THROWBACK EXPRESS

Stranger Things has completely reformatted how this generation remembers the ‘80s. There are no neon headbands, no metallic leotards, heavy lace, or drawn-on moles on anyone. You don’t see the glorified, MTV version of the decade — just a plain Jane cast donning drab clothing in more shades of depressing autumn imaginable, living in an otherwise unexciting Indiana town. And then there’s Winona Ryder, icon of throwback culture, patron saint of broken love, cigarette smoking and the pixie cut, screaming lines like “And you think I won’t know my own son’s breathing?” like she, indeed, knows. It makes you think: How did we get here? How are the ‘80s so far back in time and yet still so vivid, so fresh we can almost smell the Aqua Net?

The songs are not helping. In the first episode alone, the show drops enough tracks to send one into a soundtrip down memory lane. The moment Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit started playing, I knew this was a show I’d like to keep watching. When Toto’s

Africa followed, oddly accompanying a make-out scene, I realized it’s a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously, however grim or gory it gets (it doesn’t get that gory). Shortly after the first season’s release, Netflix created a playlist on Spotify of songs from the show. It has everything from The Clash to Corey Hart, classics from the ‘70s and ‘80s, — songs Ryder’s Joyce Byers must hear on the radio. Stranger Things is proud of its kooky soundtrack, as it should be. It’s inspired a whole lot of viewers to brush up on the decade’s musical offerings (it’s not all Tiffany and Debbie Gibson) and maybe wonder what songs could — should — make it to season two. Here’s a wishlist/playlist. I would love to see how the Duffer brothers would use them, if they ever do.

TimeIsOnMySide – Rolling Stones The better make-out song. The better song, period. Africa is like the cold shower of songs. Maybe when adults start making out in the show, they could play this one.

ThereIsaLightThatNeverGoesOut – The Smiths Not to give anything away to those who haven’t started watching but… it just makes so much sense.

CumOnFeelTheNoize – Quiet Riot Why do I feel like finding this on the soundtrack one day would not be such a far-fetched daydream? It’s a horror show. Anything is possible.

WaveofMutilation (UK Surf) – Pixies Kids on their bikes in the forest at night. Adults hopelessly searching for meaning. Damage, damage everywhere.

Starman – David Bowie At this point, I’m still not entirely sure what’s happening in the show, hazy cosmic happenings through landlines and all. But I bet Bowie knows what’s up.

Drive – The Cars An ‘ 80s classic and a soundtrack staple, Drive should be on the show because it agrees with how the creators seem to be choosing songs: appealing to nostalgia and familiarity. No obscure bands here.

ThatSmell – Lynyrd Skynyrd That is, if HBO doesn’t have some sort of lease on this one (it may have already expired though). The song’s dark, swampy folk vibe is in keeping with the show’s overall mood. You may recognize it from a certain vampire show...

HitMeWithYourBestShot – Pat Benatar Stranger Things may be peppered with a lot of male characters, but it’s the women and girls who run it. Joyce, Nancy, Eleven… Who better to accompany the estrogen fest than Pat Benatar?

I’mWaitingForTheMan – The Velvet Underground Lou Reed’s voice is just the thing StrangerThings is missing.

Downtown – Petula Clark Just for fun. Have Winona strum Downtown on guitar. And nobody interrupt her, okay?