Taika Waititi says Stranger Things ruined Kate Bush for him. Created by Matt and Ross Duffer, Stranger Things became a massive success after its initial release in 2016. Amid coronavirus concerns and shutdowns in the entertainment industry, Stranger Things experienced numerous delays in filming season 4. Finally, in May, Netflix released the first volume of season 4, which proved to be the show’s biggest yet in terms of powerhouse performances, action sequences, and visuals as Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and her group of friends attempt to face off against the evil Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).
Starring Brown, Finn Wolfhard, David Harbour, Winona Ryder, Sadie Sink, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, and Noah Schnapp, Stranger Things season 4 infused a feast of pop culture references from the ‘70s and ‘80s into the storyline. These include a notable appearance from Freddy Krueger actor Robert Englund, a nod to Stephen King’s Carrie, and the incorporation of Kate Bush’s haunting ballad “Running Up That Hill.” Featured in some of the most emotional scenes of season 4, “Running Up That Hill” dominated charts three decades after its release and sparked new interest in the songwriter’s catalog of music.
Now, with the arrival of Thor: Love & Thunder in theaters, filmmaker Waititi reveals he’s annoyed that the Duffer Brothers used Bush’s music in Stranger Things. Speaking with NME, Waititi says Stranger Things ruined Kate Bush for him because he wanted to use her music in Thor: Love & Thunder. Waititi admits he is a huge fan of Bush and jokes he was annoyed that he couldn’t incorporate her music into Love & Thunder because Stranger Things tapped into it first. Read Waititi’s full comment below:
You mean how they ruined Kate Bush? I love that show, but as someone who feels a real ownership of Kate Bush music… I’m really annoyed! I’ve become one of those old arseholes who’s like: ‘These kids never listened to Kate Bush, they’ve heard one song on a TV show! They don’t know Kate Bush! I know Kate Bush!’
![How Stranger Things Ruined Kate Bush, According To Taika Waititi](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Taika-Waititi-in-Our-Flag-Means-Death.jpg)
Of course, it seems Waititi had a variety of ideas for the use of Bush’s music in Thor: Love & Thunder, which included using her 1988 single “This Woman’s Work” in a scene with Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster. However, despite not tapping into Bush’s eclectic list of tracks, Waititi found ingenious ways to integrate multiple songs from the famed ’80s band Guns N’ Roses into Thor: Love & Thunder. For now, Waititi can be counted among the long list of Bush fans, whose music continues to impact long-time listeners and a whole new audience.
Indeed, “Running Up That Hill” worked masterfully with the mature and dark themes of Stranger Things season 4. As for the fourth installment of the acclaimed series, fans continue to mull over the shocking deaths, unexpected twists, and the use of Metallica’s “Master Of Puppets” featured in the final episodes of season 4. As for the fifth season of Stranger Things, fans will have to wait and see which songs the Duffer Brothers opt to revitalize and infuse into the final season.