Kate Bush and Stranger Things: Whats the Secret to a Perfect Sync?
14/06/2022
By
Lesley OConnell
June 13, 2022
From left to right: Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas, Sadie Sink as Max, Joe Keery as Steve, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin in Stranger Things
Image courtesy of Netflix
Berklee Nows Keyed In series features Berklee artists and experts making news and sounding off on the latest news and trends from the music world and beyond.
Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill reached no. 3 on the U.K. charts and no. 30 in the U.S. when it was first released in 1985. Nearly 40 years later, the song from the English singer-songwriter's Hounds of Love album is experiencing an astonishing revival on singles charts, usurping its original success: no. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, no. 2 on the U.K. charts, and no. 1 in Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland. It's also bested streaming platforms, including no. 1 on Spotify in the U.S., and has hit the no. 1 spot on Billboard's Top TV Songs chart. Meanwhile, Halsey covered the song at the Governor's Ball this past weekend.
The resurgence can be credited to the songs placement in the latest season of the Netflix sci-fi series Stranger Things, which is set in the 1980s. The show's use of the song has also taken hold on TikTok, which has contributed to its rise.
For her part, Bush is celebrating what amounts to be the perfect sync. The song is being given a whole new lease on life by the young fans who love the show-I love it too! Bush gushed in a statement on her website. It's hard to take in the speed at which this has all been happening . We've all been astounded to watch the track explode!
Those who work in sync are taking note. Lily Burns B.M. '16, a producer, songwriter, and mix engineer currently working with the prolific sync producer AG (Adriane Gonzalez '99), offered her take on this phenomenally successful sync.
What's the formula for the perfect sync?
Lily Burns B.M. '16
Image courtesy of Lily Burns
There really isn't a formula, and there really isn't a perfect sync. That said, there is somewhat of a structure that works most of the time. You want the lyrics to lean hopeful, even if the concept or vibe is dark; there always has to be a spark of hope. They should also be fairly vague and applicable to different situations-definitely no naming names.
From a production standpoint, it's sort of all over the place, especially given the mass amount of content that's out there from TV to movies-it's just massive. But generally speaking, the song has to build, have distinct, dynamically different sections that can escalate throughout the song, and you want some tasty ear-candy elements that editors can play with (more applicable for trailers and promos, but ear candy is always a plus).
This song is kind of an exception on the production side: It doesn't have a crazy dynamic structure on its own, but the editor (or composer) added a bunch of cinematic elements (strings, sfx, drums) that create an overarching dynamic build. The lyrics fit, though-the line running up that hill is perfectly vague, hopeful, and dark.
To what would you attribute the enormous popularity and revival of this song as a result of the sync? What's so special about this particular sync? After watching the scene, my first thought is length and amount of dialogue. The song plays for almost four minutes with very little dialogue so it's the primary audio we're getting in that time. It's also an extremely climactic scene with a ton of tension around [central character] Max's fate. Additionally, there's an emphasis of the song being the thing that pulls her back! It's a major moment in the show, and the song plays a huge part both as a production tool and a tool in the storyline.
As someone who's in the industry and deep in the sync world, what's your take on this particular sync story? It's kind of the dream situation for someone in sync. To have a placement in such an impactful scene, with so little dialogue over it, and with the amount of time the song plays is already a huge thing; the addition of a crazy bump in streams is a major bonus. I keep coming back to the use of the song in the storyline-that's a rare thing and I think it contributed to the success of this placement.
What effect do apps like Shazam or search engines like Google have on this kind of phenomenon, whereas viewers can immediately identify a song they hear in a TV episode or movie? It's huge. The Shazam thing is absolutely huge. To be able to hear a song and immediately identify it and pull it up on Spotify or Apple Music or whatever streaming service you use is incredible for viewers and incredible for creators. Streaming isn't a hugely reliable source of income for us in the sync world (we rely on license fees from placements as your primary source of income), but a good sync will almost always translate into streams and capitalizing on that is a huge bonus for us. It's also a source of pride. Having a song on the top of the weekly Tunefind chart, for example, is wildly exciting and validating, and it means the music is both translating well to picture and resonating with listeners. It means you've done your job and done it well.
