Music of Stranger Things
The Stranger Things original soundtracks are composed by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein of the electronic band Survive.[1] They make extensive use of synthesizers in homage to 1980s artists and film composers including Jean-Michel Jarre, Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, Goblin, John Carpenter, Giorgio Moroder, and Fabio Frizzi.[2]
Background
The Duffer Brothers were first made aware of Dixon and Stein's music while watching the 2014 thriller film The Guest, which featured music produced and performed by their band Survive.[3] While creating a mock trailer that was later used to sell the show to Netflix, the Duffers decided to use Survive's piece "Dirge" to serve as the trailer's soundtrack.[1][4] Once the show was green-lit, the Duffers contacted Survive around July 2015 to ask if the group was still together and available to potentially score the season; in turn, Dixon and Stein provided the production team with dozens of unreleased tracks from their band's past, which aided them in their bid for the job.[1] The Duffers were ecstatic after listening to the material provided, and they implored the duo to quit their day jobs to produce music for the show full-time.[5] They obliged, and once they were aboard the production, the two worked with producers to select some of their older music to rework for the show while simultaneously developing new music which was to chiefly serve as character motifs.[4] The tracks produced by the duo were sent during filming to The Duffers, who later labelled the demos as "sketches" due to Dixon and Stein's odd title choices ("Jupiter 8 Spirit Winds," "Soakers Forum 3," and "Lighting Candles and Eggy Pizza" are among the most unique of the batch).[5] A "sketch" that was originally titled "Prophecy" was later developed into the show's theme. In all, just under 14 hours of music was produced for the show over the course of one year.[5] Dixon and Stein had been hired before the casting process, so their motif demos were used and played over the actors' audition tapes, aiding in the casting selection.[4][6]
Theme
The show's theme is based on an unused piece Stein composed much earlier that ended up in a library of work that was available for potential commercial licensing.
After the release of the show's first season and its meteoric rise in popularity that followed, Dixon and Stein's composition quickly gained a large amount of popularity as well. Various musical entertainers such as the band Blink-182 have used the track in their live productions, and a number of amateur musicians have posted cover versions to YouTube.[10] The piece also won the award for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music at the 69th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.[11]
Releases
Soundtracks
Year | Title | Composer(s) |
---|---|---|
2016 | Stranger Things, Vol. 1 | Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein |
Stranger Things, Vol. 2 | ||
2017 | Stranger Things 2 | |
2019 | Stranger Things 3 | |
2022 | Stranger Things 4 |
Compilations
Year | Title | Artist(s) |
---|---|---|
2017 | Stranger Things: Music from the Netflix Original Series | Various |
2018 | Stranger Things: Halloween Sounds from the Upside Down | Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein |
2019 | Stranger Things: Music from the Netflix Original Series, Season 3 | Various |
2022 | Stranger Things: Music from the Netflix Original Series, Season 4 | Various |
Other music
In addition to original music, Stranger Things features period music from artists including
"Should I Stay or Should I Go"
"
"The NeverEnding Story"
Of note in the third season was the use of "
"Running Up That Hill"
"Running Up That Hill" by English musician Kate Bush features prominently in the fourth episode of the fourth season, and is re-used in subsequent episodes. Resurgence in interest pushed the song to the top ten of several record charts around the world, most notably reaching number one in the UK, where it became the country's Song of The Summer for 2022, according to the Official Charts Company. It also reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Bush's highest-charting entry and first top ten song in the United States.[21][22]
"Koyaanisqatsi" and “Akhnaten”
The scene in season 4, episode 7, where Henry is recounting his story to 11 about his life which is intershot with images of Nancy Wheeler in the house in the upside down are accompanied by "Prophecies" from "Koyaanisqatsi", and "Window of Appearance" and "Akhnaten and Nefertiti" from "Akhnaten" written by Philip Glass.[23]
Accolades
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Best Main Title – TV Show/Digital Streaming Series | Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein | Nominated | [24][25] |
Best Original Score – TV Show/Miniseries | Nominated | ||||
Outstanding Music Supervision – Television | Nora Felder | Won | |||
2017 | Grammy Awards | Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media | Stranger Things, Vol. 1 | Nominated | [26] |
Stranger Things, Vol. 2 | Nominated | ||||
