The soundtrack of Netflix’s Stranger Things is one of the most recognizable TV show scores of the modern day. Its use of synthesizers and 80’s music is a great means of the sound of nostalgia and youth. Michael Stein and Kyle Dixon created the music for Stranger Things as an experimental electronic duo, employing a variety of vintage synthesizers. They used the Prophet-5, Roland SH-2, and ARP 2600 in particular. I believe that the score is one of the best contemporary TV show soundtracks, as it blends nostalgia and sci-fi perfectly.
To begin with talking about the first episode and album of season one, the tracks are not in chronological order as they appear in the show. This may be due to the fact that it’s not a regular film score, since it’s a TV show and a lot of the scores are reused throughout the seasons. The initial release of the first season’s album features all songs that can be heard in the show, but they did release a second volume of tracks for the season, in which there are extended and alternate versions of some of the scores, however they are still used in the show, with just some of the parts cut out. An example of this is the end credits of each episode, in which an extended version of the show’s opening title is used- but the whole track is usually not used for this, just part of it. I think that the additional aspect to it is interesting, because it offers a world outside of the show when you listen to it without the visuals. It really captures the essence of the show itself, as it has such a distinct sound.
I think that the reason I and many others find the Stranger Things soundtrack to be so recognizable is because it’s the first introduction to synth music for a lot of people, or at least the first time you would actively listen to it and notice it. It’s also just something that a lot of shows haven’t explored before, and the score’s just become a character of its own. At least personally, when I first watched the show I was fourteen years old and hadn’t really been introduced to a lot of synth music until then, and gained a huge love for it because it just fits the vibe of the show so well. I was a fan of 80’s music before, since I grew up listening to it in the car with my parents, but when you combine that with synth it just becomes this whole new thing that blends so well, and I appreciate it so much. Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein did an incredible job on the soundtrack, as that opening track of the theme song perfectly conveys the composers’ style and it is consistent throughout all three season’s albums.
I would say that the aspects of the soundtrack that characterize the work of the composers would definitely be the use of synth. Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein definitely have a recognizable style- it’s quite an unusual approach to scoring a show or movie, or at least a lot less common. Even so far as the trailers for season two and season three have a recognizable style, as they took popular 80’s songs and added synth to them. For the first season two trailer they used Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” but it was remixed in a way that fit the tone of the show and its soundtrack. As well for the season three trailer (my personal favorite), they took The Who’s “Baba O’riley” and remixed it with more synth, fitting the overall theme of the show and that season. Another example of this is that the show uses David Bowie’s “Heroes” twice, except it’s a cover by Peter Gabriel. This song is used at the end of episode three of season one, and again at the end of the final episode of the third season. Gabriel’s cover has a much more “Stranger Things” vibe to it, as the instrumentals are more synthesized, fitting in with the style of the score. From personal experience, I've noticed that when you read the comments on any type of synth song or remix on the internet, a lot of people link it to Stranger Things, saying things like "it sounds like a song that would be used in the show," which is interesting because synth-pop has been around since the 1980s, but for many of my generation, this show is really what introduced us to the genre. So I would conclude that yes, Dixon and Stein’s style is quite influential.
The show and soundtrack of Stranger Things can definitely be seen as an homage to the culture of the 1980’s. Many references to movies and music are seen throughout the show, which leads me to believe that the soundtrack is designed for anyone who grew up in that time period of the 80’s, when synth-pop was fabricated, and the movie industry was popping. The show has such a nostalgic feel to it, and the soundtrack certainly does it justice. The score titled “Kids”, one of the first tracks heard in the show, has that feel of youth and growing up; pretty lighthearted and an introduction to the core kids of the show.
The “Kids” track essentially sets up the style of music for the show, but the track that introduces the tone of the show is the opening theme, simply titled “Stranger Things”. This theme is very strong in combining the elements of that same nostalgic feel of “Kids” with an eerie sci-fi, horror sound to it. The rhythm of it is relatively haunting with a “bu-dum” sound throughout, almost like a heartbeat, or some sort of ‘upside-down’ ambience.
I think the albums released with the show certainly added to its popularity. A lot of people were compelled to buy it after watching the show for the first time, as it’s quite a unique soundtrack in comparison to more modern mainstream shows. They also released albums of the nostalgic songs used in the show. Stranger Things 3: Music From the Netflix Original Series, a soundtrack from Legacy Recordings, was the top-selling vinyl album in the US the week of August 19th, 2019, per Billboard (Singh-Kurtz 2019).
There is clearly a national love for the music of Stranger Things, as it is essentially a love letter to the culture of the 1980’s, something that even generations later are still appreciating to this day. Something about that time period is just so enjoyable and nostalgic for all ages, and I think the score of the show perfectly captures that essence.
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Resources:
Singh-Kurtz, Sangeeta. “The ‘Stranger Things 3’ Soundtrack Is America's Top-Selling Vinyl Album.” Yahoo! Finance. Yahoo!, August 12, 2019. finance.yahoo.com/news/stranger-things-3-soundtrack-america-190727335.html.
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