The Stranger Things finale used Prince’s “Purple Rain” and “When Doves Cry” to underscore its emotional climax, a feat the Duffers called “challenging” but essential for the show’s legacy.
The Stranger Things series finale delivered an emotional punch with not one, but two Prince songs—“Purple Rain” and “When Doves Cry”—playing pivotal roles in the climactic moments. Creators Matt and Ross Duffer revealed to Entertainment Weekly that securing these tracks was a “challenging” process, one that hinged on the show’s cultural impact and the legacy of Prince’s music.
The Power of Prince’s Music in the Finale
The Duffers explained that the songs were integral to the finale’s emotional resonance, particularly in the scene where Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Mike (Finn Wolfhard) share a final moment before the Upside Down is destroyed. The bomb, rigged to a record player, plays both sides of a Prince single, with the upbeat opening of one track contrasting the epic, emotional close of the other.
“The rights issues were challenging, just because it hasn’t been licensed very much,” Ross Duffer noted. The success of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” in season 4, which catapulted the 1985 single back onto the Billboard Hot 100, played a crucial role in convincing Prince’s estate to grant the rights. “I don’t know if we would’ve gotten these rights without that,” Ross admitted.
The Search for the Perfect Soundtrack
The Duffers emphasized that the selection process was meticulous. They needed songs that were not only iconic and period-appropriate but also structurally suited to the bomb’s mechanism. “We needed the beginning of whatever song was on the A- or B-side to be upbeat and hopeful, and the last song to be epic and emotional,” Ross explained. Prince’s music fit perfectly.
Matt Duffer added that the only more difficult rights negotiation was securing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” for the season 2 trailer, which is no longer available due to licensing issues. “That was more brutal and more expensive than Prince,” he said.
Eleven’s Ambiguous Fate and Fan Theories
The finale’s epilogue left fans debating Eleven’s fate. While it appeared she sacrificed herself to destroy the Upside Down, Mike’s theory—that she might be alive and hidden—added a layer of ambiguity. The Duffers intentionally left her fate open-ended, mirroring the debates in their writers’ room.
“Our goal is to leave it up to the fans,” Ross Duffer said. “A lot of the dialogue reflects the debates we had in the writers’ room.”
Why This Matters for Fans
Prince’s music wasn’t just a soundtrack choice—it was a narrative device. The Duffers’ ability to secure these songs underscores the show’s cultural significance and its impact on music resurgence. For fans, the finale’s emotional weight is amplified by the iconic tracks, making the ending feel both nostalgic and definitive.
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