Music of Stranger Things

Music of Stranger Things
Genre	Electronic
Seasons	Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4
Composers	Kyle Dixon Michael Stein
Soundtracks	Stranger Things, Volume One Stranger Things, Volume Two Stranger Things 2 Stranger Things 3 Stranger Things 4

The Stranger Things original score is composed by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein. The score makes extensive use of synthesizers in homage to 1980s artists and film composers such as Jean-Michel Jarre, Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, and John Carpenter. Furthermore, the show utilises a variety of preexisting tracks and songs, most of which originating from the '70s and '80s.

Score

About

The Duffer Brothers always wanted the music to play a major role in the show, deciding very early on that they wanted an entirely electronic score. They were charmed by existing electronic soundtracks, as they were very modern and cutting-edge, while also inevitably evoking the sounds of '80s music (most notably Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, and John Carpenter). The Duffers felt that having a synth soundtrack would do exactly what they wanted to achieve with the show: It would feel both modern and nostalgic at the same time. Some of the show’s biggest inspirations, such as E.T. or Jaws, feature a soaring, orchestral "John Williams" style score, so the Duffers thought that a synth soundtrack would play nicely against expectations.

Kyle Dixon (foreground) joined in his studio by collaborator Michael Stein

The Duffers first discovered the synth band S U R V I V E when they heard one of their tracks in Adam Wingard's film, The Guest. The brothers became fans, incorporating their song "Dirge" in a mock trailer they made for their pitch to Netflix. The Duffers reached out to the band and asked if they were interested. Two band members, Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, agreed to score the project. Kyle and Michael first started composing music in summer 2015, sending "sketch" tracks inspired by the characters, tone, and story which eventually became the basis for the Stranger Things soundtrack. These sketches were played over the actors' audition tapes. According to the Duffers, these sketches all had very strange titles, such as "Jupiter 8 Spirit Winds", "Soakers Forum 3", and "Lighting Candles and Eggy Pizza". One sketch called "Prophecy" caught the Duffers' interest for its mysterious yet upbeat feel, evolving into the title theme.

Over the course of the year, over 13 and a half hours of music was accumulated from Kyle and Michael. Though not all of this music made it into the eight-hour first season, it gave the Duffers a huge library to pull from as they edited.

Stranger Things Composers Break Down the Show's Music Vanity Fair

Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein break down the music of Stranger Things.

On August 10, 2016, Stranger Things' social media profiles announced that the original soundtrack would be available for digital download and streaming that month. It was made available to stream in two parts: Stranger Things, Volume One on August 12, and Stranger Things, Volume Two on August 19. Volume One was made available September 16 for the digital CD, while Volume Two was released the following week. Both volumes were nominated for the Best Score Soundtrack Category of the 2017 Grammy Awards.

On June 8, 2017, it was announced that the original soundtrack would be re-released as cassette tapes with cardboard covers to emulate old VHS sleeves. The tapes were exclusively available at Urban Outfitters on July 14, the one-year anniversary of the show's premiere.

The second season's soundtrack album, titled Stranger Things 2, was released digitally on October 20, 2017, a week before the season's premiere. The soundtrack was again composed by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, who composed the first season's soundtrack. On the soundtrack's composition, Stein and Dixon together informed that the score for the new season added "new styles of composition, while still revisiting old themes when appropriate ... We've created newer elements that are necessary to support the story, but still wanted to remain true to the sound of Season 1." The first track from the soundtrack, "Walkin in Hawkins", was released in-advance on October 12.

The original soundtrack for season three, Stranger Things 3, was released digitally on June 28, 2019, before the season's release. Season four's soundtrack, Stranger Things 4, was released on July 1, 2022, the same day as Vol. 2's premiere.

