Stranger Things season 5 soundtrack: All the songs in the finale
The '80s bangers are back!
*Warning: Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 5 finale*
It's been almost a decade, but now Stranger Things has officially come to an end with the epic season 5 finale - and, of course, it was accompanied by a stellar soundtrack.
The Duffer Brothers have always stressed the importance of music in the show, with the finale being absolutely no different. For the dramatic final episode, nothing would do except Prince's iconic hit Purple Rain, which is used in episode 8 for the moment the Upside Down is destroyed.
“Once we came up with the idea that the record was going to be the trigger for the bomb, we knew we needed an epic needle drop, and so many ideas were thrown around,” Ross Duffer told Tudum. “I think there’s nothing really more epic than Prince.”
So, as we mourn Stranger Things, it's time grab your Walkman (or streaming service of your choice) and read on for the full Stranger Things season 5 soundtrack - complete with every needle drop in the finale.
All the songs on the Stranger Things season 5, volume 1 soundtrack
Episode 1 – The Crawl
- Rockin' Robin - Michael Jackson
- Pretty in Pink - Psychedelic Furs
- Upside Down - Diana Ross
- Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) - Kate Bush
- Upside Down - Diana Ross (end credits)
Episode 2 – The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler
- Fernando - ABBA
- Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) - Kate Bush
- Mr Sandman - The Chordettes (end credits)
Music supervisor Felder recently opened up about the striking use of ABBA's Fernando in season 2, which soundtracked Karen Wheeler's (Cara Buono) fight against the Demogorgon.
“I particularly enjoy how ABBA’s Fernando not only feels so perfectly Karen as she preps for her bath time, but it also builds in a unique way that heightens the accelerating terror that plays out through the horrific scenes that follow,” Felder told Tudum.
The song wasn't the first choice for the scene, but, after it proved impossible to secure the rights to another track, Fernando became the perfect option.
Episode 3 – The Turnbow Trap
- To Each His Own - Freddy Martin
- I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany
- Oh Yeah - Yello
- I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany (end credits)
Episode 4 – Sorcerer
- Premature Plans - Elmer Bernstein (from The Great Escape)
- Sh-Boom - The Chords
- Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) - Kate Bush
Episode 6 - Escape from Camazotz
- Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) - Kate Bush
Episode 7 - The Bridge
- When It's Cold, I'd Like to Die - Moby
- Human Cannonball - Butthole Surfers
Episode 8 - The Rightside Up
- Sh-Boom by The Chords
- When Doves Cry by Prince
- Purple Rain by Prince
- Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
- Here Comes Your Man by Pixies
- The Trooper by Iron Maiden
- Sweet Jane by Cowboy Junkies
- Heroes by David Bowie
How to listen to the Stranger Things season 5 soundtrack
The Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 soundtrack was released digitally on 28th November.
The full season 5 soundtrack will be available to purchase in hard copy (CD, vinyl, and red-coloured cassette formats) from 30th January. It's available for pre-order now.
Who composed the score for Stranger Things season 5?
Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein compose the score for Stranger Things, and are the brains behind the signature synth-heavy sound of the show – including the spectacular score for season 5.
Stein previously opened up to MusicTech.com about the score for season 5, teasing: “[Sonically] it has a lot of ties to the last season. It’s kind of a continuation, but it also definitely feels like it’s arching back to earlier seasons as well.
“We’re always trying to reinvent how we approach various scenarios. If we’re revisiting themes, then we want to make them new."
Stranger Things season 5 is available to stream on Netflix now. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin TV.
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Authors
Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.
