Filled with ’80s nostalgia, envious friendships, Eleven’s (Millie Bobby Brown) supernatural powers, and that one warped villain, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), Netflix’s Stranger Things became a love letter to the era that we now wanna travel back to. But for me, it’s particularly the choice of soundtrack that made me fall in love with the show in the first place.
From Will and Jonathan quietly bonding over The Clash’s Should I Stay or Should I Go to Max literally fighting for her life while Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill plays in the background, the series proved its brilliance in using nostalgic songs to hit you right in the feels. Which is why, I believe, the Stranger Things soundtrack isn’t just background noise.
Over the years, it has become a part of the story, the characters, and the emotions we carry with us while reminiscing about the show that has officially wrapped up. So, now that fans are reeling from the Season 5 finale, I think it’s the perfect time to go back and relive those unforgettable musical moments. Which is why I’ve ranked the soundtrack of every Stranger Things season from worst to best, from a superfan’s perspective.
The table contains basic details on Stranger Things:
TV ShowStranger ThingsCreatorsMatt and Ross Duffer CastWinona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie SinkNumber of Seasons5Production Companies21 Laps EntertainmentMonkey Massacre Productions (seasons 1–4)Upside Down Pictures (season 5)IMDb Rating8.6/10Rotten Tomatoes Score91%
5. Stranger Things Season 2
Stranger Things Season 2 takes place a year after Will’s return, but Hawkins is far from normal. Will starts having terrifying visions of the Mind Flayer that slowly takes control of him. Meanwhile, the group adjusts to having Max as a new friend, while Eleven goes on a personal journey to learn about her past and meets Kali, another lab experiment.
Now, given the intensity of this season, I felt like the episodes musically leaned towards 80s pop hits and dramatic scores. From Michael Jackson’s Thriller to Jim Croce’s Time in a Bottle, the soundtrack of season 2 felt solid. Yet somehow it never quite managed to steal the spotlight, unlike the rest of the seasons. So, on my list, season 2 soundtrack ranks lowest.
Chapter One: MADMAX
“Whip It” by Devo
“Just Another Day” by Oingo Boingo
“Talking In Your Sleep” by The Romantics
“Rock You Like a Hurricane” by The Scorpions
“Spooky Movies” by Gary Paxton
“Every Other Girl” by Prehistoric Waves
Chapter Two: Trick Or Treat, Freak
“Ghostbusters (Instrumental Version)” by Ray Parker Jr.
“Wango Tango” by Ted Nugent
“Blackout” by Swing Set
“Shout at the Devil” by Mötley Crüe
“Islands in the Stream” by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers
“Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett
“Girls On Film” by Duran Duran
“Outside the Realm” by Big Giant Circles
“Ghostbusters (Instrumental Version)” by Ray Parker Jr.
Chapter Three: The Pollywog
“Whistle On the River” by The Mercy Brothers
“You Don’t Mess Around With Jim” by Jim Croce
“Go!” by Tones On Tail
“The Ghost In You” by The Psychedelic Furs
“Clean Cut American Kid” by Ill Repute
“Cookin’” by Al Casey Combo
“How I Feel About You” by Jumpsnake
Chapter Four: Will The Wise
“This Is Radio Clash” by The Clash
“Scarface (Push It To The Limit)” From the Scarface Soundtrack by Paul Engemann
“The Growing” by Bobby Krlic and The Haxan Cloak
Chapter Five: Dig Dug
“Try My Love” by Carroll Lloyd
“You Ought to Be with Me” by Carl Weathers
“Green, Green Grass of Home” by Bobby Bare
“Can I Do What I Want” by Shock Therapy
“Metal Sport” by Hittman
“Darling Don’t Leave Me” by Robert Görl
“When the Sun Goes Down” by The Jetzons
“Strength in Numbers” by Channel 3
“No More” by Billie Holiday
“Songs from Liquid Days: No. 5, Liquid Days, Pt. 2, Open the Kingdom” by The Philip Glass Ensemble, Douglas Perry, Michael Riesman
Chapter Six: The Spy
“Hammer to Fall” by Queen
“Where Django’s At” by Cameron Brooks
“There Is Frost On the Moon” by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra
“You Better Go Now” by Billie Holiday
“Blue Bayou” by Roy Orbison
“Round and Round” by Ratt
Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister
“Songs from Liquid Days: No. 5, Liquid Days, Pt. 2, Open the Kingdom” by The Philip Glass Ensemble, Douglas Perry, Michael Riesman
“Runaway” by Bon Jovi
“Outside the Realm” by Big Giant Circles
“Back To Nature” by Fad Gadget
“The Bank Robbery (From Escape From New York) by John Carpenter
“Dead End Justice” by The Runaways
“Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly) [Single Version]” by Icicle Works
Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer
“The Love You Save May Be Your Own” by Jack Cook
“The Four Horsemen” by Metallica
“Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash
Chapter Nine: The Gate
“The Way We Were” by Barbra Streisand
“I Do Believe (I Fell in Love)” by Donna Summer
“I See Charcoal (You See Scarlet)” by Cameron Brooks
“Rare Bird” by Tangerine Dream
“Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms
“Love Is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar
“Twist Of Fate” by Olivia Newton-John
“Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper
“Every Breath You Take” The Police
4. Stranger Things Season 1
Marking the beginning of the show, Stranger Things season 1 begins with Will Byers mysteriously disappearing into the Upside Down. His friends team up with Eleven, a strange girl with powerful abilities, to find him. Meanwhile, Joyce and Hopper uncover dark secrets about Hawkins Lab.