Track listing

Original soundtracks

Stranger Things, Vol. 1

Stranger Things Kids Nancy and Barb This Isn't You Lay-Z-Boy Friendship Eleven A Kiss Castle Byers Hawkins The Upside Down After Sarah One Blink for Yes Photos in the Woods Fresh Blood Lamps Hallucinations Hanging Lights Biking to School Are You Sure? Agents Papa Cops Are Good at Finding No Weapons Walking Through the Upside Down She'll Kill You Run Away No Autopsy Dispatch Joyce and Lonnie Fighting Lights Out Hazmat Suits Theoretically You Can Talk to Me What Else Is There to Do? Hawkins Lab

Stranger Things, Vol. 2

Hopper Sneaks In I Know What I Saw Rolling Out the Pool Over Gearing Up Flickering First Kiss Crying Walking Down the Tracks Where's Barb? Speak of the Devil Danger Danger Tribulations Flashback Kids Two Talking to Australia Night of rhe Seventh See Any Rain? Coffee & Contemplation Inside the Black Room Starts to Rain Eleven Is Gone Time for a 187 Something in the House Still Pretty Abilities Tendril They Found Us Bad Men Spiked Bat Making Contact What Do You Know It's Not My Boy Something in the Wall Let's Go Leap of Faith In Pursuit Breaking and Entering Stranger Things (Extended)

Stranger Things 2

Walkin in Hawkins Home Eulogy On the Bus Presumptuous Eight Fifteen The First Lie Scars I Can Save Them Descent into the Rift Chicago Looking for a Way Out Birth / Rescue In the Woods Digging Symptoms Eggo in the Snow Soldiers Choices Never Tell She Wants Me to Find Her Shouldn't Have Lied It's a Trap Crib The Return Escape We Go Out Tonight Connect the Dots The Hub On Edge What Else Did You See? Run Levitation To Be Continued Turn on the Lights (bonus track) Sick of Cow (bonus track) Power Maintenance (bonus track) Roars from the Lab (bonus track) Mercy (bonus track) Shadow in the Tunnel (bonus track) A Familiar Shape (bonus track) Tree Slime (bonus track) Do You Accept the Risk? (bonus track) Entering The Cellar (bonus track) The Spy (bonus track) Controlled Contamination (bonus track) Turn Right & Run (bonus track) They Hurt Me (bonus track) Possessed (bonus track)

Stranger Things 3

Boys and Girls I Like Presents Too Starcourt Blank Makes You Crazy I Need You To Trust Me You're a Fighter The Ceiling Is Beautiful The First I Love You Rats What Did You Do To Him? Find the Source The Silver Cat Feeds Heather's William Destroying the Castle In the Void Tammy Mirkwood Portal Drill Happy Screams Ruins It's Just Ice The Door Is Opening Planck's Constant She's Gone Home Seven Feet The Week Is Long Sauna Test Six Facts The Trees Are Moving On Their Tracks Not Chinese Food Blueprints Land Deeds Not Kids Anymore Code Red Feel Safe He's Here Scoops Troop We Don't Understand Each Other Aftermath

Stranger Things 4

What's the Internet? I wouldn't remember me either. Teens Journalistic Instinct 100% Convinced In the closet (at Rink O Mania) Does that make us friends? My BOOBS hurt. Unambiguous True Love Stuck in 1983 Hawkins National Lab Hellfire Club Buried Memories Fancy Bomb We are NOT heroes. Nine Feet Tall Hail Lord Vecna Powerful Psychic Connection Ruth, Nevada Hellfire Isn't A Cult I Know What I Saw Curfew You're Regressing Eleven Letter to Willy Palm Tree Delight Musso Brenner's Little Pet Mr. Fibbly It's just a clock, right? Welcome to Kamchatka A Nightmare Far Worse Caught a Body at the Munsen Trailer A War is coming to Hawkins The Elephant Hurtling Towards a Gruesome Death Barefoot in the snow Kills you in your dreams The Shire is Burning Blood Balloons Burning Baby Mugshot There are some things worse than ghosts... A memory within a memory A Proper Thump Hiiiiiiiii Still Dizzy Reign Fire From Above Religious American Surf that Tasty Pie Follow me into Death Project Nina Being Different Undressing I Want You To Watch A Realm Unspoiled by Mankind Four Gates Sleeping Dracula Praying something will happen to me Stained Glass Roses One Gates of Kamchatka Top Secret Location You're The Heart Sleepyhead Skull Rock Spellcaster You Should Go East Unfortunate Development Slashing the Tires Soteria Elvis Cloned by Aliens [delicate, intense music playing...] Demogorgons in Tanks The Cure Patient Confidentiality Stay Calm, Focus on the Game It's Time Max All Evil Must Have A Home Flashlights, Flashlights You Have Already Lost

Bonus soundtrack

Stranger Things: Halloween Sounds from the Upside Down

Turn On The Lights Sick Of Cow Power Maintenance Roars From The Lab Mercy Shadow In The Tunnel Do You Accept The Risk? Tree Slime Entering The Cellar A Familiar Shape The Spy Turn Right & Run They Hurt Me Possessed

Soundtrack

In addition to Dixon and Stein's original compositions, the show includes a range of pre-existing compositions, largely consisting of 1980s popular music.

