Kate Bush Breaks Three Guinness World Records With ‘Running Up That Hill’
Kate Bush has officially broken three Guinness World Records following the recent resurgence of Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God). The track – which appears on Bush’s 1985 fifth studio album, Hounds Of Love – reached Number One on the UK singles chart last month (17 June) after featuring prominently in the fourth season of Stranger Things.
Upon its initial release 37 years ago, Running Up That Hill landed at No. 3 in the UK, and later charted in 2012 when a revamped version of the song was used in the London Olympics closing ceremony.
Now, the Guinness World Records has confirmed that Bush has taken the following titles in the UK: Oldest female artist to reach Number One, Longest time for a track to reach Number One on the UK’s Official Singles Chart, and Longest gap between Number Ones.
Cher was formerly the oldest solo female chart-topper on the UK’s singles chart with Believe back in 1998, when she was 52 years old. “Bravo Kate,” wrote Cher on Twitter in response to Bush, 63, taking her crown.
“Records are meant 2 be broken‼️” she continued “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.”
Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)’ took 36 years and 310 days to reach the top spot on these shores. Per Guinness World Records, the track dethroned Wham!‘s Last Christmas (1984) which took 36 years and 23 days to make it to Number One in January 2021.
In addition, the song gave Bush her first UK Number One since she topped the chart with her debut single Wuthering Heights in 1978. The previous holder of that title, Tom Jones, had his first chart-topper with Green, Green Grass Of Home in 1967.
It wasn’t until 2009 that the Welsh singer reached Number One again after teaming up with Rob Brydon and Ruth Jones for a Comic Relief single, the Gavin & Stacey-themed Barry Islands In The Stream.
Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) also became the most-streamed track in the world this month, reaching Number One on both the Spotify charts in the UK and the US after earning 57million listens in just one week.
Upon earning a UK Number One with the single, Bush said in a statement: “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 number one in such an unexpected way.”