolutely magnificent.
