Let me just get it out of the way: I have not seen the Stranger Things episode that brought “Running Up That Hill” into the conscious minds of a whole new generation, but I thank Stranger Things for its service. I respect that show for having great music supervision and educating the masses on 1980s bangers (See also: Toto’s “Africa” and Metallica’s “Master of Puppets”). That said, I never made it past season two. Too many teens! Sorry!
But this isn’t about Stranger Things anyway. This is about the genius witch goddess that is Kate Bush. Behold:
There has always been a lot of hype around her video for “Wuthering Heights.”1 Rightfully so: she’s traipsing around a field with those big eyes and choreo so easy to copy that people gather annually to perform it en masse. But “Running Up That Hill” is my favorite.
If Lucas and I were to get married and have that kind of wedding where everyone watches the couple dance their first married dance together, I would insist on recreating this dance, flowing lavender unitards and all. I find that tradition kind of strange and uncomfortable, so why not make it strange and uncomfortable for all? Also I love attention.
The hardest thing to match would be Kate’s serene expressions. I mean right off the bat this guy flips her upside down and she’s completely cool with it:
And then again when he throws her right over his shoulder:
Way to gracefully stick the landing!
Then, he’s holding her back, and she resists a little, but also just seems like she needs to crack her back:
(Wait, is that land swimming? Did Kate Bush inspire Angela Lansbury?? Even their jumpsuits are pretty similar!)
This is my favorite move in the whole video:
It looks like flailing, but with Kate’s confidence, it’s more of an upgraded power pose. I hope it catches on the way power posing did and we start seeing people prepare for big presentations by stalking around using their arms to shoo away all the bad energy. (Not unlike Legs & Co’s power flailing! Maybe this was already a trend in the early 1980s?)
Also, this is the best edit ever made:
HAAAA I’M DYING. I’M DEAD. I love how the guy gets a little stuck at the end of that roll, like he didn’t put enough momentum into it but doesn’t want to ruin the moment.
In the second half of the video, after that moment where their dream selves run through the dreamworld (I guess??), the dance space is now all dark and moody. It adds some great dramatic backlighting to their hair:
And it gets creepy, as Kate is stalked by a bunch of people wearing her dance partner’s face:
And then her own face:
(Does this mean that all the guests at my hypothetical wedding would be obliged to wear masks of me and Lucas’s faces? OF COURSE.)
But we can assume this nightmare ends well because we end with her standing confidently in the wind and shooting an imaginary arrow. With… open palms? Weird mime work, but you do you, Kate!2
Maybe she’s pointing to where everyone can help themselves to some cake and champagne. HA.
Clearly I love this video, and this song is tremendous, but please give the entirety of Hounds of Love a listen if you never have. It is the perfect fall album, especially as we creep into darker and colder nights. It’s powerful, dramatic, witchy (literally!), sensuous, and magical. I mean, the cover art alone is pure art:
And of course, if you’re still in need of a Halloween costume and can find a lavender unitard and some matching super wide leg pants, you know what to do. Just be sure to print out a bunch of masks with your own face to hand out to everyone and ask them to chase you.
See you next month, majestic witches!
Love and jazz hands,
Molly
Or shall I say videos, plural. I think most people know that red dress version best, despite the fact she shot the indoor version with the white dress first.
Fun fact: Kate Bush trained in mime and dance with Lindsay Kemp, who also trained David Bowie!
oh, how I miss the modern art-y 1980s! I haven't heard this song in ages and I don't think I've seen the video since the 1990s. I was struck by what a technical dancer Kate is! Those kicks in the tucked position at the beginning take some serious ab muscles!