15 Best Stranger Things Songs (and the scenes that made them iconic)

If there is one thing the Duffer Brothers mastered in Stranger Things beyond sci-fi horror and 80s nostalgia, it is the art of the needle drop. The soundtrack of Hawkins, Indiana, acts as a narrative device, a character builder, and, literally, a lifesaver.

From synthesized pop hits to heavy metal anthems, music shapes the emotional landscape of the Upside Down. Here are the 15 best songs from Stranger Things, ranked by their cultural impact and importance to the story.

1) "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)" – Kate Bush

Season 4, Episode 4: "Dear Billy"
Max, trapped in the Upside Down and held by Vecna, hears the song through her Walkman. It opens a portal to reality, giving her the strength to sprint back to her friends while debris rains down.
Why it matters: The show’s most powerful metaphor for trauma and the will to survive. Max’s literal totem against depression and death.

2) "Master of Puppets" – Metallica

Season 4, Episode 9: "The Piggyback"
Eddie Munson shreds atop a trailer in the Upside Down to distract the Demobats.
Why it matters: The “most metal concert in the history of the world.” Completes Eddie’s arc from “coward” to legendary hero.

3) "Should I Stay or Should I Go" – The Clash

Season 1 & Season 2 (various)
Will sings it in the Upside Down to stay sane; later it’s used to reach him when possessed.
Why it matters: Heartbeat of the Byers family; the auditory anchor keeping Will connected.

4) "Heroes" – Peter Gabriel

Season 1, Episode 3 & Season 3, Episode 8
Plays when Will’s fake body is found and later as Eleven reads Hopper’s letter.
Why it matters: The sound of grief, bookending devastating lows and quiet heroism.

5) "Never Ending Story" – Limahl

Season 3, Episode 8: "The Battle of Starcourt"
Dustin and Suzie sing over the radio to get Planck’s Constant.
Why it matters: Absurdist relief at peak tension; proved Suzie was real and became the show’s most viral musical meme.

6) "Every Breath You Take" – The Police

Season 2, Episode 9: "The Gate"
Snow Ball dance; the Mind Flayer looms as kids celebrate.
Why it matters: Romantic sound with stalking lyrics mirrors the duality: joy on the floor, danger watching.

7) "Material Girl" – Madonna

Season 3, Episode 2: "The Mall Rats"
Max introduces Eleven to the mall and self-expression.
Why it matters: Eleven finally lives as a normal teen, discovering identity beyond the lab and romance.

8) "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" – Journey (Bryce Miller/Alloy Tracks remix)

Season 4 trailer & Episode 8
Plays as the group prepares for war against Vecna.
Why it matters: Aggressive synths signal the darker, horror-centric tone—kids to soldiers.

9) "Time After Time" – Cyndi Lauper

Season 2, Episode 9: "The Gate"
Snow Ball slow dance; Nancy rescues Dustin from rejection.
Why it matters: Pure kindness; Nancy’s boost makes this one of the sweetest interactions.

10) "Pass the Dutchie" – Musical Youth

Season 4, Episode 4
Argyle drives the Surfer Boy van while chaos erupts.
Why it matters: Defines the California vibe; comedic contrast to Hawkins horror.

11) "Rock You Like a Hurricane" – Scorpions

Season 2, Episode 1: "MADMAX"
Billy arrives in slow motion, cigarette in hand.
Why it matters: Ultimate villain entrance—aggression, sexuality, danger.

12) "You Don’t Mess Around with Jim" – Jim Croce

Season 2, Episode 3: "The Pollywog"
Hopper and Eleven clean the cabin and dance.
Why it matters: Humanizes Hopper; shows his attempt to be a dad and build a home.

13) "Ghostbusters" – Ray Parker Jr.

Season 2, Episode 2: "Trick or Treat, Freak"
The boys wear full Ghostbusters gear to school; no one else dresses up.
Why it matters: Captures childhood embarrassment and nails the 1984 pop-culture anchor.

14) "Dream a Little Dream of Me" – Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

Season 4 (various)
Flashbacks to the Creel family; distorted as Vecna twists reality.
Why it matters: Corruption of innocence; turns a sweet classic into Vecna’s haunting signal.

15) "Africa" – Toto

Season 1, Episode 1
Steve and Nancy “study” while Barb waits by the pool.
Why it matters: Sets era and trope of the oblivious popular couple before Barb’s tragedy.

The soundtrack of Stranger Things is more than a playlist; it is a time machine. Whether saving a soul from Vecna or dancing at the Snow Ball, these songs ground the supernatural in real human emotion.