STRANGER THINGS SEASON 4 SOUNDTRACK & REVIEW

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You might be forgiven for thinking that, ‘Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be,’ but if so, you definitely haven’t binged Volume 1 of Season 4 of Stranger Things yet.

Netflix’s supernatural horror phenomenon first burst onto our screens way back in 2016 and fans of the show have been eagerly awaiting its return since the end of Season 3 in 2019.

The Creators

Stranger Things’ creators The Duffer Brothers (AKA Matt and Ross Duffer), were arguably the instigators of a wave of nostalgia-fuelled TV that takes in everything from Yellowjackets to Russian Doll and even the 80s stylings of Sex Education.

The meticulously detailed 80s-set world that the pair have created for Stranger Things not only means that we can revisit our youth – the clothes, the make-up, the hair, the posters, the video store, the mall, the pop-culture references – but also that we get to rediscover some classic 80s hits.

Previous series have featured everything from ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’ by The Clash to Madonna’s ‘Material Girl’, ‘She’s Got You’ by Patsy Cline, works by Philip Glass (also used in episode 7 of the new season) and even Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’.

So, what are the killer cuts on the Season 4 soundtrack?

As you’ll know if you’ve watched it, music is literally a life saver for one of the characters, Max (Sadie Sink). Dragged into The Upside Down – the terrifying world under the town of Hawkins – by this season’s big bad Vecna, Max’s friends realise that music might be the key to breaking her out of a potentially fatal trance.

And luckily, they know exactly what her favourite track is: ‘Running Up That Hill’ by Kate Bush, which they blast through her Walkman’s headphones.

Music Supervision

Why did Nora Felder, the series’ music supervisor, choose this particular track?

She told Variety that the Duffer brothers tasked her with finding a song that chimed with what Max was going through and the lyrics were particularly apt – Max is dealing with a world of grief and guilt surrounding her half-brother Billy’s death at the end of Season 3.

She revealed that, ‘In the face of Max’s painful isolation and alienation from others, a “deal with God” could heart-wrenchingly reflect Max’s implicit belief that only a miracle of unlikely understanding and show of support could help her climb the hills of life before her.

In Max’s situation, the need for a “deal with God” can perhaps be metaphorically understood as a desperate cry for love — to manifest the extraordinary understanding and support Max needed while feeling so painfully alone.’

The Challenge

The challenge for many a music supervisor is, having identified their ideal track, getting clearance from the artist, or their estate.

Wendy Crowley, Sony Music Publishing’s SVP of creative marketing, film and TV, acknowledges that Kate Bush is ‘selective when it comes to licensing her music’. (Previous syncs include ‘This Woman’s Work’ in The Handmaid’s Tale and a Placebo cover of ‘Running Up That Hill’ in Big Little Lies.)

But, who knew, Bush is also a massive Stranger Things fan.

Combined with Felder providing a detailed breakdown of how the track was going to be used (as it appears in several key scenes), the iconic artist gave her permission.

The Impact of The Perfect Track

The evidence for this being such a perfect choice is that, 37 years after its first release, Kate Bush has scored her first US Top 10 hit with ‘Running Up That Hill’, it’s challenging Harry Styles at the top of the UK charts, and it’s inspired a slew of TikToks.

Proof – if you’ve ever needed it – of the impact a music supervisor can have on introducing a track to a new generation and making their show a talking point outside of its key audience.

Fans don’t often hear directly from Kate Bush, but even the artist herself has been surprised and delighted by the viewers’ reaction to ‘Running Up That Hill’, writing on her website, ‘You might’ve heard that the first part of the fantastic, gripping new series of Stranger Things has recently been released on Netflix. It features the song, ‘Running Up That Hill’, which is being given a whole new lease of life by the young fans who love the show – I love it too!

‘Because of this, ‘Running Up That Hill’ is charting around the world and has entered the UK chart at No. 8. It’s all really exciting! Thanks very much to everyone who has supported the song. I wait with bated breath for the rest of the series in July.’

Bush isn’t the first artist to benefit from a massive streaming boost, courtesy of Stranger Things. Limahl’s theme for The NeverEnding Story enjoyed an 800% boost in YouTube searches after appearing in Season 3.

California Streamin’

So, what other tracks might Gen Z be adding to their Spotify playlists from the latest Stranger Things incarnation?

With the Byers family (Joyce, Will, Jonathan and honorary daughter Eleven) having moved from Hawkins to California, The Beach Boys’ version of ‘California Dreamin’ kicks off episode 1, but if you’d rather discover 80s glam metal, then Kiss and Extreme are both on the soundtrack.

More in the mood for crazy excess? May we present Dead or Alive’s ‘You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)’ and Falco’s ‘Rock Me Amadeus’. Jonathan’s new stoner BFF, Argyle (Eduardo Franco), meanwhile, favours ‘Pass the Dutchie’ by Musical Youth as he drives around in his pizza van.

Plus, with three major storylines running, which see our favourite characters split between Hawkins Indiana, California and Russia, it’s not just 80s bangers being showcased.

Season 4 has everything from Russian cues (Tchaikovsky’s ‘The Snow Maiden’ and ‘March of the Defenders of Moscow’ sung by the Red Army Choir) to opera, including Nicholas Dalayrac’s ‘Quand le bien-aime reviendra’.

This is used in episode 5, where in a flashback, Dr Brenner (Matthew Modine) explains to Eleven (Millie Bobbie Brown) the story of Nina – who is unable to deal with a traumatic moment and blocks it out of her memory, foreshadowing what happens at the end of episode 7.

The Plot

With police chief Hopper (David Harbour) battling his way out of a Russian prison, aided by Joyce (Winona Ryder) and sidekick Murray (Brett Gelman); El having lost her powers – and struggling with being bullied – and villainous Vecna wreaking some very bloody havoc in Hawkins, season 4 is even more deliciously dark and horror-tinged than the previous 3 Stranger Things outings.

A number of much longer episodes give this season the feel of a collection of movies – from surprise stoner action comedy to Russian prison breakout, 80s buddy comedy to a ‘Scooby Doo meets Zodiac killer’ storyline, full body-horror and more.

What do the brothers have in store for the final two, feature-length episodes? An absolute ton of SFX, for a start.

They teased to Empire that, ‘the final episode has more FX shots than the entirety of Season 3’ – you’d better buckle up, it’s clocking in at almost two and a half hours.

Check out the teaser trailer while you wait for Volume 2 to drop on 1st July – and decide which Vecna-beating track you’re loading into your vintage Walkman…

Can’t get enough of Stranger Things?

Here are 70 Easter Eggs and the 80s inspirations that you may have missed in Season 4’s Volume 1:

Music for Your Production

Need horror, classical or 80s music for your TV show or trailer? We have everything you could want, with thousands of tracks and a plethora of hand-picked playlists.