When Stranger Things wrapped its five-season run on New Year's Eve, the Duffer Brothers didn't just deliver an ending — they sparked a full-blown Prince renaissance among people born decades after his peak.
The numbers don't lie, and they're honestly kind of wild. Since the finale dropped, Prince's streaming activity has essentially doubled. But here's where it gets really interesting: his Gen Z audience exploded by 88%.
That means millions of young listeners who've spent their entire lives in a post-smartphone world are now voluntarily choosing to stream music from 1984. Let that sink in for a second.
How Two Classic Tracks Became Gen Z Anthems Overnight
The finale leaned heavily into Prince's catalog, prominently featuring both "Purple Rain" and "When Doves Cry" during key emotional beats. Whoever made those music choices deserves a raise and probably some kind of medal.
@maeleyandmaeOne song that's NEVER been in any movie or show was 'When doves cry' and #purplerain #prince #strangerthings WHAT AN EPISODE!!!
♬ original sound - ManderHere's where the statistics become absolutely bonkers. "Purple Rain" didn't just see increased plays — streams catapulted 243% higher than pre-finale levels. Among Gen Z specifically? A mind-melting 577% surge.
"When Doves Cry" followed a similar trajectory, climbing 200% overall while Gen Z streams jumped 128%.
A fan on X perfectly summarized the cultural moment: "Prince didn't need the help, but damn, it's fun to watch him conquer a new generation."
Prince is getting a Spotify streaming boost after the #StrangerThings finale. - “Purple Rain” has seen a 243% increase in global streams and a 577% surge in global Gen-Z streams.- “When Doves Cry” saw a 200% boost in global streams, as well as a 128% increase in Gen Z… pic.twitter.com/pbHN3Af9Vx
— Variety (@Variety) January 2, 2026And honestly? That captures everything. Prince's legacy never required rescue from obscurity. But witnessing TikTok-era teenagers genuinely connecting with his artistry feels like watching lightning strike twice.
The Gutsy Production Choice That Defined an Era
Released during the spring of 1984, "When Doves Cry" absolutely dominated that summer. The track claimed the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 for five straight weeks and finished the year as America's best-selling single.
Prince handled every aspect solo — writing lyrics, crafting melodies, recording each instrumental part himself. Complete artistic control from start to finish.
But here's the genius move that separated this track from everything else on radio: Prince yanked out the entire bassline right before finalizing the mix.
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Think about that decision for a moment. Pop music in the '80s practically lived and breathed bass. Those thick, funky grooves drove dance floors worldwide. Prince deliberately chose absence over presence, creating negative space where convention demanded rhythm.
"Sometimes your brain kind of splits in two – your ego tells you one thing, and the rest of you says something else," Prince explained to Bass Player magazine. "You have to go with what you know is right."
That quote reveals everything about his creative philosophy. Trust your instincts even when they contradict every industry standard. Especially when they contradict standards.
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The result? A song that sounded genuinely alien compared to contemporary hits. Nothing else felt quite so stripped down yet somehow fuller. That empty space where bass should exist became the track's signature element.
Photo by Steve Granitz on Getty Images
Now Gen Z listeners are encountering this sonic experiment for the first time, hearing exactly why their elders consider Prince untouchable. They're experiencing that bassless groove and immediately recognizing something extraordinary happened in that recording studio.
Stranger Things always understood its assignment: transport modern audiences back to the '80s through period-accurate details. Music supervisions throughout the series consistently nailed the vibe. This final selection transcended nostalgia, though, actively creating new fans rather than simply triggering memories.
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