What could a song revival, and among a new audience, mean for an artist like Kate Bush, who has been out of the limelight for some time? It could mean a lot of things. Primarily a bump in streaming income, and not just for this song. It'll drive listeners to her artist profiles and potentially have them looking into other things she's done. It could possibly mean more placement, though that's
LINK: | https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/whats-the-secret-to-a-perfect... |
See more stories from berklee |
More from Berklee
18/04/2024
Krisha Marcano Announced as Dean of Theater for Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Krisha Marcano Announced as Dean of Theater for Boston Conservatory at Berklee The theater educator, choreographer, and performer will join Boston Conservator...
18/04/2024
Berklee's Yoon-Ji Lee Receives Guggenheim Fellowship
Berklee's Yoon-Ji Lee Receives Guggenheim Fellowship Lee, an assistant professor of composition, creates music based on unconventional and nonlinear struc...
17/04/2024
Simone Pilon Appointed Executive Director at Berklee Valencia
Simone Pilon Appointed Executive Director at Berklee Valencia Pilon, who has served as Berklee Valencia's interim executive director since March 2023, has a...
17/04/2024
FINNEAS and Ashe Talk Confidence and Collaboration in the Music Industry
FINNEAS and Ashe Talk Confidence and Collaboration in the Music Industry Days before his sister Billie Eilishs new album announcement, producer and songwriter...
12/04/2024
Youssou NDour to Receive Honorary Doctorate at Berklee Valencia's 2024 Commencement
Youssou NDour to Receive Honorary Doctorate at Berklee Valencia's 2024 Comme...
12/04/2024
Berklee and Electronic Arts Celebrate Annual EA Day
Berklee and Electronic Arts Celebrate Annual EA Day The second annual EA Berklee Day celebrated women in the screen scoring industry and presented the Electro...
11/04/2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Honor LaChanze and Lar Lubovitch at Commencement Ceremony
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Honor LaChanze and Lar Lubovitch at Commenceme...
11/04/2024
Berklee Hosts Leading Artists and Entertainment Pros at Annual Career Jam
Berklee Hosts Leading Artists and Entertainment Pros at Annual Career Jam Grammy-winning producer and singer-songwriter FINNEAS and hitmaker Ashe BM 15 headli...
10/04/2024
Ledisi, Q-Tip, and Gilberto Santa Rosa to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee 2024 Commencement
Ledisi, Q-Tip, and Gilberto Santa Rosa to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee...
05/04/2024
Berklee Honors Three Outstanding Artists at Alumni Achievement Awards
Berklee Honors Three Outstanding Artists at Alumni Achievement Awards Natalie Toro, Gustavo Borner, and Mark Kelley were recognized for their achievements in ...
05/04/2024
Berklee's Africana Studies Department to Host its First Annual Symposium
Berklee's Africana Studies Department to Host its First Annual Symposium The inaugural event will feature scholar, political commentator, and author Dr. E...
04/04/2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Five Iconic Works at Spring Dance Concert: Limitless
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Five Iconic Works at Spring Dance Conc...
04/04/2024
Morton Subotnick Named 2024 Herb Alpert Visiting Artist for Electronic Production and Design Department
Morton Subotnick Named 2024 Herb Alpert Visiting Artist for Electronic Productio...
03/04/2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Four Iconic Works at Spring Dance Concert: Limitless
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Four Iconic Works at Spring Dance Conc...
03/04/2024
Berklee's Signature Series Presents Gospel Extravaganza 2024
Berklee's Signature Series Presents Gospel Extravaganza 2024 Gospel singer and composer Bishop Hezekiah Walker will be among this year's inductees int...