Now, amid the chaos and suspense, the music here felt intimate and emotional rather than flashy. I mean, the way The Clash’s Should I Stay or Should I Go deeply strengthened the Byers brothers’ bond, it became an emotional point in the show. Then there’s David Bowie’s Heroes, and songs like Africa that perfectly set the mood, even if it’s more subtle than later seasons.
Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers
“Can’t Seem To Make You Mine” by The Seeds
“She Has Funny Cars” by Jefferson Airplane
“I Shall Not Care” Pearls Before Swine
“Jenny May” by Trader Horne
“White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane
“Africa” by Toto
Chapter Two: The Weirdo On Maple Street
“Bad Girls” by Peter Howarth
“Go Nowhere” by Reagan Youth
“Should I Stay Or Should I Go” by The Clash
“Deck the Halls” by Chicks With Hits
“Jingle Bells” by The Canterbury Choir
“I’m Taking Off (Shield Your Eyes) by Space Knife
“Tie a Yellow Ribbon” by Brotherhood of Man
“Raise A Little Hell” by Trooper
“I Melt With You” by Modern English
“Hazy Shade of Winter” by The Bangles
Chapter Three: Holly, Jolly
“Waiting for a Girl Like You” by Foreigner
“We Wish You A Merry Christmas” by the Joel Evans Band
“Brahm’s Lullaby” by Johannes Brahms
“Heroes” by Peter Gabriel
Chapter Four: The Body
“Atmosphere” by Joy Division (2010 Remastered)
“Color Dreams” by The Deep
“Should I Stay Or Should I Go” by The Clash
Chapter Five: The Flea And the Acrobat
“Elegia” by New Order (2015 Remaster)
“Green Desert” by Tangerine Dream
“Old Time Rock & Roll” Sung by Joe Keery’s Steve Harrington
“Nocturnal Me” by Echo & The Bunnymen
Chapter Six: The Monster
“Sunglasses at Night” by Corey Hart
“Happy Jose (Remastered) by Kookie Freeman
“Concerto for Violin – Strings” by English Chamber Orchestra & Dmitry Sitkovetsky
“Brahm’s Lullaby” by Johannes Brahms
“The Bargain Store” by Dolly Parton
“Exit” by Tangerine Dream
Chapter Seven: The Bathtub
“Fields of Coral” by Vangelis
Chapter Eight: The Upside Down
“Horizon (Warsaw Gate Mix) by Tangerine Dream
“When It’s Cold I’d Like to Die” by Moby
“Carol of the Bells” by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, John Longhurst, Columbia Percussion Ensemble, and Jerold D. Ottley
“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby
3. Stranger Things Season 5
Set in the fall of 1987, Season 5 of Stranger Things brings the story to its final chapter. Hawkins is broken after the Rifts open, and the group’s only goal is to find and destroy Vecna. But with the town under military control, Eleven is forced into hiding once again. Meanwhile, as the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, everything feels heavy and emotional.
Naturally, I felt like the music in here reflected that mix of nostalgia and finality. Songs like Michael Jackson’s Rockin’ Robin, ABBA’s Fernando, and Prince’s Purple Rain, all delivered a sense of warmth, sadness, and hope. So, to me, the soundtrack felt like a farewell party filled with memories, thus earning the middle spot on this list.