Season 1

"The Vanishing of Will Byers"

• "Can't Seem to Make You Mine" by The Seeds: Hopper arrives at the police station and talks with the staff.
• "She Has Funny Cars" by Jefferson Airplane: Eleven is caught stealing fries in Benny's Burgers.
• "I Shall Not Care" by Pearls Before Swine: Benny makes burgers and sits down to talk with Eleven.
• "Jenny May" by Trader Horne: Eleven makes the fan stop at the diner.
• "Every Little Bit" by Jackie James and Jackie Curnow: Nancy is studying in her bedroom.
• "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane: Heard on the radio when agents come to Benny's Burgers to capture Eleven.
• "Africa" by Toto: Steve helps Nancy with her homework and things get heated.

"The Weirdo on Maple Street"

• "Go Nowhere" by Reagan Youth - Jonathan listens to music while starting his drive to Lonnie's place.
• "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash - Jonathan hears this song as he drives, remembering when he and Will listened to the song together. The song later plays on the stereo in Will's room.
• "Deck The Halls" by Chicks With Hits - Joyce drives into town to buy a new telephone.
• "Jingle Bells" by The Canterbury Choir - Joyce asks her boss, Donald, for an advance on her paycheck.
• "Dark Stars" by Mark Glass - Jonathan parks outside Lonnie's place.
• "I'm Taking Off (Shield Your Eyes)" by Space Knife - Jonathan shoves past Cynthia and searches through Lonnie's house.
• "Body Language" by Alexander Baker & Clair Mario - Nancy and Barb talk over phone.
• "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" by Brotherhood of Man - Nancy has Barb pulling her car over.
• "Raise A Little Hell" by Trooper - Steve opens the front door, letting the girls in.
• "I Melt With You" by Modern English - Music playing at Steve's pool party.
• "Hazy Shade Of Winter" by The Bangles - Nancy makes out with Steve while Barbara is taken by the Monster. Plays into end credits. 

"Holly, Jolly"

• "Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Foreigner - First song as Nancy loses her virginity with Steve.
• "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" by Joel Evans & Friends - Joyce goes to town to buy more Christmas lights.
• "Brahm's Lullaby" by Johannes Brahms - Eleven opens up a music box while exploring Nancy's room 
• "Heroes" by Peter Gabriel (originally by David Bowie) – Hopper and the kids find out what has been discovered at the quarry.

"The Body"

• "Atmosphere" by Joy Division - First song after Chief Hopper informs Joyce of the discovery at the quarry.
• "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash - Eleven taps into Mike's radio, and he can hear Will singing. Joyce later plays the song while trying to summon Will.
• "Color Dreams" by The Deep - Hopper buys O'Bannon a beer, before questioning about the discovery at the quarry.

"The Flea and the Acrobat"

• "Elegia" by New Order - Instrumental music on the morning of Will's funeral.
• "Green Desert" by Tangerine Dream - Hopper tears apart his trailer looking for listening devices.
• "Nocturnal Me" by Echo & The Bunnymen – Jonathan tries to find Nancy. Plays into end credits.

"The Monster"

• "Sunglasses at Night" by Corey Hart - Steve tries to sneak into Nancy's room.
• "Concerto for Violin - Strings and Basso Continuo in E Major BWV 1042: I. Allegro" by English Chamber Orchestra & Dmitry Sitkovetsky – A lady visits Scott Clarke at his home, telling him about a new AV club. 
• "I See the Future" by Andrew Pinching - Karen opens Nancy's bedroom door to find music blaring and the room empty. 
• "Happy José" by Kookie Freeman - Eleven steals Eggos from a grocery store. 
• "Brahm's Lullaby" by Johannes Brahms - Terry's sister tells Joyce and Hopper about Terry's involvement in the MKUltra experiments and her subsequent miscarriage. 
• "The Bargain Store" by Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers - Nancy and Jonathan go to the store to buy monster hunting supplies.
• "Exit" by Tangerine Dream - Steve and Jonathan fight in the alley.

