There is something magical about Stranger Things. Is every season equal to the others? No. Season 2 isn't the best, for instance. Still, the Duffer brothers managed to create a world that was well-grounded in the 1980s and added a big dose of Stephen King.
The music helps set the mood, possibly as good as any series ever made. Unique choices have been made. Kate Bush was an alt-queen of the 1980s, but the show helped her connect with a newer audience.
But which songs are being used for Season 5 so far? Here is a hint: Expect a lot of Kate Bush again. Maybe too much. Some other selections are a bit iffy.
All the songs from the first four episodes of Stranger Things Season 5
Episode 1 - "The Crawl"
- "Rockin' Robin" - Michael Jackson
- "Pretty in Pink" - Psychedelic Furs
- "Upside Down" - Diana Ross
- "Running Up That Hill" - Kate Bush
The title of Ross's song certainly fits with Stranger Things, but the theme of the tune doesn't. Not unless the upside down is conflicted about how it feels about the world on the other side. The positive part is the Psychedelic Furs track. One cannot go wrong with Richard Butler and his mates.
Episode 2 - "The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler"
- "Fernando" - ABBA
- "Running Up That Hill" - Kate Bush
- "Mr. Sandman" - The Chordettes
Kate Bush, as great as she is, might have too much of a presence in the half-season. The other tunes predate the 1980s, so one might wonder if the show's creators are running out of ideas for which songs to use for the series. Let's hope not.
Episode 3 - "The Turnbow Trap"
- "To Each His Own" - Freddy Martin
- "I Think We're Alone Now" - Tiffany
- "Oh Yeah" - Yello
If you grew up in the 1980s or just happen to be a fan of films of the decade, you will undoubtedly have heard the Yello song. It got stale even then, and it's not any fresher now, unfortunately. Using Tiffany was a nice touch, though.
Episode 4 - "Sorcerer"
- "Premature Plans" - Elmer Bernstein
- "Sh-Boom" - The Chords
- "Running Up That Hill" - Kate Bush
Kate Bush. Again. The use of the song makes sense, but not nearly to the degree that the Duffer brothers are applying it. We get that Max needs the song to ground, and we don't have to be reminded every time she is on the screen.