Chapter One: The Crawl
“Rockin’ Robin” by Michael Jackson
“Pretty in Pink” by The Psychedelic Furs
“Upside Down” by Donna Summer
“Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush
Chapter Two: The Vanishing Of Holly Wheeler
“Fernando” by ABBA*
“Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush
“Mr. Sandman” by The Chordettes
Chapter Three: The Turnbow Trap
“To Each His Own” by Freddy Martin & His Orchestra
“I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany
“Oh Yeah” by Yello
Chapter Four: Sorcerer
“Premature Plans” by Elmer Bernstein
“Sh-Boom” by The Chords
“Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush
Chapter Five: Shock Jock
“Heart and Soul” by Floyd Cramer
Chapter Six: Escape from Camazotz
“Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” by Kate Bush
“Running Up That Hill Instrumental Cover Version” by Rob Simonsen
Chapter Seven: The Bridge
“Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” by Kate Bush
“When It’s Cold I’d Like to Die” by Moby
“Human Cannonball” by Butthole Surfers
Chapter Eight: 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
2. Stranger Things Season 3
Of all the seasons throughout Stranger Things, Season 3 felt the loudest, most colorful, and full of summer energy, to me. In this season, the new Starcourt Mall becomes the heart of Hawkins, hiding a secret Russian operation to reopen the Upside Down gate. But while Dustin, Steve, and Robin uncover the truth underground, the Mind Flayer returns in a terrifying new form through Billy.
Meanwhile, the music here is pure ’80s fun. Dustin and Suzie’s NeverEnding Story duet is iconic, while songs like Workin’ for the Weekend and You Spin Me Round capture the mall-era chaos. It’s playful, catchy, and unforgettable, perfectly matching the season’s lighter tone mixed with horror, thus earning second place on this list.
Chapter One: Suzie, Do You Copy?
“Never Surrender” by Corey Hart
“Funky Fanfare” by Keith Mansfield
“Day of the Dead (Main Title)” by John Harrison
“Captain Pugwash” by Johnny Pearson
“Open the Door” by Gentlemen Afterdark
“Rock This Town” by Brian Setzer
“Moving In Stereo” by The Cars
“Workin’ for a Livin’” by Huey Lewis & The News
“She’s Got You” by Patsy Cline
“Hot Blooded” by Foreigner
“Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon
“(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight” by Cutting Crew
“Nothing to Say” by Head On
Chapter Two: The Mall Rats
“You Don’t Mess Around With Him” by Jim Croce
“Get Up And Go” by The Go-Go’s
“Gunpoint Affection” by Black Market Baby
“America the Beautiful” by APM Music
“My Bologna” by Weird Al Yankovic
“Material Girl” by Madonna
“Portsmouth” by John Graham Donaldson
“Cold As Ice” by Foreigner
Chapter Three: The Case of the Missing Lifeguard
“Angel” by Madonna
“Phone to Phone” by Life By Night
“Lovergirl” by Teena Marie
“The Pod Dance” by Trevor Jones
“The Electric Knights” by Head On
“All Your Reasons Why” by Smark Remarks
“The Girl I Left Behind Me” by Brian Peters
“Things Can Only Get Better” by Howard Jones
“Blood Warning” by Kevin Kaska
“Place In My Heart” by Brian Page
“Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham!
“Life on the Ocean Waves” by Phil Cunningham
“Is It a Sin” by Al Hazon
“American Pie” by Don McLean
Chapter Four: The Sauna Test
“We’ll Meet Again” by Vera Lynn
Chapter Five: The Flayed
“Miss Sophisticate” by John Sbarra
“Strike Zone” by Loverboy
“Stairway Chase” by Danny Elfman
“A Certain Kind of Feeling” by John Anthony
“Boogie Man” by Sid Phillips
“In Our Hideaway” by Andrew Smith
Chapter Six: E Pluribus Unum
“Stand up and Meet Your Brother” by Possum River
“Robinson’s Grand Entry” by 1920’s Wurlitzer Carousel Organ
“Woody Woodpecker Score from Buckaneer Woodpecker ep. 242
“Package Deal” by Danny Elfman
“The Wild Ride” by Danny Elfman
“Neutron Dance” by The Pointer Sisters
“Sarah Breaks Down” by John Harrison (Day of the Dead)
“Stairway Chase” by Danny Elfman
“Satyagraha Act II: Confrontation and Rescue” by Philip Glass, Christopher Keene, New York City Opera Orchestra
Chapter Seven: The Bite
“R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A.” by John Mellencamp
“The Washington Post” by John Philip Sousa, United States Marine Band
“Amboss Polka” by Albert Parlow, Otto Seiben
“Semper Fidelis” by Extreme Music
“Hands Across the Sea” by APM Music
“Einstein Disintegrated” – From Back To The Future Original Score by Alan Silvestri
“Total Eclipse of the Heart” sung by Steve and Robin
“Doc Returns – From Back to the Future Original Score by Alan Silvestri
“Wien Bleibt Wien/”Vienna Forever Vienna” by Andrew Pilmer
“Man on the Flying Trapeze” by Wurlitzer
“In the Good Old Summertime” by Wurlitzer 146 Carousel Organ
Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt
“Goldrush Two” by Yello
“(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher” by Jackie Wilson
“The Russian Nightingales” by The Red Army Choir
“Never Ending Story” by Gaten Matarazzo and Gabriella Pizzolo
“Dirge” by SURVIVE
“When You See Me” by Hurricane Express
“Deep” by Peter Sandberg
“Heroes” by Peter Gabriel
1. Stranger Things Season 4
Finally, there’s Stranger Things season 4, where not only the story, but even the music peaked. This season delivers the darkest plot with Vecna emerging as a terrifying new villain who feeds on trauma, leading to brutal deaths across Hawkins. The group splits up, with Eleven trying to regain her powers while others uncover Vecna’s origins.
