Stranger Things is a big deal in my house. Equal parts Stephen King and Steven Spielberg, the hit Netflix series is a winning blend of humor, horror and heart. My daughter Fiona has watched every season multiple times, and has bought enough merch to fund the series’ upcoming final chapter.
Fiona is so rabid about the show that her practice is to binge each new season without interruption starting the moment it drops. So for season three, that meant an 8-hour stretch starting at midnight. And I’ll add that we were on a family cruise vacation at the time. She’s crazy.
To her credit, she made an exception with the fourth (and most recent) season, and waited for the rest of the family to watch with her. So no overnight binging. Of course, we did still watch the whole thing through in one marathon sitting, so let’s call it a baby step.
[Note: The fourth season was released in two “volumes,” dropped a month apart, so technically we consumed it in two marathon sittings.]
I won’t get into the show’s plot or execution here. But I was inspired by one of the show’s musical moments to kick off a fun theme week on the blog.
One of Stranger Things‘ great pleasures is its 80s setting, which naturally means lots of 80s music. The show runners never go overboard, but sprinkle musical gems throughout the series, serving as sweet nostalgia for an 80s kid like me, and introducing a new generation to some timeless classics.
The most brilliant and successful song choice yet came this season, when Kate Bush’s wonderful ‘Running Up That Hill’ was used to score one of the series’ most suspenseful and emotionally gripping scenes to date.
The song hit such a viral nerve that it gave Bush the first top ten hit in her career and has reportedly earned her nearly $3 million in streaming royalties in the last month and a half.
So that got me thinking… as the show runners prepare the series’ fifth and final season, they will likely have artists banging down their door offering songs that could become the next ‘Running Up That Hill.’
Over the next two weeks, I’ll offer up some of my own predictions of songs that could fit the bill. I’ll get into my parameters tomorrow, but first I want to pay my respects to the singular artist who helped make this season of Stranger Things such a blast.
It doesn’t hurt me (Ye-yeah, yeah, yo)
Do you want to feel how it feels? (Ye-yeah, yeah, yo)
Do you want to know, know that it doesn’t hurt me? (Ye-yeah, yeah, yo)
Do you want to hear about the deal that I’m making? (Ye-yeah, yeah, yo)
[Pre-Chorus]
You
It’s you and me
[Chorus]
And if I only could
I’d make a deal with God
And I’d get him to swap our places
Be running up that road
Be running up that hill
Be running up that building
Say, if I only could, oh
[Verse 2]
You don’t wanna hurt me (Ye-yeah, yeah, yo)
But see how deep the bullet lies (Ye-yeah, yeah, yo)
Unaware, I’m tearing you asunder (Ye-yeah, yeah, yo)
Oh, there is thunder in our hearts (Ye-yeah, yeah, yo)
Is there so much hate for the ones we love? (Ye-yeah, yeah, yo)
Oh, tell me, we both matter, don’t we? (Ye-yeah, yeah, yo)
[Pre-Chorus]
You
It’s you and me
It’s you and me, won’t be unhappy
[Chorus]
And if I only could
I’d make a deal with God
And I’d get him to swap our places
Be running up that road
Be running up that hill
Be running up that building (Ye-yo)
Say, if I only could, oh
[Pre-Chorus]
You (Ye-yeah, yeah, yo)
It’s you and me
It’s you and me, won’t be unhappy (Ye-yeah, yeah, yo)
[Bridge]
Oh, come on, baby (Ye-yeah)
Oh, come on, darling (Ye-yo)
Let me steal this moment from you now
Oh, come on, angel (Yeah)
Come on, come on, darling
Let’s exchange the experience (Ye-oh, ooh, ooh)
[Chorus]
And if I only could
I’d make a deal with God
And I’d get him to swap our places
I’d be running up that road
Be running up that hill
With no problems
Say, if I only could
I’d make a deal with God
And I’d get him to swap our places
I’d be running up that road
Be running up that hill
With no problems
Say, if I only could
I’d make a deal with God
And I’d get him to swap our places
I’d be running up that road
Be running up that hill
With no problems
[Outro]
Say, if I only could
Be running up that hill
With no problems
If I only could, be running up that hill
If I only could, be running up that hill
Meet Me In Montauk 
I think it’s funny how you consider Fiona waiting to watch season 4 with you a baby step away from crazy. I think it’s a step for the rest of the family toward joining her in obsessive crazy-town.😉
Oooh I like this song a lot. I know this show is a huge hit. You say a cross between Spielberg and King hmmm maybe I should give it a try 😊
That’s a lots of streaming $$$! I have loved and esteemed this album ever since it came out. Great to know that a new generation is discovering at least this one song…
Hard to overstate how effectively this song was used throughout the entire season but especially that intensely gripping scene. Love when you focus on the marriage of film/tv and music on your blog! I’m sorry I was late to this party (no marathon viewing in our house), but we sure enjoyed both the season and your picks for season 5!