Kate Bush, Prince and The Clash surge up singles chart thanks to Stranger Things

The soundtrack is full of 80s hits

Kate Bush and Sadie Sink (who plays Max Mayfield)
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 5th Jan 2026

Thanks to the conclusion of Stranger Things with the final episode of season five being released on New Year's Day, songs from the show's soundtrack have been surging up the singles chart.

Music from artists such as Kate Bush, Prince and The Clash are doing particularly well, with music from Stranger Things actor Joe Keery (who plays Steve Harrington), also hoping to reach the top of the UK chart.

Originally released back in February 2024 as the final single from Djo’s (Joe's stage name) second studio album, ‘End of Beginning’ stayed in the Top 10 for six weeks peaking at Number 4.

Almost two years on, ‘End of Beginning’ is currently sitting very pretty at Number 3 at the midweek stage on the UK singles chart, and it’s competing for the top spot with Taylor Swift’s ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ and RAYE’s ‘Where Is My Husband!’.

The Stranger Things effect

A number of songs that have featured in Stranger Things are surging up the UK singles chart this week, including, of course, Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ at Number 14.

The 1985 song hit Number 1 in 2022 thanks to its prominent use in season 4, and the track was once again played in the fifth and final season to help revive Max (Sadie Sink).

Tiffany’s ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ (Number 25), The Clash’s ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’ (Number 34), and Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ (Number 39) are also on the Official Singles Chart Top 40 at the midweek stage.

Take a look through the Stranger Things season one soundtrack:

Stranger Things soundtrack: Season one


Episode 1 - 'Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers'

'She Has Funny Cars' - Jefferson Airplane (plays over the radio in Benny's Burgers as Eleven creeps into the kitchen)

'I Shall Not Care' - Pearls Before Swine (again plays over the radio during a second scene in Benny's Burgers where Eleven eats a meal)

'Jenny May' - Trader Horne (plays over the radio after 'I Shall Not Care' in the same scene)

'White Rabbit' - Jefferson Airplane (plays over the radio as the "social worker" arrives at Benny's Burgers)

'Africa' - Toto (plays while Nancy and Steve study for a test in her room)

Episode 2 - 'Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street'

'Should I Stay or Should I Go' - The Clash (plays during a flashback where Jonathan shows the song to Will for the first time)

'I'm Taking Off' - SPACE KNIFE (plays when Jonathan is searching around Lonnie's house for Will)

'Tie A Yellow Ribbon' - Brotherhood of Man (plays over the car radio as Barb and Nancy park a few blocks away from Steve's house)

'Raise a Little Hell' - Trooper (plays as Nancy and Barb arrive at Steve's house)

'I Melt With You' - Modern English (plays as Jonathan watches Nancy, Steve, Carol, Tommy and Barb hang out by the pool at Steve's house)

'Should I Stay or Should I Go' - The Clash (plays again as the radio turns on seemingly by itself while Joyce can sense Will's presence)

'Hazy Shade of Winter' - The Bangles (plays over the end credits)

Episode 3 - 'Chapter Three: Holly, Jolly'

'Waiting For A Girl Like You' - Foreigner (plays as Nancy and Steve make out in his room, interspersed with scenes of Barb being attacked by a creature from the Upside Down)

'Heroes' (David Bowie cover) - Peter Gabriel (plays as Will's "body" is pulled from the lake in the final scenes of the episode)

Episode 4 - 'Chapter Four: The Body'

'Atmosphere' - Joy Division (plays as Hopper leaves Joyce after telling her that Will's "body" has been found)

'Color Dreams' - The Deep (plays as Hopper is in a bar and strikes up conversation with the man who found Will's "body")

'Should I Stay or Should I Go' - The Clash (Joyce plays it loudly on the stereo as she tries to make contact with Will)

Episode 5 - 'Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat'

'Elegia' - New Order (plays at the funeral for Will)

'Nocturnal Me' - Echo and the Bunnymen (plays over the end credits after Nancy disappears into the Upside Down)

Episode 6 - 'Chapter Six: The Monster'

'Sunglasses at Night' - Corey Hart (plays over the car radio as Steve, Carol and Tommy look for Nancy)

'Allegro' from Violin Concerto No.2 in E Major by Johann Sebastian Bach (plays as the undercover government employee talks to Mr. Clarke, the science teacher)

'I See The Future' - Andrew Pinching (plays as Mrs. Wheeler picks the lock to Nancy's bedroom and discovers she's escaped out of her window, leaving evidence that a second person stayed the night)

'Happy Jose' - Kookie Freeman Velvet Sound (plays over the store speakers as Eleven enters a shop looking worse for wear)

'The Bargain Store' - Dolly Parton (plays over the shop speakers as Nancy and Jonathan look for supplies to defend themselves against the monster)

Episode 7 - 'Chapter Seven: The Bathtub'

No music other than original soundtrack appears in this episode.

Episode 8 - 'Chapter Eight: The Upside Down'

'When It's Cold I'd Like To Die' - Moby (plays as Hopper and Joyce rescue Will in the Upside Down)

'Carol of the Bells' - The Tabernacle Choir (plays during the police station's Christmas party as Hopper leaves to place some food in a chest for Eleven)

'White Christmas' - Bing Crosby (plays as the Byers family sit down for Christmas dinner together, before the song distorts as Will vomits up a creature from the Upside Down and has a flashback to being stuck there again)

Now read:

Stranger Things 5: A look back at the final season

Stranger Things: Everything you want to know about the series

Everything you need to know about the Stranger Things soundtrack

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