"The Bathtub"

• "Fields of Coral" by Vangelis - The group share and discuss their collective knowledge of the supernatural events.
• "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash - Will sings to himself as the Monster nears.

"The Upside Down"

• "Horizon (Warsaw Gate Mix)" by Tangerine Dream - Flashback to Hopper talking his daughter through calming her breathing.
• "When It's Cold I'd Like to Die" by Moby - Will is brought back to life in the Upside Down.
• "Carol of the Bells" by Mormon Tabernacle Choir- Chief Hopper takes food from the police station party and leaves them in a box at Mirkwood.
• "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby - The Byers family sits down for Christmas Eve dinner.

Season 2

"MADMAX"

• "Whip It" by Devo - The boys arrive at the arcade.
• "Just Another Day" by Oingo Boingo - Chief Hopper arrives arrives at the police station.
• "Talking in Your Sleep" by The Romantics - Steve and Nancy talk in the car.
• "Rock You Like a Hurricane" by Scorpions - Billy's grand entrance.
• "Spooky Movies" by Gary Paxton - Song playing at Melvald's General Store as Bob arrives; Hopper drives out to Merrill's farm.
• "Every Other Girl" by Prehistoric Wolves - Playing through the headphones of the tech lab assistant.

"Trick or Treat, Freak"

• "Ghostbusters (Instrumental Version)" by Ray Parker Jr. - The boys are getting dressed up for Halloween as their parents take photos.
• "Wango Tango" by Ted Nugent - Billy complains about having to move to Hawkins as he drives Max home.
• "Blackout" by Swing Set - Jonathan drives Will to meet his friends.
• "Shout at the Devil" by Mötley Crüe - Steve, Nancy and Billy at the Halloween party.
• "Islands in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton - Bob and Joyce dance around her living room.
• "Monster Mash" by Bobby Boris Pickett - Max and the guys continue trick-or-treating; Mike tells Will that Max's presence is ruining his night.
• "Girls On Film" by Duran Duran - Jonathan arrives at the Halloween Party.
• "Outside the Realm" by Big Giant Circles - Mike tells Will it feels like Eleven is still around; Jonathan drives Nancy home, helps her to her room and tucks her into bed.
• "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. - Dustin flips off the garbage can lid and peers inside; end credits.

"The Pollywog"

• "Whistle On the River" by The Mercy Brothers - Dustin grab his pile of library books and makes a run for it; as Bob drives Will to school, he tells him about a nightmare he had as a kid.
• "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" by Jim Croce - Flashback to Hopper playing a record for Eleven; montage of Eleven and Hopper cleaning up the cabin and him teaching to use the radio for Morse code messages.
• "Go!" by Tones On Tail - Eleven leaves the cabin; Steve and Billy wrestle on the basketball court; Nancy shows up at the court to confront Steve.
• "The Ghost in You" by The Psychedelic Furs - Jonathan tells Nancy how he ended up taking her home from the party, then they talk about how things have changed since Will disappeared.
• "Clean Cut American Kid" by III Repute - While Nancy and Jonathan talk, a classmate starts listening to music on his walkman.
• "Cookin'" by Al Casey Combo - Joyce phones Bob at Radioshack for help with playing his video camera.
• "How I Feel About You" by Jumpstreet - As Nancy and Jonathan head to her room, Karen Wheeler stops them to say hi.

"Will the Wise"

• "This Is Radio Clash" by The Clash - After telling her mom she's staying at Stacey's overnight, Nancy heads outside to join Jonathan.
• "Scarface (Push It To the Limit)" by Paul Engemann - Hopper starts his truck after getting a message about Joyce's many calls; Billy gives Steve advice on holding his ground on the court.
• "The Growing" by The Haxan Cloak - Billy advises Max to stay away from Lucas; Hopper heads out into the pumpkin field and starts digging.

