<\/p>\n Without giving too much away, we can say that the plot of Stranger Things\u2019 final episode required that the two songs used during its conclusion had to be ordered on an album in this way, and now Nora Felder, the show\u2019s music supervisor, has been explaining to Variety<\/a> how Purple Rain ended up being chosen.<\/p>\n You may like<\/p>\n Felder says that the Duffer Brothers, the siblings who created and directed Stranger Things, reached out to her before the pivotal scene in question had been shot. \u201cThey said, \u2018This one is a little more tricky because of the way the scenes are going to be set up: We need something preferably from 1987 – but it could be from before – the songs have to be from the same artist; and the first song has to start the A or B-side of an album by that artist, and the second song has to end the A or B-side of that album.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s quite the request. \u201cMy heart stopped, like, \u2018ooh, that\u2019s a tough one,\u2019\u201d says Felder, but she eventually whittled it down to two albums – Purple Rain and a record by \u201ca classic artist from the \u201870s\u201d who she doesn\u2019t name.<\/p>\n Taken with the idea of using Purple Rain, the Duffers then asked the all-important question – would the highly protective Prince Estate actually clear the songs for use? \u201cI\u2019m like gulp, \u2018I\u2019m really not sure, but I\u2019d be willing to try,\u2019\u201d says Felder.<\/p>\n \u201cThe good news is, I majored in English in college, and that helped with creating what I call \u2018theses\u2019: where you give the rights owners all the information of how the song\u2019s going to be used, and the backstory of it, the meaning of it,\u201d she continues. Felder and clearance coordinator Jennifer Barron spoke to Primary Wave Music, Universal Music Publishing and Warner Records, all of whom liked the idea, and eventually permission from the estate was granted.<\/p>\n \u201cI know the Duffers feel that Prince\u2019s estate cleared the songs because of Kate Bush, and I\u2019m sure that had something to do with it, as the parties reminded them of the impact the show had with Running Up That Hill,\u201d says Felder.<\/p>\n Bush\u2019s 1985 hit got a second lease of life after it was featured in Stranger Things\u2019 fourth season<\/a>, of course.<\/p>\n However, Felder believes that, for the estate, it wasn\u2019t just about the potential to monetise Prince\u2019s catalogue: \u201cIt\u2019s about what lines up with what Prince would have wanted, and to do it in the most respectful manner possible,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Whatever the reason, the commercial impact has been undeniable. Variety reports that, since the finale aired on New Year\u2019s Eve, global Spotify<\/a> streams of Purple Rain have shot up 243%, with a whopping 577% boost among Gen-Z listeners, who are more likely to be less familiar with Prince\u2019s music.<\/p>\n When Doves Cry has surged, too – it has 200% more listeners in total and 128% more from Gen-Z.<\/p>\n All of which suggests that, despite the fact both When Doves Cry and Purple Rain are closely associated with Prince\u2019s 1984 movie, they\u2019ll now forever be part of Stranger Things folklore, too. \u201cA lot of the young people are not going to have that association [with the Purple Rain movie],\u201d says Felder. \u201c[And] even the older people that knew and grew up with these songs, they\u2019re listening to it in a different way.\u201d<\/p>\n Prince & The Revolution – Purple Rain – YouTube
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