Placebo: Running Up That Hill

Frequently my inspiration for my TV Thursday features come from the writers of the TV show “Bones.” The episode was a rerun entitled “Judas on a Pole” and features the song towards the end of the episode, as is the custom with this series. Placebo’s interpretation of Kate Bush’s “Running up that Hill” has been featured in about six other shows.

Placebo released “Running up that Hill” for their 2003 release appropriately titled “Covers.” It was released as a single in 2007, but only was a mid-charting song in the UK, Australia, and Sweden. It failed to chart elsewhere. It’s different, but I like it. Hope you do as well.

Kate Bush’s Original

I never was a big Kate Bush fan and I guess that stems from being disappointed by her debut album “The Kick Inside” which was released with a great deal of hype because she was discovered by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. Being a Floyd fan for a number of years, I jumped on the album before hearing it. I think it was her vocal style that turned me off – but that was her first LP which was released in 1978.

By the time 1985 rolled around and EMI released her 12” single of “Running up that Hill” that they persuaded Bush to re-title from “Deal with God” as they felt resistance from the buying public especially in the US, Australia, Italy, and France. Her vocal stylings matured and I really liked this release.  The single features Kate taking aim in a photograph that was surely to cause all of the boys to quiver.

From her “Hounds of Love” album, it was a top 30 hit in the US. It also charted on the Hot Dance Club Play, Hot Dance Singles, and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts. The song charted in the top five in the UK, Germany, and Ireland as well as being a top 10 hit in Australia and the Netherlands.