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

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Warning: Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1.

As a huge fan of Stranger Things, I’ve always loved how each season sprinkles in classic ’80s tunes, but season 5, volume 1 really delivered! The new episodes are finally here, and let me tell you, this first part of the final chapter of Netflix’s amazing sci-fi series does not disappoint. They went all out with the music, featuring hits from ABBA, The Jackson Five, Diana Ross, and more – it was fantastic!

The latest part of Stranger Things still expertly combines small-town mystery, scary moments, science fiction, and compelling characters, and it continues to lean heavily on ‘80s nostalgia. By the end of volume 1 of season 5, the show has delivered a fantastic collection of music, much like a well-curated mixtape. Notably, the soundtrack isn’t limited to the ‘80s this season – it also features songs from the ‘70s, ‘60s, and even the ‘50s, especially in the fourth episode.

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

Episode 1

The opening scene of episode 1 features Will Byers singing “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash while hiding in Castle Byers. Jonathan first played the song for him in season 1, and it briefly comforts Will before the Demogorgon finds him.

The song isn’t actually featured in full here. We just see Will singing it softly to comfort himself, right before a Demogorgon corners him and pulls him into Vecna’s hideout.

The first song featured in the initial volume of Stranger Things season 5 is “Rockin’ Robin” by The Jackson Five. It’s played by Robin, a talkative music enthusiast who works as the radio DJ in Hawkins. She plays the upbeat classic and then announces a song dedicated to her girlfriend, but the radio signal cuts out before viewers can hear it.

Diana Ross’s hit song “Upside Down” acts as a secret signal for the group as they prepare for the dangerous journey into The Upside Down. While Robin shares interesting facts about the song, these facts are actually coded messages meant for Hopper, Joyce, Lucas, Eleven, Dustin, Mike, and Will.

Kate Bush’s song “Running Up That Hill” became hugely popular thanks to its use in season 4 of Stranger Things. The song first appears when Will gives Lucas a tape in the hospital, and it continues to play throughout season 5, volume 1. This serves as a reminder of the powerful scene where Max used the song to escape Vecna in season 4.

Episode 2

Image via Netflix

The ABBA song “Fernando,” a popular disco hit from the 1970s, plays while Holly Wheeler’s mother, Karen, is taking a bath. The music initially drowns out Holly’s cries for help as she’s attacked by the Demogorgon, leading Karen to believe her daughter is just having a nightmare. However, the reality of the situation quickly proves that isn’t the case.

Kate Bush’s song “Running Up That Hill” reappears in the second episode, “The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler,” when Lucas desperately pleads with his unconscious girlfriend, Max, to wake up – something he hasn’t done since the season 4 finale. We learn in episode 4 that Max briefly showed signs of recovery earlier when Lucas played the song for her, but she couldn’t fully escape Vecna’s control.

The Chordettes’ song “Mr. Sandman,” a hit from the 1960s, plays during the end credits of episode 2. This creates a chilling atmosphere as the series reveals that Holly’s childhood imaginary friend, “Mr. Whatsit,” is actually Henry Creel, also known as Vecna.

Episode 3

Image via Netflix

In the show, when Holly is alone in the Creel House, she listens to Tiffany’s 1980s hit, “I Think We’re Alone Now.” This creates a peaceful moment, and the tape player and cassette—a gift from Henry—help him build a connection with her. The music stops as someone repeatedly rings the doorbell, and it’s eventually revealed to be Max, another person trapped in the Upside Down.

Yello’s “Oh Yeah” is best known from the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but it also appears in Stranger Things. The song plays when Dustin figures out they can use Steve’s car—instead of their larger van—to chase the Demogorgon in the Upside Down. Steve isn’t happy when they attach a large antenna to the roof of his prized BMW.

Episode 4

As Robin explains her plan to sneak Derek onto the military base, the main theme from Elmer Bernstein’s The Great Escape begins to play. This reference to the classic war movie accompanies the scene where they are planning the tunnel.

When Max enters Henry’s flashbacks to Hawkins High in 1959, the classic song “Sh Boom” by The Chords begins to play. This music establishes the time period and reveals that Vecna once went to school with Hopper, Joyce, and Steve Harrington’s father.

I was completely captivated by how Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” became so central to Max’s journey. Apparently, Holly realized the song was playing during Vecna’s recollection of the very first terrible thing he did. It acted like a lifeline for Max, pulling her away from that horrifying place—a facility drenched in blood—and leading her towards a more peaceful, comforting memory where she could finally find some solace. And then, it played one last time, so powerfully, as Max relived her confrontation with Vecna and saw Lucas faithfully waiting by her side in the hospital. It was such a beautiful and heartbreaking detail.

It’s fitting that this song is the last one played in the first part of season 5, appearing several times during the fourth episode. The rest of the episode doesn’t include any other songs, but it does feature the well-known synth music that’s become synonymous with Stranger Things.

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2025-11-27 21:12