"Dig Dug"

• "Try My Love" by Carroll Lloyd - Nancy and Jonathan check into a motel.
• "You Ought To Be With Me" by Carl Weathers - The Sinclair family sits down for breakfast; Lucas asks his father what he does when his mom is mad at him.
• "Green, Green Grass of Home" by Bobby Bare - Eleven catches a ride on a semi to visit her mother.
• "Can I Do What I Want" by Shock Therapy - Nancy and Jonathan stop by Murray's place.
• "Metal Sport" by Hittman - Billy drops Max at the arcade and tells her to be out in an hour.
• "Darling Don't Leave Me" by Robert Görl - Max is shown into the backroom of the arcade, where Lucas is waiting for her.
• "When the Sun Goes Down" by The Jetzons - Lucas follows Max through the arcade trying to convince her that his story is true.
• "Strength in Numbers" by Channel 3 - Billy picks up Max from the arcade and questions her about hanging out with Lucas.
• "No More" by Billie Holiday - Murray puts on a record to help him contemplate Nancy and Jonathan's revelations.
• "Open the Kingdom (Liquid Days, Part II)" by Philip Glass Ensemble, Douglas Perry, Michael Riesman & Michael Reisman - Rapid flashback montage of what happened to Terry Ives.

"The Spy"

• "Hammer to Fall" by Queen - Steve questions Dustin about Dart as he drives him home, then takes out his nail-bat.
• "Where Django's At" by Cameron Brooks - Jonathan, Nancy and Murray create an assembly line to copy her recording and send it to various media outlets.
• "There Is Frost On the Moon" by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra - Murray, Nancy and Jonathan have a drink to celebrate finishing their mailing campaign, then Murray questions Nancy and Jonathan's claim that they are not a couple.
• "You Better Go Now" by Billie Holiday - Nancy and Jonathan contemplate Murray's words then end up meeting in the living room to express how they don't believe what Murray said.
• "Blue Bayou" by Roy Orbison - Murray cooks breakfast for Nancy and Jonathan, then asks an awkward question on how Jonathan slept.
• "Round and Round" by Ratt - As Billy pumps iron, he orders Max to answer the door; Max lies to Billy about who was at the door.

"The Lost Sister"

• "Runaway" by Bon Jovi - Eleven gets off a bus in Chicago, to look for her other girl from Hawkins Lab.
• "Outside the Realm" by Big Giant Circles - Kali demonstrates her powers for Eleven, then later tell her that being together makes her feel whole.
• "Back To Nature" by Fad Gadget - Kali introduces Eleven to her crew.
• "The Bank Robbery" by John Carpenter - Kali shows Eleven their information board; Eleven recognizes Ray and uses her powers to track his location.
• "Dead End Justice" by The Runaways - Kali's crew agrees to go after Ray; montage of the group preparing for their mission, then stopping at a supermarket to stock up.
• "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)" by The Icicle Works - Eleven tells her bus companion that she's going to see her friends; end credits.

"The Mind Flayer"

• "The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)" by Jack Cook - Max's mom and step-father arrive home and find her room empty with the window open.
• "The Four Horseman" by Metallica - Billy listens to some music while smoking and getting ready for his date. His father and step-mom enter his room concerned for Max's whereabouts.
• "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash - Jonathan plays a song that he and Will first listened to together: They then distract him while Chief Hopper figures out the Morse Code with Dustin, Lucas and Max.

"The Gate"

• "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand - Karen is taking a bath when the doorbell rings. Ted is asleep and doesn't wake up after Karen calls for him to go to the door.
• "I Do Believe (I Fell in Love) by Donna Summer - Karen dries off and goes downstairs to find Billy at the door. Billy flirts with Karen.
• "I See Charcoal (You See Scarlet)" by Cameron Brooks - Billy beats up Steve at the Byers house when he finds out Max has been with the boys.
• "Rare Bird" by Tangerine Dream - Murray watches the military leave Hawkins Lab and Barb finally has a funeral. Hopper walks into a restaurant and meets Sam Owens.
• "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms - the boys get ready for the Snow Ball.
• "Love is a Battlefield" by Pat Benatar - Steve drops Dustin off at the Snow Ball.
• "Twist of Fate" by Olivia Newton-John - Dustin enters the Snow Ball and looks around the room.
• "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper - Lucas asks Max to dance with him and a girl asks Will to dance with her. Dustin tries to ask several girls to dance with him and fails. Dustin ends up dancing with Nancy.
• "Every Breath You Take" by The Police - While Joyce and Hopper are sharing a cigarette in the middle shcool parking lot, the song changes. Eleven walks into the Snow Ball and starts dancing with Mike.

