'Stranger Things' Season Five Premiere Boosts ABBA, Diana Ross, Kate Bush Songs to Double or Triple Popularity

The fifth season of Netflixs hit sci-fi series Stranger Things has officially premiered, bringing a fresh wave of '70s and '80s music to fans playlists and streaming services. As usual for the show, music is tightly woven into the story, and viewers are responding by increasing streams for featured tracks.

Diana Ross disco hit "Upside Down", heard as a secret radio transmission in episode one, saw the largest surge, climbing 373% to 953,000 on-demand streams in the first four days of tracking. ABBAs 1970s classic "Fernando" rose 206% to 615,000 streams, while Tiffanys cover of Tommy James "I Think Were Alone Now" jumped 289% to 1.3 million streams.

Other tracks also experienced significant growth: Michael Jacksons 1972 version of "Rockin Robin", featured as Maya Hawkes Robin characters radio show theme, rose 218% to 187,000 streams. The Chordettes 1954 hit "Mr. Sandman" climbed 173% to 564,000 streams. Kate Bushs "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" continues to resonate, increasing 110% to 2.7 million streams and re-entering the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart at No. 15.

H3adbands 'Boo' Gains Popularity Through TikTok Dance Challenge

Baton Rouge rapper H3adband saw his track "Boo" explode on streaming platforms after a TikTok dance challenge went viral. Since its October 14 release, the track has risen 1,882% in official U.S. on-demand streams over three weeks. By late November, streams reached nearly one million, fueled by users replicating the dance, including appearances from influencers and celebrities.

She & Him Find Seasonal Resurgence

Alt-folk duo She & Him, composed of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, are seeing renewed attention for their 2008 piano ballad "I Thought I Saw Your Face Today". Viral TikTok clips pairing the song with emotional, nostalgic, and seasonal content pushed streams above 2.5 million in late November. The track has debuted on the Hot Rock and Alternative Songs chart at No. 20.

Neace Robinsons 'I Wish That Heaven Had a Phone' Goes Viral

Louisiana singer-songwriter Neace Robinson gained widespread attention after a funeral performance of her 2018 song "I Wish That Heaven Had a Phone" went viral on TikTok, amassing over 31 million views. Streaming for the track spiked from 1,900 to over 82,500 weekly on-demand streams within a few weeks, marking her first major breakout.

Across genres and decades, from classic disco and pop to viral rap and heartfelt ballads, these songs illustrate the lasting cultural impact of Stranger Things and social media trends on music consumption.

Author: Benjamin Carter