Stranger Things Season 5 Soundtrack Guide: Every Song In Volume 1

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Max and Holly in Stranger Things season 5 volume 2

Cathal Gunning has been writing about movies, television, culture, and politics online and in print since 2017. He worked as a Senior Editor in Adbusters Media Foundation from 2018-2019 and wrote for WhatCulture in early 2020. He has been a Senior Features Writer for ScreenRant since 2020.

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for the Stranger Things season 5 finale.

Every season of Stranger Things features a couple of iconic songs from the ‘80s and earlier, but season 5 volume 1 went all out with hits from ABBA, The Jackson Five, and Diana Ross, among others. The long-awaited arrival of Stranger Things season 5 has finally arrived, and the final chapter of Netflix’s iconic sci-fi series was no letdown.

The show’s blend of small-town mystery, horror, sci-fi, and character drama proved as effective as ever, as did its ‘80s nostalgia. By the end of Stranger Things season 5, volume 1, viewers had been played a veritable mixtape of songs by the series. Interestingly, this season’s soundtrack pulls from the ‘80s, ‘70s, ‘60s, and even the ‘50s in episode 4.

Song Title

Artist

Episode Number

"Should I Stay or Should I Go"	The Clash	1
"Rockin' Robin"	The Jackson Five	1
"Upside Down"	Diana Ross	1
"Running Up That Hill"	Kate Bush	1, 2, 4
"Fernando"	ABBA	2
"Mr Sandman"	The Chordettes	2
"I Think We're Alone Now"	Tiffany	3
"Oh Yeah"	Yello	3
"The Great Escape Main Theme"	Elmer Bernstein	4
"Sh-Boom"	The Chords	4

"Heart and Soul"	Floyd Cramer	5
"When It’s Cold I’d Like to Die"	Moby	6
"Human Cannonball"	Butthole Surfers	6
"When Doves Cry/ Purple Rain"	Prince	8
"Landslide"	Fleetwood Mac	8
"Here Comes Your Man"	Pixies	8

"Sweet Jane"	Cowboy Junkies	8
"Heroes"	David Bowie	8

Episode 1 - "The Crawl"

Will Byers in the Upside Down during Stranger Things 5 flashback

"Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash - Will Byers sings this iconic punk classic to himself in episode 1’s opening scene as he huddles alone in Castle Byers. Jonathan introduced him to the song back in season 1, and it brings him some limited solace before the Demogorgon discovers his hiding place.

Notably, the song itself isn’t played this time. Instead, it’s just a lonely Will offering an a cappella version of the track to soothe himself, before a Demogorgon chases him up a tree and drags him to Vecna’s lair.

“Rockin’ Robin” by The Jackson Five - The first song to be played through in Stranger Things season 5, volume 1, is queued up by the Hawkins gang’s motor-mouthed music nerd. Robin plays this festive classic in her role as Hawkins’ resident radio DJ, before dedicating the next song to her secret girlfriend. Sadly, viewers don’t get to hear this unidentified rock track before the reception cuts out.

“Upside Down” by Diana Ross - Diana Ross’s “Upside Down” Motown classic serves as a code for the gang as they assemble their plan for the episode’s titular Crawl in, appropriately enough, The Upside-Down. Robin’s fun facts about the song, although true, also serve as coded messages for Hopper, Joyce, Lucas, Eleven, Dustin, Mike, and Will.

“Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush - The standout song from Stranger Things season 4, Kate Bush’s classic anthem plays on the tape that Will hands Lucas in the hospital. This is the first of many times the track plays in season 5, volume 1, acting as a callback to Max’s iconic escape from Vecna back in season 4.

Episode 2 - "The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler"

“Fernando” by ABBA - This ‘70s disco classic plays as Holly Wheeler’s mother, Karen, prepares herself a bath, with the music muffling her daughter’s screams as the Demogorgon attacks the house. At first, the music is loud enough for Karen to assume Holly’s rantings about a monster are all a bad dream, but soon the Demogorgon debunks this comforting theory.

“Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush - Bush’s track returns in episode 2, “The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler,” as Lucas tearfully begs his comatose girlfriend to return to consciousness for the first time since the Stranger Things season 4 finale. Episode 4 reveals that Max had almost returned to consciousness before when Lucas played her the track, but never quite made it out of Vecna’s mind prison.

“Mr Sandman" by The Chordettes - This ‘60s track is used to creepy effect in the closing credits of episode 2 as the series reveals that Holly’s previously unseen imaginary friend “Mr Whatsit” is, in reality, Henry Creel/Vecna.

Episode 3 - "The Turnbow Trap"

"I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany - Holly plays this ‘80s pop jam while she is, fittingly, alone in the Creel House. Her stay is briefly idyllic, and Henry’s gift of a tape player and the Tiffany cassette helps the villain gain her trust. The song fades out as a shadowy figure rings the doorbell repeatedly, later revealed to be Holly’s fellow inhabitant of the Upside-Down, Max.

“Oh Yeah” by Yello - This song, made famous by the soundtrack of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, plays when Stranger Things supporting star Dustin realizes he can modify Steve’s beloved car instead of their bulkier van to pursue the Demogorgon in the Upside-Down. Much to Steve’s chagrin, it is his beloved Beamer that ends up getting a massive antenna screwed into its roof.

Episode 4 - "Sorcerer"

Eleven looks scared in Stranger Things season 5

Theme from The Great Escape by Elmer Bernstein - The Great Escape Main Theme, composed by Elmer Bernstein, begins playing when Robin starts explaining her plan to smuggle Derek into the military base. She references this classic war movie, and, as she does, Elmer Bernstein’s iconic score plays over the tunnel planning sequence.

“Sh Boom” by The Chords - As Max walks into Henry’s memories of Hawkins High School in 1959, this ‘50s classic plays. The song sets the scene, reminding viewers that Vecna was once a schoolmate of Hopper, Joyce, and even Steve Harrington's father.

“Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush - Max explains to Holly that she heard Bush’s song playing over Vecna’s memory of his first massacre's aftermath. The song guides her out of the blood-soaked facility and into a safer, warmer memory where she has survived since. The song plays one late time when Max revisits her fateful standoff with Vecna and sees Lucas sitting by her hospital bed.

Fittingly, it is the last song played in season 5, volume 1, with the track recurring numerous times throughout episode 4. The remainder of the episode doesn’t feature any more songs, but it does have the iconic Stranger Things synth score throughout.

Episode 5 - "Shock Jock"

Holly and Max in Stranger Things season 5 volume 2

“Heart and Soul” by Floyd Cramer - As the children Vecna has kidnapped play in his lavish childhood home, Floyd Cramer’s crooning provides a discordantly cheery backdrop to their shenanigans. Only Holly knows that the serenity will soon be disrupted by dark revelations about their captor.

Episode 6 - "Escape from Camazotz"

Sadie Sink as Max in Stranger Things season 5 volume 2

Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush - Once again, Bush’s iconic classic is played as Max finally escapes the Upside Down for good. Her heartbreaking reunion with Lucas is scored by this anthemic classic in one of its many season 5 appearances.

Episode 7 - "The Bridge"

Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler looking shocked in the Upside Down in the Stranger Things finale

When It’s Cold I’d Like to Die by Moby - During an emotional reunion between the show’s heroes, Moby’s classic track “When It’s Cold I’d Like to Die” plays for the third time in Stranger Things history. The track originally played in season 1’s finale, when Joyce and Hopper worked together to get Will out of the Upside Down, and it played a second time in season 4.

When Lucas fruitlessly attempted to revive an unconscious Max in season 4’s finale, “When It’s Cold I’d Like to Die” came back in devastating fashion. The track also played over Hopper’s season 1 flashback to the death of his daughter before the series began. Thus, its return in “The Bridge” couldn’t be more fitting.