Meanwhile, music becomes a literal lifeline this season. Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill turns into Max’s emotional escape anthem. Metallica’s Master of Puppets defines Eddie Munson, while Journey’s Separate Ways adds epic tension. Basically, every song feels meaningful, emotional, and unforgettable, making Season 4 the ultimate Stranger Things soundtrack.
Chapter One: The Hellfire Club
“California Dreamin’” by The Beach Boys
“Object of My Desire” by Starpoint
“The Red Army Is the Strongest” by The Red Army Choir
“Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” by Kate Bush
“I Was a Teenage Werewolf” by The Cramps
“Fever” by The Cramps
“Chica Mejicanita” by Andrea Litkei & Ervin Litkei
“Play With Me” by Extreme
“Steve’s Rocking Star Spangled Banner” by X-Ray Dog
“Detroit Rock City” by Kiss
“Got Your Number” by Lloyd Langton Group
Chapter Two: Vecna’s Curse
“Surf Time” by The Surf Riders
“You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” by Dead or Alive
“Rock Me Amadeus (The Gold Mix)” by Falco
“Diamonds and Emeralds” by Interior Castle
“Tarzan Boy” by Baltimora
“Wipe Out” by The Surfaris
“Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads
“Burning Up” by Donnell Pitman
Chapter Three: The Monster and the Superhero
“In Transit to Bermuda” by Dorian Zero
“Rigoletto, Act III: V’ho ingannato… Colpevolefui” by Giuseppe Verdi
“Guardian Angel” by Fergus Mac Roy
“There’s A Storm Coming” by Dance with the Dead
Chapter Four: Dear Billy
“Legless” by Hipbone Slim
“Hard Feelings” by Al Kerbey
“Minuet in D Minor” by Johann Sebastian Bach and Amelia Davis
“Pass the Dutchie” by Musical Youth
“Bond Street Bounce” by Len Stevens
“Dream A Little Dream of Me” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
“Claire de Lune” by the London Philharmonic Orchestra
“Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” by Kate Bush
Chapter Five: The Nina Project
“Travelin’ Man” by Ricky Nelson
“Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” by Kate Bush
“The Hitcher” by Mark Isham
“Nina, o sia la Pazza per Amore: Il mio ben quando verrà” by Cecilia Bartoli, György Fischer and Giovanni Paisiello
“Night of the Stabs” by Gothic Storm
Chapter Six: The Dive
“Violin Concerto, Op. 35: III. Finale. Allegro assai vivace” by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, John Wilson, RTE Concert Orchestra, Andrew Haveron
“The Snow Maiden, Op 12 – Chorus of the People and The Courtiers” by Russian State Chorus
“Cavatine Et Rondo D’Antonida” by The National Bolshoï Orchestra
“Marion Face” by Michel Rubini
“The Man Appears” by Makeup and Vanity Set
“Cutthroat” by SURVIVE
“Pass The Dutchie” by Musical Youth
Chapter Seven: The Massacre At Hawkins Lab
“Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” by Kate Bush
“Akhnaten, Act 1 Scene 3: The Window of Appearances” by Philip Glass, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Karen Kamensek, Anthony Roth Costanzo, J’nai Bridges, Disella Larusdottir, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
“Dream A Little Dream of Me” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
“Akhnaten, Act II Scene 2: Akhnaten and Nefertiti” by Philip Glass, Dennis Russell Davies
Chapter Eight: Papa
“Natty Dread On the Go” by Lone Ranger
“Up Around the Bend” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
“Fire and Rain” by James Taylor
“Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo (Single Version)” by Rick Derringer
“Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) [Bryce Miller/Alloy Tracks Remix] by Journey and Steve Perry
Chapter Nine: The Piggyback
“Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” by Kate Bush
“B.G’s One Eye” by The Nuchez’s
“40 Miles Bad Road” by The Lively Ones
“Fields of Coral” by Vangelis
“Master of Puppets” by Metallica
“Every Breath You Take” by The Police
“Dream A Little Dream of Me” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
“Running Up That Hill (Totem Remix)” by Kate Bush
“When It’s Cold I’d Like To Die” by Moby
“Spellbound” by Siouxsie and The Banshees
Let us know your favorite song from Netflix’s Stranger Things in the comments.
Stranger Things is streaming on Netflix.
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