Season 3

"Suzie, Do You Copy?"

• "The Red Army Is The Strongest" performed by The Red Army Choir - Soviet General kills a scientist.
• "Never Surrender" by Corey Hart - Eleven and Mike are kissing in El's bedroom.
• "Funky Fanfare" by Keith Mansfield - The kids head into the theater.
• "Daisy Bell" - Kids on a ride at the mall.
• "Captain Pugwash" by Johnny Pearson - Power goes out at Scoops Ahoy.
• "Open the Door" by Gentlemen Afterdark - Nancy and Jonathan wake up and rush to work.
• Various tracks from "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" by John Massari - Eleven use her powers to pull a prank on Dustin.
• "Rock This Town" by Stray Cats - Hawkins residents swim in the community pool.
• "Moving in Stereo" by The Cars - Mrs. Wheeler ogles Billy as he takes his shift as lifeguard.
• "The Touch of You" by Andrea and Ervin Litkei - Hopper visits Joyce at the store.
• "Anthony" by Andrea and Ervin Litkei - Joyce gives Hopper advice on Mike and El's relationship.
• "Workin' For A Livin" by Huey Lewis & The News - Nancy rushes to work to deliver lunch.
• "She's Got You" by Patsy Cline - Hopper lovingly looks at Joyce from afar.
• "Hot Blooded" by Foreigner - Billy watches Mrs. Wheeler swim.
• "Italian Gigolo"by Vincenzo Salvia - Billy flirts with Mrs. Wheeler.
• "Can't Fight This Feeling" by REO Speedwagon - El and Mike kiss and Hopper comes in.
• "I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight" by Cutting Crew - Karen gets ready to go out but has a change of mind.
• "Nothing to Say" by Head On - Billy is driving and has an accident.

"The Mall Rats"

• "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" by Jim Croce - Hopper is driving down the road singing after successfully scaring Mike away from seeing Eleven.
• "Get Up and Go" by The Go-Go's - Nancy gets out of work and Jonathan leaves with her.
• "Matter of Love" by Altitude Music - Karen and her friends wait for Billy to show up at the pool.
• "My Bologna" by Weird Al Yankovic - Joyce shows up to Mr. Clark's house
• "Material Girl" by Madonna - The girls shop and the boys fail to find a present.
• "Cold As Ice" by Foreigner - Eleven breaks up with Mike and then gets on the bus with Max.

"The Case of the Missing Lifeguard"

• "Angel" by Madonna - Max dances as El reads teen magazines on her bed.
• "Phone To Phone" by Life By Night - Hopper drunkenly storms into El’s room, mistaking Max for Mike.
• "Lovergirl" by Teena Marie - Max and Eleven spin the bottle.
• "The Pod Dance" by Trevor Jones - Will tries to invite Mike and Lucas to play a game of Dungeons and Dragons.
• "The Electric Knights" by Head On - Max and Eleven investigate Billy’s room.
• "All Your Reasons Why" by Smart Remarks - Nancy and Jonathan developing photos.
• "The Girl I Left Behind Me" by Brian Peters - Erica asks for more ice cream samples.
• "Things Can Only Get Better" by Howard Jones - Dustin and Steve are looking out for evil Russians.
• "Blood Warning" by Kevin Kaska - Lucas and Mike are distracted by the girls. Will gets upset.
• "Place In My Heart" by Brian Page - Max and El speak to the lifeguards.
• "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham! - Steve and Dustin spy on Jazzercise class in Starcourt Mall.
• "It Is A Sin" by Al Hazan - Max and El show up at the Holloway house.
• "American Pie" by Don McLean - Billy and Heather eat dinner with her parents.

"The Sauna Test"

• "We'll Meet Again" by Vera Lynn - El, Mike, Lucas, Will and Max watch Billy run away after the Sauna Test.

