72/100 Video - "Running Up That Hill" - Kate Bush (1985)

"Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush was one song I missed during my top 100 fave 1980 songs countdown from two years ago.

In fact, I should have switched "Cloudbusting" to the videos list, rather than including it in the songs. Okay, I'm done with the crying.

"Running Up That Hill", my introduction to Kate Bush in 1985, gave us a memorable and epic video in itself. 

Kate wanted the video to be more of a classical performance, compared to in her mind, the more trivial videos of the era.

She certainly delivered the goods.

The choreography of the video's interpretive dance is outstanding between Kate and dancer Michael Hervieu. 

The haunting synth and the hypnotic drum beat go along perfectly with the moving visuals. The beat also makes this a great running track.

There are a couple of bizarre scenes near the end when Kate and Michael's intimate dance is interrupted by the masked extras in the tunnel, but they do fit in with the lyrics. 

#98. "Cloudbusting" - Kate Bush (1985)

"Cloudbusting" by Kate Bush is a brilliant piece of art and a risky single to release; it was so noticeably different from the standard fare on tap in 1985. 

The track also had one of the more innovative storylines in an 80s music video. In fact, it was more of a 'mini-movie'. Starring Donald Sutherland as Kate's father, he invents a machine that makes it rain. After the men in suits take Sutherland away, the 'cloud buster' only works when Kate gives it a go. 

The song itself is spellbinding, dramatic and melodic. 

The instrumentation is off the charts: the dreamy strings and the marching effect at the end are spectacular. It's a nicely-textured soft song I prefer to crank up loud on headphones to hear all the nuances like the ambient drum rolls.

A few years later while in in Vancouver record shop I remember recognizing a sample from "Cloudbusting". Turns out it was from the now classic techno club anthem "Something Good" by Utah Saints.