Which Kate Bush song helps free Max from Vecna's curse in season 4 of "Stranger Things"?
Answer
Running Up That Hill
Kate Bush's song "Running Up That Hill" helps free Max from Vecna's curse in season 4 of "Stranger Things."
The song plays during the climax of "Chapter Four: Dear Billy," when Max is trapped inside Vecna's psychic vision. Nancy and Robin discover that a person's favorite music may provide a mental escape route from Vecna's control. Lucas plays Max's cassette, and the opening notes of Bush's song help her reconnect with memories of her friends and run toward a portal.
The track was originally released in 1985 on Bush's album Hounds of Love. Its full title is "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)," but the shorter title used in the question is the standard accepted answer. The lyrics' themes of empathy and exchanging perspectives also fit Max's emotional struggle.
The scene caused a huge real-world revival for the song. It reached number one in the United Kingdom in 2022 and became Bush's highest-charting song on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.