Stranger Things Finale: Inside the Epic Musical Moment with Prince's Iconic Songs
Stranger Things has been known for its nostalgic nods to the 1980s, and the recent finale of the show featured a significant musical moment with two iconic Prince songs. The Duffer Brothers, creators of the show, revealed in an interview with Netflix's Tudum publication how they managed to secure the rights to use "When Doves Cry" and "Purple Rain" for the finale. These songs, from Prince's classic 1984 album Purple Rain, had never been licensed for use in other movies or TV shows before.
The Duffer Brothers knew that choosing the right songs for the final episode was crucial, especially for a scene involving a record player triggering a bomb to destroy a bridge between the real world and the Upside Down. They needed a celebratory opening and an emotionally heavy ending, which is where the two Prince tracks fit perfectly. The decision to sync the two songs has already paid off, with a significant increase in streams on Spotify since the finale aired on New Year's Eve.
Securing the rights to use "Purple Rain" and "When Doves Cry" was not a straightforward process, as the Duffer Brothers were initially told it was a long shot. However, the success of using Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" in a previous season of Stranger Things helped convince the Prince estate to grant permission for the two songs. The decision to license the songs to a Netflix show for the first time comes at a time when the streaming platform and the Prince estate are on good terms, following the cancellation of a documentary containing allegations against Prince.
In conclusion, the use of Prince's iconic songs in the Stranger Things finale added a powerful and nostalgic touch to the show's already rich tapestry of 1980s references. The decision to feature "When Doves Cry" and "Purple Rain" in the episode not only enhanced the emotional impact of the scene but also led to a significant increase in streams for the songs on Spotify. This collaboration between the show and the Prince estate marks a milestone in bringing together iconic music and storytelling in a way that resonates with audiences across generations.