STACK #255 January 2026

MUSIC FEATURE

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STRANGER SMASH Stranger Things goes out with a bang – and another killer soundtrack.

1987… POP HEAVEN So, what was happening in the music world in Australia in 1987? The final episode of Countdown went to air. Kylie made her chart debut with Locomotion . INXS released the Kick album. Icehouse released the Man of Colours album. England’s Rick Astley had the year’s biggest single with Never Gonna Give You Up .

T he fifth and final season of the Netflix sci-fi sensation Stranger Things takes us back to 1987. The show’s impact on the music world has been immense. After being featured in Stranger Things , Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill became her biggest hit ever in the US, rising to number three on the Billboard charts. The song also topped the Australian and UK charts in 2022 – 37 years after it was first released. So, what will be the show’s latest breakout nostalgic smash? Well, Season Five is not just focusing on 1987. Sure, some classics from that year are

featured, including Tiffany’s I Think We’re Alone Now . But the season also digs deep, with Michael Jackson’s Rockin’ Robin , ABBA’s Fernando , and The Chordettes’ ’50s pop gem Mr. Sandman . Jeff Jenkins

Stranger Things uses music to drive the narrative. The three big songs that the show has resurrected: Season One: The Clash – Should I Stay Or Should I Go Season Three: Limahl – The NeverEnding Story Season Four: Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED

Stranger Things ’ incidental music is composed by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, who are two members of the electronic band Survive, who started in Austin, Texas in 2009.

Stranger Things 5

HOT SOUNDTRACK

is out Jan 30 via Sony

HERE AND NOW L ouis Tomlinson can’t hide his excitement when he’s talking about his new album. “Just sat listening The former One Direction star delivers a summer stunner for his third solo album.

Where are they now?

One Direction were the biggest British boy band since Take That. So, what have they done since the group went on “hiatus” in 2016? Niall Horan The Irish artist has released three solo albums, all of which hit the Top 5 in Australia, including the 2023 chart-topper The Show . Zayn Malik Has released four solo albums, including his 2016 debut Mind of Mine , which hit number one. Liam Payne Tragically died in 2024, aged 31, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. He released just one solo album, 2019’s LP1 . Harry Styles The biggest 1D star. All three solo albums have topped the Australian and US charts. And Harry’s House also won a Grammy for ‘Album of the Year’.

to the new record and I’ve got a really good feeling this time around!” he said when he announced the album, which he says is sunnier and lighter than 2022’s Faith in the Future.

How Did I

Get Here? by Louis Tomlinson is out Jan 23 via Universal

The record was inspired by a trip to Costa Rica, where the singer lapped up the cruisy vibe. “As I’ve got a bit older, I’m really buying into more hippie-ish ideas,” the 34-year-old told Rolling Stone . “I realised I liked the idea of just bathing in that atmosphere and seeing what

Louis Tomlinson

Louis has already had two Top 10 solo albums in Australia. Walls reached number six in 2020, and Faith in the Future hit number two in 2022, kept out of top spot by Taylor Swift’s Midnights .

CHART FACT

happened to the music there.” The result is a sunny smash, perfectly timed for the Aussie summer. Jeff Jenkins

20 JANUARY 2026

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