Introduction
The music of Prince played a major role in the finale of the popular series Stranger Things. How did that come about?
Stranger Things – Season 5
Stranger Things
The Stranger Things series is a pleasant blend of science fiction, horror, friendship, and a generous dose of 1980s nostalgia. This combination allows the show to appeal not only to today’s younger audience, but also to older viewers whose formative years took place during that era. Dutch website sfseries.nl decribes the Stranger Things story as follows:
The story begins in 1983. Strange things are happening in the small town of Hawkins, somewhere in rural America. One day, 12-year-old Will Byers disappears without a trace. His friends Mike, Lucas, and Dustin set out to find him. In the woods, they encounter a mysterious girl named 011 (Eleven), who turns out to possess extraordinary psychokinetic powers. The boys form a friendship with her.
Over time, it becomes clear that dark experiments by the U.S. government are taking place nearby. Scientists at a secret research laboratory have opened an interdimensional portal, from which a monstrous creature emerges, originating from an alternate dimension known as the “Upside Down.” This dangerous monster escapes and abducts Will.
Meanwhile, it is revealed that the laboratory also uses human test subjects. One of them was the girl Eleven. Her powers are the result of years of experiments, which were extremely traumatic for her. One day, Eleven manages to escape. The scientists who created her are then forced to go to extreme lengths to keep their activities hidden from the outside world.
sfseries.nl/stranger-things
In total, the series spans five seasons that were broadcast over a period of ten years via the streaming service Netflix. I watched the series for the first time at the end of 2025 and waited for the release of the finale in season five, which premiered on December 31, 2025.
Stranger Things Season 4 Episode 7 – Prince Purple Rain poster
Music
In addition to the look and feel of the show and its visuals (including the interior design of houses and buildings, which perfectly captured the atmosphere of the era), the music of the series was also largely rooted in the (19)80s. The original score incorporated many sounds typical of that period, such as drum machines and, in particular, synthesizers. The series also made extensive use of pop music from the 1980s.
Season 1: Toto – Africa, The Clash – Should I Stay Or Should I Go, The Bangles – Hazy Shade Of Winter, Joy Division – Atmosphere.
Season 2: Devo – Whip It, The Romantics – Talking In Your Sleep, Duran Duran – Girls On Film, Fad Gadget – Back To Nature, Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time, The Police – Every Breath You Take.
Season 3: Madonna – Material Girl, Foreigner – Cold As Ice, Teena Marie – Lovergirl, Wham! – Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Limahl – Never Ending Story.
Season 4: Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God), The Cramps – I Was A Teenage Werewolf, Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record), Musical Youth – Pass The Dutchie, Metallica – Master Of Puppets, Siouxsie And The Banshees – Spellbound.
Season 5: Psychedelic Furs – Pretty In Pink, Diana Ross – Upside Down, Tiffany – I Think We’re Alone Now, Yello – Oh Yeah, Butthole Surfers – Human Cannonball, Pixies – Here Comes Your Man, Iron Maiden – The Trooper.
In addition, songs from earlier decades were also used, including tracks by Jim Croce, Patsy Cline, Vera Lynn, KISS, Talking Heads, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Michael Jackson, and Fleetwood Mac. A highly eclectic mix of music that (for me, at least) made the series a joy to watch.
Kate Bush – On Top Of That Hill 06/17/2022
The use of songs in the series sometimes led to a complete reappraisal of those tracks. Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) became a worldwide hit. Never before had a Kate Bush song been as popular as it was in 2022. Kate Bush herself was astonished by it and posted about the song’s continued success a few weeks on end. A year on, the track even surpassed the one-billion-streams mark (by now the 1.5 billion mark has also been surpassed) — an almost unbelievable success.
Stranger Things – Purple Rain side 2 is being played
Prince
Did the Prince Estate foresee these consequences? Did they hope for such success for Prince? Or were the negotiations already finalized before Kate Bush once again conquered the world? According to the TV show producers the Kate Bush success most definitely played a part in their decision to grant permission for use of Prince’s music. Not only that, the show was granted use of Purple Rain music — music that is closely associated not only with the album, but also with the 1984 film. A first.
Without giving away too many spoilers: within the story, the idea is proposed to play one side of an album. When the needle reaches the end of the record side, a trigger is activated for a bomb that would bring the story to the point where the Stranger Things universe would end. The writers and producers (The Duffer Brothers) wanted an “epic needle drop”, stating: “I think there’s nothing really more epic than Prince.” According to them, Prince lined up perfectly for the story. They never expected it to actually work, as Prince and the Prince Estate had never previously granted permission for use in TV shows. Against all expectations, they received the long-desired approval.
So, which songs are heard in the finale of Stranger Things? Prince’s definitive 1984 hits: When Doves Cry and Purple Rain. The latter plays at the very end of the story. Since side two of the Purple Rain album opens with When Doves Cry, tracks two and three (I Would Die 4 U and Baby I’m A Star) would also have played during the story. However, neither one can be heard in the series.
Prince Stranger Things
Success?
Two days after the finale aired, the American magazine Variety reported:
Prince’s ‘When Doves Cry’ and ‘Purple Rain’ Spotify Streams More Than Double in ‘Stranger Things’ Series Finale Surge
Prince is seeing a significant Spotify streaming boost in his catalog thanks to key syncs in the series finale of “Stranger Things.”
Since the episode debuted on New Year’s Eve, “Purple Rain” has seen a 243 percent increase in Spotify global streams and a 577 percent surge in global Gen-Z streams specifically, Variety can exclusively reveal. “When Doves Cry” also saw a 200 percent boost in global streams, as well as a 128 percent increase in Gen Z streams. Overall streams of Prince’s catalog have climbed 190 percent, with an 88 percent uptick in Gen Z streams.
“When Doves Cry” and “Purple Rain” were featured at pivotal moments in the finale. When the “Stranger Things” heroes set the explosives to destroy the Upside Down for once and for all, they put on Side Two of “Purple Rain,” which starts with “When Doves Cry” and ends with the title track. It’s “Purple Rain” that’s playing as Eleven (Millie Bobbie Brown) appears to sacrifice herself when she brings Mike (Finn Wolfhard) into her mind to say a final goodbye.
Notably, the two songs have rarely been used in a TV series since Prince included them on the soundtrack for his 1984 film “Purple Rain.” “We were told that it was a real long shot, so we just crossed our fingers,” series creator Matt Duffer told Tudum following the finale premiere.
Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 01/02/2026
For now, it appears that the mission has been successful. The question is whether this success will last. The Kate Bush song functioned as a kind of talisman throughout the entire fourth season and appeared multiple times. When Doves Cry was heard only briefly, and Purple Rain was used in a very fragmented way. Still, it may introduce newer generations to Prince’s rich musical world. If so, that’s a welcome bonus.
Merchandise
The Prince Estate has high expectations. On January 1, 2026, I received an email, once again highlighting a wide range of Purple Rain-related merchandise.
In closing
What is your opinion on the Stranger Things finale and the use of Prince’s music? Let us know!