"The Flayed"

• "Strike Zone" by Loverboy - Hopper steals a car at 7-Eleven.
• "Stairway Chase" by Danny Elfman - Hopper forces Alexei into the convertible and tells Todd that he needs his car.
• "A Certain Kind of Feeling" by John Anthony - Grigori threatens the 7-Eleven clerk for info.
• "Boogie Man" by Sid Phillips - Joyce, Hopper and Alexei at Murray's warehouse.

"E Pluribus Unum"

• "Stand up And Meet Your Brother" by Possum River - Mayor Kline watches the Fun Fair being put together.
• "Woody Woodpecker Score from 'Buckaneer Woodpecker' ep. 242" by Clarence E. Wheeler - Alexei watches cartoons in Murray's house.
• "Package Deal" by Danny Elfman - Hopper complains about Alexei.
• "The Wild Ride" by Danny Elfman - Hopper loses his patience with Alexei entirely.
• "Neutron Dance" by The Pointer Sisters - Alexei steals the car but doesn't drive away.
• "Stairway Chase" by Danny Elfman - Joyce calls for backup.
• "Satyagraha (Highlights): Act II, Tagore, Scene 1 - Confrontation And Rescue (1896)" by New York City Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Conductor: Christopher Keene, Composer: Philip Glass - The Flayed gather at Brimborn Steel Works.

"The Bite"

• "R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A." by John Mellencamp - At Mayor Kline's 4th of July fair.
• "Einstein Disintegrated" by Alan Silvestri - Dustin tries to warn Mike about the Russians infiltrated in Hawkins.

"The Battle of Starcourt"

• "Goldrush Two" by Yello - Steve, Robin, and Erica head out to the convertible.
• "Higher and Higher" by Jackie Wilson - When Steve is driving and Dustin is arguing with Erica about the existence of Suzie.
• "The Russian Nightingales" by The Red Army Choir - Hopper and Joyce sit in the Russian base and decide they make a good team.
• "Never Ending Story" by Limahl - Dustin and Suzie sing together over the Cerebro as everyone listens in, completely shocked.
• "Dirge" by S U R V I V E - Billy shields El from the monster, Joyce turns the switches.
• "When You See Me" by Hurricane Express - Steve and Robin apply for jobs at the video store.
• "Deep" by Peter Sandberg - El reads Hopper's letter for the "heart to heart" speech and gets emotional.
• "Heroes" by Peter Gabriel (originally by David Bowie) - Eleven, Will, Joyce, and Jonathan finish packing up the Byers house with their friends and head their separate ways.

Season 4

"The Hellfire Club"

• "California Dreamin'" by The Beach Boys - Eleven narrates as the Byers family is introduced this season at their new home in Lenora Hills, CA.
• "Object of My Desire" by Starpoint - Steve and Robin arrive at the Hawkins high school for the early morning pep rally.
• "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)" by Kate Bush - Max walks through the high school's hallways, passes Lucas, and goes to the counselor's office.
• "I Was A Teenage Werewolf" by The Cramps - Eddie Munson is introduced and reads a magazine article about the Dungeons & Dragons panic in the 1980s.
• "Play With Me" by Extreme - Mike and Dustin go around the high school, trying to find a substitute player for Lucas for Eddie's D&D campaign.
• "Chica Mejanita" by Mae Arnette
• "Detroit Rock City" by Kiss - The Hellfire Club fights Vecna and Lucas subs into the championship basketball game.
• "The Red Army Is The Strongest" by The Red Army Choir
• "Got Your Number" by The Lloyd Langton Group
• "Fever" by The Cramps

"Vecna's Curse"

• "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" by Dead or Alive - Eleven, Mike, and Will enter the Rink-O-Mania and people are skating on the ice.
• "Rock Me Amadeus (The Gold Mix - Rough)" by Falco - Eleven's bully, Angela, enters Rink-O-Mania with her friends and sees Mike and Eleven skating together.
• "Diamonds and Emeralds" by The Interior Castle
• "Burning Up" by Donnell Pitman
• "Tarzan Boy" by Baltimora - Angela approaches Eleven, Mike, and Will, while they're drinking milkshakes, and takes Eleven away with her.
• "Wipeout" by The Surfaris - Angela and her friends bully Eleven on the skate rink and then throw a chocolate milkshake at her.
• "Psycho Killer" by Talking Heads - The basketball players get ready to hunt Eddie.