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music | Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein | Won | [27] | |
2018 | Grammy Awards | Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media | Stranger Things: Music from the Netflix Original Series | Nominated | [28] |
References
- ^ a b c d Kaufman, Gil (August 29, 2016). "Stranger Things Co-Composer Shares the Story Behind 2016's Most Unlikely Musical Sensation". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
- ^ "Stranger Things: 10 eerie electronic gems to hear if you loved the Netflix show". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. 6 August 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
- Complex. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
- ^ a b c Weingarten, Christopher (August 1, 2016). "'Stranger Things': Meet the Band Behind Show's Creepy, Nostalgic Score". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
- ^ a b c The Duffer Brothers (July 19, 2016). "Stranger Things episode 5: The Duffer Brothers explain the show's soundtrack". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
- ^ Thomas, Helen (2 August 2016). "An Interview With S U R V I V E: The Mysterious Band Behind The Epic 'Stranger Things' Score". NME. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
- ^ a b Nguyen, Hanh (10 August 2016). "'Stranger Things' Composers Interview: Duo Discusses Soundtrack, That Haunting Theme Song and More". IndieWire. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
- ^ Jones, Damian (26 October 2017). "'Stranger Things' composers reveal how they made title-track for Netflix series". NME. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
- ^ Welsh, April Clare (28 October 2017). "Stranger Things composers break down theme music on Song Exploder". Fact Magazine. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
- ^ Rich, Katey (17 May 2017). "Even the Guys Who Wrote the Stranger Things Theme Can't Believe How Popular It's Become". Vanity Fair. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
- ^ Sodomsky, Sam (12 September 2017). "Emmys 2017: "Stranger Things" Wins Outstanding Theme Music Award". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
- ^ Mylnar, Phillip (July 25, 2016). "Unpacking the '80s nostalgia of the 'Stranger Things' soundtrack". Mashable. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
- ^ a b Minsker, Evan (August 10, 2016). "Netflix's Stranger Things Soundtrack Detailed". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Desowitz, Bill (August 18, 2017). "How The Clash Became an Integral Part of the 'Stranger Things' Musical Emmy Nomination". IndieWire. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Lussier, Germain (August 18, 2017). "Stranger Things Had To Hide the Monsters To Get the Rights To 'Should I Stay or Should I Go'". Gizmodo. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- ^ Stack, Tim (July 9, 2019). "The NeverEnding Story moment in Stranger Things 3 almost didn't happen". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 9, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- ^ a b c Wigler, Josh (July 6, 2019). "How 'Stranger Things' Pulled Off Its Most Ambitious Music Moment Yet". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- ^ Hurley, Laura (July 4, 2019). "How Stranger Things' Hilarious Season 3 Musical Scene And Iconic Opening Theme Came Together". Cinema Blend. Archived from the original on July 9, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- ^ Codero, Rosy (July 9, 2019). "The NeverEnding Story theme singer Limahl celebrates newfound interest thanks to 'Stranger Things'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (July 18, 2019). "Limahl 'Gobsmacked' by Explosion of Interest in 'Never-ending Story' Thanks to 'Stranger Things'". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
- ^ Trust, Gary (June 16, 2022). "Harry Styles' 'As It Was' Keeps Atop Billboard Hot 100, Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill' Hits Top Five". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Carl (June 17, 2022). "Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill is Official Charts Number 1 Single: Singer becomes 3 x Official Charts Record Breaker with Stranger Things success". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
- ^ https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/film-tv/stranger-things-classical-music-opera-soundtrack/
- ^ "2016 Music In Visual Media Nominees – Hollywood Music In Media Awards - HMMA". Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Archived from the original on 2016-11-05. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
- ^ "HMMA Winners – Hollywood Music In Media Awards - HMMA". Hollywood Music in Media Awards.
- ^ "59th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (September 10, 2017). "Creative Arts Emmy Winners: 'Stranger Things,' 'Westworld,' 'Big Little Lies' Win Big — Complete List". Variety. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
- NPR. February 10, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2019.