Human Cannonball by Butthole Surfers - While the punk rock band Butthole Surfers might be one of the most ‘90s acts to ever grace a stage, the band’s appearance in “The Bridge” does add up. The band’s best known release might be1996’s Electriclarryland, but the track “Human Cannonball” appeared on 1987’s Locust Abortion Technician, so it makes sense for the song to be played in season 5.

The track plays as the gang outline their plan to defeat Vecna one last time, and one character even notes how comically inappropriate the raucous rock soundtrack is. A massively influential band, Butthole Surfers were once named as one of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s favorite live acts, and were once known as “Your favorite band’s favorite band” thanks to their underground popularity.

Episode 8 - "The Rightside Up"

The Mind Flayer shows its teeth in Stranger Things season 5 finale

Sh-Boom by The Chords - When Max, Kali, and Eleven arrive in Vecna’s teenage memories, this ‘50s classic once again reminds viewers where they are as it did in an earlier episode.

When Doves Cry by Prince - Arguably the most important needle drop in the show’s long history, “When Doves Cry” plays as the gang leaves the Upside Down for the last time. At this stage in the story, Vecna has been defeated, and it seems like Mike, Eleven, Dustin, Will, Max, Lucas, Joyce, Hopper, Murray, Robin, Steve, Nancy, Jonathan, Derek, Holly, and the kids are all safe.

However, things are not quite as rosy as they appear. As this lengthy Prince track winds to its conclusion, the record that will trigger an explosion set to destroy the entire Upside-Down comes closer to ending.

Purple Rain by Prince - Rock icon Prince’s most famous track plays as Mike realizes Eleven’s finale sacrifice plan a moment too late. Meeting in the inky abyss of her mind, Mike pleads with his longtime love interest to leave the Upside Down and abandon her plan to sacrifice herself.

However, El can’t bring herself to leave and instead tells Mike that she loves him, and someday he’ll understand. As Prince’s song ends, the silence of the record’s conclusion is replaced by a dimension-shattering C4 explosion.

Landslide by Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac’s poignant classic plays as the finale cuts to Hawkins 18 months after Eleven’s apparent death, with the gang preparing for their high school graduation. It’s a fitting needle drop, since the elegiac track is about growing up and leaving one season of life behind for another.

Here Comes Your Man by Pixies - This romantic Pixies track plays over Lucas and Max’s sweet reunion before their shared graduation. As Max skateboards, her love interest shows off his graduation robes and Erica rolls her eyes at their public displays of affection. A particularly cheery track, this Pixies song also sonically signals the end of the ‘80s and the start of the ‘90s and its alt-rock trends.

The Trooper by Iron Maiden - When Dustin gives his triumphant anti-authority speech at the school graduation ceremony, the valedictorian cues up an ‘80s metal classic that would have been guaranteed to get the late Stranger Things hero Eddie Munson shredding on his air guitar. “The Trooper” blasts out over the ceremony, much to the delight of the heroes and the chagrin of their principal.

Sweet Jane by Cowboy Junkies - This classic track plays as Robin, Jonathan, Nancy, and Steve toast their friendship on the rooftop of the radio station.

At Last (Etta James cover) - When Hopper proposes to Joyce at the restaurant, the local lounge singer launches into a cover of the Etta James classic “At Last.” While this romantic track would be a fitting backing track for any proposal, it has special significance for the duo.

After all, it has been a long two seasons since their last dinner at Ernesto’s, and the pair have been through hell and back in the intervening years. As such, Hopper is delighted to “at last” have Joyce to himself, and he celebrates with a successful proposal.

Heroes by David Bowie - The late David Bowie’s iconic track “Heroes” plays over the closing credits of “The Rightside Up,” bringing the entire Stranger Things saga to a fitting conclusion.