Actor Joe Keery has secured the number one position on the UK singles chart under his music project Djo, as renewed interest in Stranger Things following its finale has driven both new and classic songs back into the charts, reports The WP Times with reference to the BBC. Keery, who plays Steve Harrington in the Netflix series, achieved the milestone with End of Beginning, a track released in 2022 that had already gained traction in previous years before reaching the top spot for the first time.

The chart success coincided with the release of the final episodes of the fifth and concluding season of Stranger Things, which has once again demonstrated the show’s ability to shape global listening habits.

From supporting chart presence to number one

Before its latest surge, End of Beginning had peaked at number four in the UK in 2024. Its ascent to number one marks the strongest commercial performance of Keery’s music career to date.

Key performance figures recorded last week:

  • 5.4 million streams in the UK
  • More than 55 million global streams on Spotify
  • Spotify global number one position on 2 January

The track replaced Taylor Swift’s The Fate of Ophelia at the top of Spotify’s worldwide chart one day after the series finale became available on Netflix.

TikTok boosts a song not featured in the show

Despite its chart-topping success, End of Beginning does not appear on the official Stranger Things soundtrack. Instead, its popularity was amplified by user-generated content on TikTok, where fans paired the song with clips and edits from the final episode.

The trend underlines the growing influence of short-form video platforms in shaping streaming performance, particularly when major television releases generate widespread online engagement.

Classic songs return to prominence in the UK charts

The impact of Stranger Things extends well beyond Keery’s solo success. A range of older tracks used throughout the series have climbed back into the UK Top 40, reflecting renewed interest in music spanning several decades.

Stranger Things–related songs currently in the UK Top 40:

  • Prince – Purple Rain (1984), No. 12
  • Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill (1985), No. 14
  • The Police – Every Breath You Take (1983), No. 17
  • Fleetwood Mac – Landslide (1975), No. 20
  • Diana Ross – Upside Down (1980), No. 26
  • Tiffany – I Think We’re Alone Now (1988), No. 27
  • David Bowie – Heroes (1977), No. 34
  • The Clash – Should I Stay or Should I Go (1982), No. 40

Most of these songs appear in season five, while Every Breath You Take featured in season two and Should I Stay or Should I Go played a key role in season one.

Nostalgia and discovery across generations

Music data specialists note that the renewed popularity of older songs reflects a broader shift in how audiences consume music through streaming and social platforms.

“TikTok has a habit of tapping into nostalgia as a way to engage audiences,” said Sarah Kloboves of music analytics firm Chartmetric.
“For older generations, familiar catalogue hits keep them engaged because they feel sentimental. For younger users, the release date doesn’t matter because they’re hearing everything for the first time.”

According to analysts, this cross-generational appeal allows older tracks to compete directly with new releases on streaming platforms.

The Police lead global resurgence of older tracks

Among the revived songs, Every Breath You Take by The Police has shown particularly strong international performance. Despite not appearing in the latest season, it was the most-streamed older track worldwide last week.

Global performance highlights for the song:

  • More than 25 million streams in one week
  • Number eight on Spotify’s weekly global chart
  • Improved from a previous peak of number 21 in mid-November

The renewed interest mirrors its original success, when it became the biggest-selling single in the United States in 1983.

A wider chart trend beyond Stranger Things

Industry observers note that Stranger Things is not the sole driver behind the resurgence of older songs. Viral trends on TikTok have also helped push other catalogue tracks back into the charts.

Zara Larsson’s 2016 single Lush Life, for example, has returned to number eight on the official UK singles chart, fuelled by a popular dance trend circulating on the platform.

Why streaming charts are increasingly volatile

The combination of high-profile television releases, social media trends and algorithm-driven playlists has made modern charts more reactive than in previous decades.

Factors influencing current chart movements include:

  • Global streaming platforms with real-time data
  • Viral video trends accelerating song discovery
  • Renewed interest in catalogue music through popular media

Together, these dynamics continue to reshape how both new and old songs compete for chart success.

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