30/03/2024
Celebrating Women's History Month with Berklee and Spelman College Students
Celebrating Women's History Month with Berklee and Spelman College Students Idriemeka Bailey and Madyson S. McSwain open up about their experiences in the...
29/03/2024
Student Spotlight: Bethanie Liu
Student Spotlight: Bethanie Liu The electronic musician shares how Berklee helped shape her desire to be a songwriter and arranger into something that incorpo...
28/03/2024
Boston Conservatory to Present Center Stage Production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Huntington
Boston Conservatory to Present Center Stage Production of A Midsummer Night'...
27/03/2024
15 Latin Artists Who Became Musical Idols
15 Latin Artists Who Became Musical Idols Listen to iconic Latin musicians across genres in this playlist and read about how they've influenced Berklee st...
22/03/2024
Berklee, A3 Communication, and the Gnaoua and World Music Festival Launch Berklee on the Road Program
Berklee, A3 Communication, and the Gnaoua and World Music Festival Launch Berkle...
19/03/2024
What Is Dembow? Tracing the Roots of a Global Phenomenon
What Is Dembow? Tracing the Roots of a Global Phenomenon The story of the dembow beat, which can be found in reggaeton, hip-hop, pop, and far beyond, speaks t...
19/03/2024
Berklee's Roger H. Brown Jr. Building Honored by Boston Society for Architecture
Berklee's Roger H. Brown Jr. Building Honored by Boston Society for Architec...
19/03/2024
Applications Open for 2024 Berklee at Umbria Jazz Clinics
Applications Open for 2024 Berklee at Umbria Jazz Clinics The 39th edition of the program will be held from July 9-21. By Callista Chan March 21, 2024 Ima...
14/03/2024
Berklee Career Jam Concert Showcases Student Artists for Music and Entertainment Industry
Berklee Career Jam Concert Showcases Student Artists for Music and Entertainment...
14/03/2024
BPMI to Host 22nd Annual Showcase at Brighton Music Hall on April 17
BPMI to Host 22nd Annual Showcase at Brighton Music Hall on April 17 The Berklee Popular Music Institute will showcase performances from six rising stars who ...
08/03/2024
Berklee Presents the Michael Jackson Ensemble: Human Nature
Berklee Presents the Michael Jackson Ensemble: Human Nature The Signature Series concert honors the King of Pop, surveying the entirety of his iconic career. ...
07/03/2024
Bruce Hornsby Is Still Seeing What He Can Get Away With
Bruce Hornsby Is Still Seeing What He Can Get Away With Since The Way It Is, the visionary songwriter has made his mark on so many genres. His latest, Deep Se...
06/03/2024
Student Spotlight: Mehrpouya Daneshvar
Student Spotlight: Mehrpouya Daneshvar The clarinetist from Iran talks about discovering a love for Iranian classical music and how coming to Berklee has allo...
02/03/2024
Applications Open for Berklee in Puerto Rico 2024
Applications Open for Berklee in Puerto Rico 2024 Registration is open now through April 11. By Colette Greenstein March 1, 2024 Students perform at Berklee...
01/03/2024
Student Spotlight: Shivaraj Natraj
Student Spotlight: Shivaraj Natraj The vocalist, konnakol beatboxer, and percussionist reflects on his musical journey from Oman to India and beyond, and how ...
01/03/2024
Berklee to Present American Master Award to Arturo Sandoval
Berklee to Present American Master Award to Arturo Sandoval Berklee will recognize the Cuban-American legend's legacy and impact on jazz and Latin music. ...
28/02/2024
Announcing the 2024 Issue of STAGES Magazine: Future Proof
Announcing the 2024 Issue of STAGES Magazine: Future Proof This issue takes a deep dive into how a Boston Conservatory education lays the foundation for futu...
