Inside 'Stranger Things' finale soundtrack as Duffer brothers reveal one song that's never made on TV before
If one were to introduce 'Stranger Things' to an unversed individual, the Netflix show has numerous strong suits to commend itself. There are the intimate and dramatic character arcs and the threat of the Upside Down. Aside from all this, another department where the Duffer Brothers show excels is in its use of licensed music. The soundtrack of 'Stranger Things' has always drawn attention to itself, with its choice of '70s, '80s, and '90s music falling right in place with the rest of the show's nostalgic universe.
It is no wonder then that the series finale episode, 'The Rightside Up', packed quite a few popular tracks to amplify all that happened on screen. Now, as the final battle against Henry Creel and Vecna is over, and to honor Eleven's legacy, a deep dive into the music of the finale episode should be in order. Cosmopolitan recently reported that among the other tracks on the finale, there was one particular song that hadn't ever been used on a television show before, and even the creator duo confessed that it was a miracle that they were able to secure the rights to the song.
The track in question is 'Purple Rain' by Prince. The Duffer Brothers teased this song way ahead of the finale during the premiere of season five. The song has been inserted at the cathartic moment when Mike and Eleven bid their final goodbyes to each other. The fact that we never really know for sure what happened to Eleven further accentuates the haunting subtext of this final rendezvous.
Matt Duffer revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, "I don't even know how one would go about teasing a needle drop. This year, I will say, there is a song I'm particularly proud of. It's in the finale. It's never been on a TV show before. I think because of Kate Bush, we were able to get the rights. Under normal circumstances, they would not have allowed us to get those rights. So I think that's an epic needle drop, but you gotta wait all the way to the final episode."
The song itself was first released as a single in 1984 and featured on the album and the film of the same name. "(Prince's) estate does not generally allow that song to be licensed outside the Purple Rain movie." The Duffer Brothers had remarked in an interview with Tudum earlier. The rest of the finale episode featured several tracks, including 'When Doves Cry' by Prince, 'Sh-Boom' by The Chords, 'Landslide' by Fleetwood Mac, 'The Trooper' by Iron Maiden, 'Here Comes Your Man' by Pixies, 'Heroes' by David Bowie, and 'Sweet Jane' by Cowboy Junkies. All the seasons and episodes of 'Stranger Things' are now available for streaming exclusively on Netflix.