"The Monster and the Superhero"

• "In Transit to Bermuda" by Dorian Zero - the gang drive back from Rink-O-Mania after Angela had been bashed with a roller skate.
• "Rigoletto, Act III: V'ho ingannato... Colpevole fui" by Giuseppe Verdi - Kids arrive home as Murray is making Risotto.
• "Che gelida manina" by Giacomo Puccini and Erich Leinsdorf - Murray cooks risotto in the kitchen.
• "Guardian Angel" by Fergus Mac Roy -  Dr. Owens and Eleven at the diner.
• "There's a Storm Coming" by Dance With the Dead - End credits.

"Dear Billy"

• "Hard Feelings" by Al Kerbey - The group drives to Max's house so she can drop off her letters.
• "Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth - Argyle drives to the Byers' house with the pizza they ordered.
• "Dream A Little Dream Of Me" by Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald - The Creels are killed in their home and Victor Creel tries to escape with his children.
• "Clair de Lune" by Claude Debussy - Nancy and Robin go through the hospital's low security wing and hear the song playing in the background.
• "Legless" by Hipbone Slim
• "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)" by Kate Bush - Steve, Dustin, and Lucas play Max's cassette and Max hears the song, allowing her to escape Vecna.

"The Nina Project"

• "Travelin' Man" by Ricky Nelson - Yuri starts his plan and begins flying Joyce and Murray to Russia.
• "David Searches" by Arthur B. Rubinstein (WarGames soundtrack)
• "Time's Up" by Arthur B. Rubinstein (WarGames soundtrack)
• "Quand Le Bien-Aimé Reviendra" by Nicolas Dalayrac - Eleven agrees to stay at The Nina Project and takes Dr. Brenner's hand. Plays into end credits.

"The Dive"

• "Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth - Argyle and Eden are caught smoking in Argyle's car.
• "Cutthroat" by S U R V I V E - Eleven beats Two in the circle game.
• "The Snow Maiden: Chorus of the People and the Courtiers" by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, performed by the Russian State Orchestra and the Russian State Chorus, conducted by Andrey Chistiakov

"The Massacre at Hawkins Lab"

• "Prophecies", "Akhnaten Act 1, Scene 3: The Window of Appearances", and "Akhnaten, Act II, Scene 2, Akhnaten and Nefertiti" by Philip Glass - Henry Creel/One's monologue to Eleven following his massacre of the test subjects; intercut with Nancy's Vecna-induced visions.

"Papa"

• "Natty Dread On the Go" by Lone Ranger - The California boys pass a Surfer Boy Pizza sign in Nevada; Will and Mike discuss Eleven.
• "Twilight's Fires" by The Red Army Choir - Murray crashes the van through the prison gates as he, Hopper, Joyce, Dmitri, and Yuri escape.
• "Up Around the Bend" by Creedence Clearwater Revival - Eddie starts up the stolen R.V. and Steve drives off as the owners fail to catch the Party.
• "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor - Steve tells Nancy about his dream to have a family and travel across the country; Lucas and Max talk in the back of the R.V.
• "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" by Rick Derringer - Max, Nancy, Steve, Robin, and Erica arrive at the War Zone and get the supplies that they need.
• "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" by Journey (Bryce Miller/Alloy Tracks Remix) - The kids prepare for battle at the Creel House.

"The Piggyback"

• "Master of Puppets" by Metallica - In the Upside Down, Eddie distracts the Demobats with the power of heavy metal.
• "Every Breath You Take" by The Police/"Dream A Little Dream of Me" by Ella Fitzgerald - Max transports herself to her favorite memory, the Snow Ball, only to find it infected by Vecna's presence.
• "Running Up That Hill (TOTEM Remix)" by Kate Bush - The final phase of the plan takes place as Hopper battles the remaining demogorgon.
• "When It's Cold I'd Like to Die" by Moby - Eddie dies in Dustin's arms. Erica discovers Lucas cradling a dying Max, and runs to call an ambulance. El, in the Void, and Lucas sob hysterically as Max succumbs to her injuries.
• "Deep" by Peter Sandberg - Hopper and El reunite; Joyce embraces El, while Hopper embraces Mike.
• "Spellbound" by Siouxsie And The Banshees - End credits roll.