Stranger Things Effect: Prince soars on streaming and the finale with Bowie's “Heroes” ends the series in glory

Over the course of its five seasons, "Stranger Things" has proven to be much more than a television series: it has become a time machine, musical as well, capable of reactivating the past and putting it back into circulation in the present. The fifth season, and its finale in particular, definitively confirms this role, once again turning the soundtrack into a powerful streaming accelerator, able to speak directly to a generation that never lived through those years.

The most obvious precedent remains the case of "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush, which exploded globally after being used in the fourth season. A 1985 track that suddenly became central to Gen Z's listening habits, capable of climbing the charts and putting the English artist back at the heart of contemporary pop discourse. From that moment on, every musical choice made by "Stranger Things" has carried a weight that goes far beyond mere narrative function.

The finale of season five confirms this dynamic, with a particular focus on Prince. The inclusion of “Purple Rain” and “When Doves Cry” in the final episode had an immediate effect on streaming platforms. In the days following the broadcast, “Purple Rain” saw a global increase in streams of over 200%, with an even sharper spike among younger listeners. “When Doves Cry” is following a similar trajectory, while Prince's entire catalog has enjoyed a renewed surge of interest.

 

 

 

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It's a strategy the show has long since perfected: songs are used as genuine dramatic turning points, "needle drops" designed to become iconic. But the series' definitive conclusion, in the final episode of season five, makes one further symbolic leap. After the last scene, "Stranger Things" forgoes traditional end credits music altogether, entrusting its farewell to "Heroes" by David Bowie.

"Using Bowie's original version felt natural to us," co-creator Ross Duffer explained to Netflix Tudum, noting that the show had previously used the song in a version sung by Peter Gabriel, featured in season one (Episode 3: Chapter Three: Holly, Jolly) and season three (Episode 8: Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt). Here, the choice of the original version takes on the weight of a final seal, both as an emotional epilogue and as an ideal summation of the show's entire journey.

From Kate Bush's comeback to Prince's resurgence, all the way to a farewell entrusted to Bowie, “Stranger Things” proves it has redefined the relationship between series and songs.

Ride the wave of great music

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