The final season of Stranger Things is here, and the show’s famous ’80s soundtrack is playing a major role. From clever code names to emotional throwbacks, the music in Season 5 is more than just background noise. With the first four episodes now streaming, four specific song uses have become instant fan favorites, perfectly mixing nostalgia with the story’s high stakes.
The Return of The Clash
The first episode, “The Crawl,” opens with a powerful flashback to November 12th, 1983, the night Will Byers first vanished. The song that plays is a direct callback to the show’s beginning: The Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go“. This was the song Will’s brother, Jonathan, used to communicate with him through the walls of the Upside Down in Season 1. Hearing it again as the story revisits its starting point is a full-circle moment for long-time viewers. It signals that the final season is tying up loose ends and reflecting on where the characters’ long journey began.
Diana Ross Sends a Message
One of the most creative music moments happens thanks to Maya Hawke’s character, Robin Buckley. In Season 5, Robin has a new job as the DJ for Hawkins’ local radio station. She uses her platform to send secret messages to her friends, and her tool of choice is Diana Ross’s 1980 disco hit, “Upside Down“. The song’s title makes the choice brilliantly obvious, yet it works perfectly within the story. Robin talks about Diana Ross trivia over the air, but her words contain coded instructions for the team. To anyone else, it sounds like a fun radio segment, but for the Party, it’s a lifeline. The song’s upbeat, joyful sound creates a sharp and ironic contrast with the terrifying situation in Hawkins.
Music supervisor Nora Felder and the show’s creators, The Duffer Brothers, carefully curated this final season’s soundtrack.
“Fernando” Fuels a Demogorgon Attack
Season 5 is not afraid to mix the wholesome with the horrifying. A standout example is the use of ABBA’s melodic ballad “Fernando” in the second episode. The scene finds Karen Wheeler, played by Cara Buono, at home preparing for a relaxing bath with the Swedish pop song blaring. The peaceful mood is shattered when a Demogorgon attacks the Wheeler house. The ABBA track continues to play throughout the entire chaotic and violent scene, its familiar melody warping and distorting as the monster attacks. This clash of a sweet, nostalgic song with pure terror is classic Stranger Things. It makes the horror feel more invasive and unsettling.
Nora Felder explained the choice, noting that the song “not only feels so perfectly Karen” but also builds in a way that heightens the accelerating terror of the scene.
Kate Bush’s Powerful Comeback
No song is more important to the modern Stranger Things story than Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God).” After becoming Max’s lifeline in Season 4, the song returns with deep emotional weight in the final season. It plays softly in the hospital room where Lucas sits by Max’s bedside, keeping vigil as she remains in a coma. The song is no longer just a tool for survival; it has become a symbol of loss, hope, and memory. Its recurrence connects the characters’ past trauma to their current fight, reminding everyone what they are fighting to save.
The song’s continued importance shows how the series uses music not just for a single great scene, but as a recurring theme that grows with the characters.
Season 5, Volume 1 of Stranger Things is streaming now on Netflix. Volume 2, containing episodes 5-7, will be released on December 25, 2025. The series finale arrives on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2025. Each new batch of episodes premieres at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT.
The official soundtrack for the season is also being released in parts. Season 5, Volume 1 of the soundtrack is available now on digital platforms. The full physical soundtrack, including CD, vinyl, and a special red cassette, will be available for purchase on January 30, 2026.
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