28/02/2024
40 Years Later, Thriller's Grammy Sweep Still Resonates
40 Years Later, Thriller's Grammy Sweep Still Resonates Professors Lil John Roberts and Mimi Jones, part of the team leading the upcoming Michael Jackson ...
27/02/2024
The Rubin Brothers Bring Circus Spectacle to American Idol
The Rubin Brothers Bring Circus Spectacle to American Idol Berklee alum Colescott Rubin and his brother, current student A.J., rode unicycles and sang about lov...
24/02/2024
Berklee International Hip-Hop Symposium Spotlights Local Artists, Entrepreneurs
Berklee International Hip-Hop Symposium Spotlights Local Artists, Entrepreneurs SAMMUS, DJ Troy Frost, and DJ WhySham are among featured guest speakers for th...
22/02/2024
Berklee's Signature Series Celebrates Vibraphone Master, Composer, and Educator Joel Ross
Berklee's Signature Series Celebrates Vibraphone Master, Composer, and Educa...
17/02/2024
Boston Conservatory Dance Students Perform in New Music Video by Pop Artist Piao
Boston Conservatory Dance Students Perform in New Music Video by Pop Artist Piao The video for Neopet features choreography by commercial dance major Sofia ...
17/02/2024
Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Five Organizations
Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Five Organizations A total of $25,000 will be distributed amongst the Boston-based nonprofits. By Co...
14/02/2024
Cecil Adderley Named President-Elect of the National Association for Music Education
Cecil Adderley Named President-Elect of the National Association for Music Educa...
14/02/2024
Cecil Adderley Named President of the National Association for Music Education
Cecil Adderley Named President of the National Association for Music Education The chair of Berklee's Music Education Department will serve as NAfME's...
14/02/2024
Berklee's Signature Series Presents Great American Songbook: Night and Day-A Celebration of Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
Berklee's Signature Series Presents Great American Songbook: Night and Day-A...
09/02/2024
Sounds of Black History at Symphony Hall
Sounds of Black History at Symphony Hall Boston Conservatory Orchestra will showcase works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Margaret Bonds, Valerie Coleman, and ot...
09/02/2024
Berklee Valencia Alumni Recognized at the Grammy Awards
Berklee Valencia Alumni Recognized at the Grammy Awards Carla Patullo, Gracie Laboy, and MT Aditya Srinivasan took home awards on musics biggest night. Febr...
09/02/2024
Lee Berk Tribute Concert Honors Legacy of Music Education Pioneer and Former Berklee President
Lee Berk Tribute Concert Honors Legacy of Music Education Pioneer and Former Ber...
07/02/2024
Berklee Abu Dhabi Music Summit Aims to Empower Aspiring Artists
Berklee Abu Dhabi Music Summit Aims to Empower Aspiring Artists The third annual event will focus on essential music business principles that enable creatives...
06/02/2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee's New Music Festival Highlights Original Student Works
Boston Conservatory at Berklee's New Music Festival Highlights Original Stud...
05/02/2024
Berklee Alumni and Faculty Win at the 2024 Grammy Awards
Berklee Alumni and Faculty Win at the 2024 Grammy Awards Laufey, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Miguel Zen n, and Carla Patullo were among the winners of musi...
02/02/2024
Vimbayi Kaziboni Wins Prestigious Ditson Conductor's Award
Vimbayi Kaziboni Wins Prestigious Ditson Conductor's Award The Boston Conservatory faculty member joins a group of legendary conductors who have received th...
01/02/2024
Dancing with the Stars: Berklee Edition Puts the Fun in Fundraiser
Dancing with the Stars: Berklee Edition Puts the Fun in Fundraiser The annual dance competition exceeded fundraising goals, fully endowing a new Dance Divisio...
01/02/2024
Vimbayi Kaziboni Wins 2024 Alice M. Ditson Fund Conductor's Award
Vimbayi Kaziboni Wins 2024 Alice M. Ditson Fund Conductor's Award The Boston Conservatory faculty member joins a group of legendary conductors who have re...