Top 10 Nostalgic Songs in Stranger Things
#10: “California Dreamin'” (1986), The Beach Boys “The Hellfire Club”
The opening title sequence for season four is followed by a song that evokes nostalgia for two different decades. The original tune was written in 1963 by John and Michelle Phillips before they formed The Mamas & The Papas with Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty. The folk rock group’s rendition is probably the most well-known, and they performed it not once but twice on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” The song came to represent the West Coast and counterculture of the 1960’s. However, it’s the Beach Boys' rendition that is often heard and is also featured in “Stranger Things.” Published in 1986, the cover is contemporary in the setting of the show and helps establish the Byers family, along with Eleven, in their new home of California.
#9: “American Pie” (1971), Don McLean “The Case of the Missing Lifeguard”
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One of the few songs on our list not from the 1980’s, this track is an homage to rock and roll from the late 1950’s to 1970 or so. It’s one of the longest singles to ever make the Billboard Hot 100 with eight minutes and 42 seconds of play time. While the lyrics remain mostly unexplained by McLean himself, many have speculated a variety of references. From music, to politics, to significant cultural events, the song tells the story of a time that’s passed. Despite its catchy chorus, the lyrics are pretty devastating. We couldn’t think of a better song for the background of a scene where everything is not as it seems.
#8: “‘Heroes’” (2010), Peter Gabriel “Holly, Jolly”
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While Gabriel’s cover wouldn’t have existed in the 1980’s world of “Stranger Things,” the original was released in 1977, so we figure we’ll let it slide. Written by David Bowie during his time in Berlin, the lyrics describe a couple separated by the Berlin Wall. The message of the single isn't entirely optimistic and the quotation marks in the title imply a bit of irony. Gabriel’s mournful interpretation picks up on the sadder themes and slows the song down. It perfectly suits two parallel scenes in season one and season three. Like the couple in the song, characters in the show are separated by a barrier. The difference is that it seems those in “Stranger Things” are no longer hanging on to hope.
#7: “Can't Fight This Feeling” (1984), REO Speedwagon “Suzie, Do You Copy?”
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Released 17 years after the band first formed, this song is one of their most iconic ballads. The number-one hit plays very briefly in the Netflix Show, but the progression into the chorus is all we need to get it stuck in our heads. Struggling to come up with songs as a group, band member Kevin Cronin flew to Hawaii to write alone. There, he revisited a tune he had started working on ten years before and turned it into the classic we know today. The lyrics are from the perspective of a man finally admitting his romantic feelings for a girl he’s known for a while, something Mike can probably relate to.
#6: “Africa” (1982), Toto “The Vanishing of Will Byers”
This song finds its place in the pilot episode of the Netflix show. It can be heard playing in the background while Nancy and Steve *ah-hem* study. As far as historical accuracy goes, the tune perfectly belongs in the bedroom of a teenage girl in the early 80’s. First released on the album “Toto IV,” the single made number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982-83. Surprisingly, it almost didn’t make the album, with members of the band calling it “goofy” and “dumb.” Despite this, the creative lyrics and epic chorus have kept listeners engaged for decades.
#5: “Every Breath You Take” (1983), The Police “The Gate”
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Written by Sting, this rock hit stayed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks, topping charts in Canada and the United Kingdom as well. In May of 2019, Broadcast Music, Inc. actually announced it as the song with the most radio plays – almost 15 million. While the admittedly generic melody sounds like a love ballad, the lyrics reveal something much more sinister. They describe a jealous man obsessively observing his lover and “Stranger Things” definitely leans into the more horrific side of it. In the show, the track ends in distortion while the Upside Down comes into view.
#4: “Material Girl” (1984), Madonna “The Mall Rats”
Regularly recognized as one of the two songs that solidified Madonna’s icon status, this song is an anthem of materialism. Appropriately so, it makes its appearance during the third season of “Stranger Things,” during which the mall is a primary setting. The synth arrangements and Madonna’s vocal performance are super characteristic of mid 1980’s, making it quite fitting for the time. Noticeably, the video undermines the message of the song, portraying a woman who, in fact, cannot be won over with expensive gifts. Madonna has admitted regrets about the single given that it led to her being labeled “Material Girl” in the media. Many listeners, on the other hand, find the song empowering.
#3: “Should I Stay or Should I Go” (1982), The Clash “The Weirdo on Maple Street”
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This song is the first 80’s hit to be heavily featured in the show. It’s used throughout the series in connection with Will and how he handles his fears. When first released, the song was critically acclaimed but not a huge commercial success. Almost a decade later, its use in a Levi’s jeans commercial sparked new interest in the tune. The band had historically been unwilling to accept brand deals, but songwriter Mick Jones ultimately decided that jeans were a part of rock culture and the hit was re-released soon after in 1991. This time, it topped the UK Singles Chart and received more attention internationally. In 2004, it would find its way onto Rolling Stone's “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”
#2: “Master of Puppets” (1986), Metallica “The Piggyback”
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In the early 1980’s, Metallica was one of the “big four” bands that established thrash metal. As the subgenre picked up steam throughout the decade, the band found commercial success. The heavy metal track has been praised for its instrumentality, especially the use of down-stroke picking. Their third album of the same name was critically acclaimed and the first metal recording to be included in the Library of Congress. Since it was first released, “Master of Puppets” has been performed by Metallica live more than 1700 times, but we’re betting no performance has ever been more metal than Eddie’s in the Upside Down. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Pass The Dutchie” (1982), Musical Youth, “Dear Billy” Who Knew Reggae Made for Good Getaway Music? “Ghostbusters” (1984), Ray Parker Jr., “Trick or Treat, Freak” Not All Movie Theme Songs Rock, but This One Does “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (1984), Wham!, “The Case of the Missing Lifeguard” Grab Your Legwarmers & Your Sweatbands, This Song Makes You Wanna Jazzercise “Never Ending Story” (2019), Gaten Matarazzo & Gabriella Pizzolo, “The Battle of Starcourt” Nothing Like Young Broadway Stars Covering a Song From an Obscure 80’s Movie “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” (1984), Dead or Alive, “Vecna's Curse” Flo Rida & Ke$ha Who?
#1: “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” (1985), Kate Bush “Dear Billy”
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Similarly to how the Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go” has become associated with Will, Kate Bush’s anthem is interwoven into Max’s season four story arc. After its initial release, the song reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. It was also Bush’s first single to make the Top 40. After being featured on “Stranger Things” in 2022, the song saw a massive revival. This time, it reached number five on the Billboard Top 100 and topped the charts in eight other countries. As a writer, vocalist and producer, Bush created the surreal track from beginning to end. Her soprano voice combined with drums and the unique synth form an ethereal yet energetic soundscape.
