All hail our Commander of the Order of the British Empire, who also like running up hills, or something like that. On April 10, 2013, Kate Bush was given that title. While today she’s best known for “Running Up That Hill” because of Stranger Things, she became a star when her debut song, “Wuthering Heights,” topped the UK singles chart for four weeks, where she became the first woman to achieve a UK chart topper with a self-written song. Not only that, but nine of her 10 albums managed to chart in the Top 5. The resurgence of “Running Up That Hill” managed to break several records, including surpassing the song’s initial peak in 1985, the longest time between chart-topping songs at 44 years, the oldest woman to top the charts and the longest time for a song to reach No. 1. 

As a way to honor the legacy of Bush, she was given the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE, by Queen Elizabeth II. The title of CBE is the second-highest civilian award that can be given by the crown. Some notable people who have also been awarded a CBE include; Stephen Hawking, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kate Winslet, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Helena Bonham Carter.

~Ashe Burr

On April 11, 1952 MGM’s Singin’ in the Rain was released to the public. The film was an instant success, being nominated for two Academy Awards; Best Supporting Actress for Jean Hagen and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture. The film is set in 1920s Hollywood, following the transition from silent film to talkies. While the intention was to avoid classic musical clichés, the film managed to completely revolutionize the movie musical, setting in place many tropes that became genre standards. The titular song has been referenced in numerous musicals in the years since the release, such as La La Land and Spamalot.

~Karson Sims