The decisive difference between the 1985 recording of Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) and the 2012 Remix is the voice: Kate Bush recorded a new vocal for the 2012 version. It is not simply the original recording with updated loudness or clarity. The release retains a connection to the earlier musical material but features a later vocal performance, made for a version presented at the London Olympic Games closing ceremony.
The confirmation comes from the artist herself. When announcing the 2013 vinyl, her official website explicitly stated that the 2012 remix featured a new Kate vocal. The word remix therefore does not mean every element was rerecorded, nor does it mean the 1985 vocals were left untouched.
What did Kate Bush rerecord in 2012?
The element confirmed as rerecorded was Kate Bush's vocal. Rolling Stone UK reports that the existing instrumental backing was reused, with a pitch adjustment to accommodate her voice. This explains why the release is described as a remix with a new vocal rather than a complete rerecording of the song from scratch.
Chimera Arts identifies Stephen W Tayler as the person behind the remix played at the Olympic ceremony. The consulted documents do not provide an exhaustive, track-by-track account of every instrumental change. Without an additional technical comparison, it would be incorrect to claim that a particular instrument was rerecorded, replaced or removed.
Running Up That Hill in 1985 and 2012: the documented differences
| Aspect | 1985 recording | 2012 Remix |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Single associated with the 1985 album Hounds of Love. | New version of the same song prepared in connection with the 2012 Olympics. |
| Lead vocal | Vocal performance from the original recording. | New vocal recorded by Kate Bush, according to her official announcement. |
| Sound production | Original recording, also distinct from the period's extended mixes. | Remix credited to Stephen W Tayler; the press describes reuse of earlier instrumental backing. |
| Associated release | 1985 single and album. | Download on August 12, 2012; limited physical edition in April 2013. |
The technical distinction matters. Remastering usually means processing the audio of an already completed recording; remixing means preparing a different mix; rerecording a vocal means capturing a new performance. Here the release is officially named 2012 Remix, and the new vocal was confirmed by the artist. Those processes should not be treated as interchangeable.
The Olympics, download and vinyl: three different moments
On August 12, 2012, the official website confirmed the digital release of Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) 2012 Remix. On the same date, the recording was presented during the London Olympic Games closing ceremony. According to Chimera Arts, the track was played as part of a choreographed sequence. That does not mean Kate Bush sang it live at the event.
On April 20, 2013, for Record Store Day, the version received a limited 10-inch picture disc release. Side A contained the 2012 Remix. Side B featured the original recording of Walk Straight Down The Middle, a song first released on the album The Sensual World. In other words, side B was not the 1985 recording of Running Up That Hill.
The 2013 issue was a physical edition of the version already released in 2012, not the remix's debut. Later, the officially announced 2018 remastered catalogue listed the 2012 Remix again within The Other Side 1 collection. That appearance does not establish that a third vocal recording was made in 2018.
How can you tell which version you are hearing?
The safest approach is to check the track title and release information. A track credited as 2012 Remix is the edition with the new vocal. If the reference is the original Hounds of Love album track, the starting point is the 1985 recording. Extended mixes also existed during the original release period, so a different running time alone does not prove you are hearing the Olympic version.
Listening can reveal vocal and mixing differences, but the metadata of the specific edition matters when identifying a particular master or mix. The consulted sources do not establish that every service offers both versions side by side or that the selection is identical in every country.
What about the song's Stranger Things chart comeback?
That is a separate chapter. The use of Running Up That Hill in the fourth season of Stranger Things in 2022 sparked another wave of attention. According to Official Charts, the song reached number 1 in the UK in 2022. Kate Bush's announcement about the Olympic remix reports number 6 in the UK in 2012, while the original single had peaked at number 3 in 1985.
These are milestones from different periods, all referring to the UK chart. The commercial comeback in 2022 does not by itself prove that the Olympic remix with its new vocal was the recording used in every subsequent appearance of the song. Identifying a specific use requires checking its credits or the version actually played.
Sources and references
- Kate Bush, announcement of the August 12, 2012 digital release
- Kate Bush, announcement of the 2013 picture disc
- Chimera Arts, 2012 entry on Stephen W Tayler’s remix
- Rolling Stone UK, retrospective on the recordings
- Kate Bush, 2018 remastered releases track listing
- Official Charts, UK chart history of Running Up That Hill
