Kate Bush - Stranger Things’ Musical Plot Device

 

     The final episode of TV’s “Stranger Things” aired yesterday. There won’t be a plot spoiler in this post, since this is a music blog. So, we’ll instead consider the lyrical message of the song “Running Up That Hill,” which was featured on the show as a lifeline to the real world for the character Max Mayfield. The song from Kate Bush is about a male and female swapping places. Bush explained:
  “The core idea is bridging the gap between genders to understand each other's frustrations and insecurities, turning the difficult "uphill" struggle of communication into something effortless once understanding is achieved.”   

     This post looks at other songs about members of a love interest swapping places.

Selected lyrics from “Running Up That Hill:”
And if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get Him to swap our places
Be runnin' up that road
Be runnin' up that hill
Be runnin' up that building
Say, if I only could, oh
 
You don't wanna hurt me (yeah, yeah, yo)
But see how deep the bullet lies (yeah, yeah, yo)
Unaware I'm tearin' you asunder (yeah, yeah, yo)
Oh, there is thunder in our hearts (yeah, yeah, yo)
Is there so much hate for the ones we love? (Yeah, yeah, yo)
Oh, tell me, we both matter, don't we? (Yeah, yeah, yo)

     Notice that the final lines are in the form of questions. Interestingly Cloud Cult’s “What Would You Do?” is nothing but questions until the final verse. The song asks hypothetical questions that invoke empathy and perspective about a past relationship, prompting seeing things from another's viewpoint.

Lyrics of “What Would You Do?” by Cloud Cult
What would you do if you had to trade shoes with the love you once knew?
And what would you say if you had to replay the fits you both threw?
Would you self-medicate, or jump off a fire escape, divide your belongings in two?
What would you do?
 
What would you do if you finally knew the pain they’ve lived through?
And how would it feel if what they felt was as real as the feelings in you?
Would you just leave, cuz you cannot believe that you can be full of it too?
What would you do?
 
What would you do if you could see through the games you both do?
Would you be surprised if you could see through their eyes and saw how they see you?
Would your life be better if you never met or would you still be dealing with you and your monsters too?
What would you do?
 
If this was the end. and I never saw you again, what would I do?
Do you know what I’d change if I could do it again?
I’d stop trying to change you
 
If our past went away, and we just met today, what would we do?
Love at first sight or the start of our first fight?
All I know is I’d never let go of you
So much is the same, and yet so much has changed
Yet I still have these feelings for you and the good things you do
What would you do?

     The official video for “Body Swap” by La La Life isn’t really a full swap, since only the male experiences the change. But it is interesting.

     Lauren Aquilina - "Swap Places"

LAUNDRY DAY – “We Switched Bodies” - humorous

 

    Usher - "Trading Places" - This one is morally questionable

Lyrics of Usher’s “Trading Places”
Hey, I know what you used to
We gon' do something different tonight
 
Ohh-uuu
ohhh
ohhhh-uuu
 
Now we gonna do this thing a lil different tonight
U gonna come over and pick me up in your ride
U gon knock and then u gon wait
Ooo u gon take me on a date
U gonna open my door and ima reach over and open yours
Gon pay for dinner take me to see a movie
And whisper in my ear I bet you really wanna do me
Girl now take me home and get up in Benz
Pour me up a shot and force me to the bed
 
I'm always on the top tonight I'm on the bottom
Cause we trading places
When I cant take no more, tell me you ain't stopping
Cause we trading places
Now put it on me baby till I say Oooo weee
And tell me to shut up before the neighbors hear me
This is how it feels when you do it like me
We trading places
Gon get it, get it get it, get it get it,
Gon get it, get it get it, get it get it,
Gon get it, get it get it, get it get it,
We trading places