Top 10 Stranger Things Songs

I'm running up that hill. So should I stay or should I go?

One of the things that makes Stranger Things so special is its usage of music. Every single season has a fantastic combination of music with thrilling or emotional sequences. Honest to God, making this list was harder than I thought it would be, because there are more than ten great needle drops in this show. I cannot wait for season five to give us some more, but for now, let's look back and discuss the top ten song usages in Stranger Things so far.

10. Dream a Little Dream of Me

A classic love song with a horrifying connotation

Dream a Little Dream of Me was first introduced in Stranger Things in the marketing for season four, when it accompanied a trailer teasing the backstory of the Creels. It is revisited again when we do get that backstory as we see it playing on the radio when Henry kills his family. It is what helps Victor escape his son's wrath, so it works into something in the plot. I love it when horror films or shows are able to use old music to emphasize something creepy, and Dream a Little Dream of Me becomes terrifying when thrown into the context of Stranger Things.

9. Material Girl

Madonna backs Eleven and Max's friendship

On the complete flip side of Dream a Little Dream of Me, Material Girl accompanies one of the most fun and energetic montages of the entire show. The beginning of season three is brighter and more fun than the other two seasons were, and one of those moments that show the tonal shift is this shopping mall montage of Eleven and Max. After El is frustrated with Mike, she approaches Max for some girl time, and what follows is a super pop-y, fun sequence of them at the mall having fun and causing some chaos. The entire sequence hinges on Material Girl to make it feel as fun as it should, and it absolutely succeeds at that.

8. We'll Meet Again

The anthem of the flayed

The Sauna Test is one of the best episodes in season three, and part of what makes it great is this little epilogue with We'll Meet Again. Right after Billy narrowly escapes Eleven, he goes back to the warehouse and is treated by Heather. The haunting reveal of the sheer number of people collected by the Mind Flayer is made even creepier by this foreboding song promising a reunion between the party and Billy. As I said earlier, I love it when horror uses old-timey music to emphasize a creepy moment, and there is perhaps no better usage of that strategy in Stranger Things than right here.

7. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

Journey's classic, emotional ballad sets the stage for a grand finale

Like Dream a Little Dream of Me, this song was first used in the marketing of season four (to absolute perfection). Not only is it just a great song, but Steve Perry's fantastic vocals and the accompanying electric guitar make it feel we are building towards something huge. As the characters take their spots for their roles in the finale, this epic version of the song plays. We see everyone preparing for battle, and it just lets you breathe in the atmosphere and epic-ness of the calm before the storm. I love Separate Ways on its own, but its usage in Stranger Things is just fantastic.

6. Master of Puppets

Eddie Munson's epic swan song

When I first saw the trailer for season four, I was wondering how on earth they were going to pull off someone playing a guitar in the Upside Down. But once we reach that moment, it really works. To distract the Demobats and give Nancy and co. more time, Eddie rips out his electric guitar and goes to work at Metallica's Master of Puppets. Joseph Quinn learned the song on electric guitar and played it on set, which is impressive because it's a notoriously difficult song to play, and the result is one of the most electric moments in Stranger Things. It feels like this epic moment of payoff right before Eddie's final sacrifice, and it is just incredible.

5. Every Breath You Take

The Police take over the Snow Ball

Every Breath You Take is an iconic 80s song, but I was introduced to it through Stranger Things. The finale of season two really feels like it closes out most of the arcs that began in season one, and the final payoff of that is the Snow Ball dance that Mike asked Eleven to before she disappeared. This is a rare moment of pure happiness on Stranger Things, so montaging through our characters enjoying life by slow dancing is powerful. The cherry on top is this soft classic rock song that accompanies the entire thing. It just elevates one of the best and most joyful sequences on the show.

4. You Don't Mess Around with Jim

The show's best character has one of its best song usages

Most of Stranger Things uses 80s music with the occasional creepy 50s song to make the Upside Down even scarier. Hopper's primary song is neither of those things. Jim Croce's You Don't Mess Around with Jim is pure 70s, and it is an absolute delight. Watching Hopper introduce Eleven to music through this song and dance to it is just so much fun. Obviously, Hopper's first name is also Jim, so the song has a bit of a double meaning in its usage. Like Separate Ways, it's already an incredible song, but it elevates the scenes where its used and really emphasizes the fun, dad side of Hopper.

3. The NeverEnding Story

The ultimate payoff of Suzie's existence

Season three finale. The group is fleeing the Mind Flayer. Hopper, Joyce, and Murray are trying to close the Russian gate. The tension is ridiculously high. So what do you do? You payoff one of the first things set up in this season by revealing that Suzie is, indeed, real. Not only is she real, but she can help Murray by giving him Planck's constant...if Dustin sings The NeverEnding Story with her. This sequence is one of the funniest moments I have ever seen on TV, but it's also an incredibly satisfying payoff that doesn't diminish the tension of the episode. It is one of my favorite scenes in Stranger Things. And both Gaten Matarazzo and Gabriella Pizzolo have great voices, so they elevate what is a pretty cheesy song to make it feel actually good.

2. Should I Stay or Should I Go

The first great needle drop in Stranger Things

There's so much emotional weight tied to the usage of this song. After Will's disappearance, we get a flashback showing Jonathan putting Will onto The Clash while Lonnie and Joyce fight in the background. It's quick, simple scene, but it emphasizes Will and Jonathan's relationship and makes you really care about them. It is repeated throughout the season as Will sings it to calm himself in the Upside Down and Joyce hears it on the radio when Will is trying to communicate with her. Beyond it just being an awesome song, it is really the first time that Stranger Things used music as a true piece of the plot, and I love it for that.

1. Running Up That Hill

Kate Bush's ballad is synonymous with the show's most iconic sequence

I am covering Stranger Things a lot in these next few months. Every single time I talk about this sequence (which will be a lot), I am just going to rant about how incredible it is. No amount of hyperbole can truly communicate how much I love Max's escape from Vecna, and so much of that is due to Kate Bush's powerful and emotional Running Up That Hill. The entire sequence serves as a metaphor for depression and suicide, and battling that in and of itself is like running up a hill - it's incredibly difficult. On top of that, Max's desperate run from Vecna feels even more intense and emotional as you hear Bush's voice almost urging her to continue running. The pulsating score combined with the song just make this truly one of the greatest sequences in any movie or TV show I have ever seen. This showcases how incredibly special this show is. And I truly don't think anything can top it.