Could this song save my life? You may have asked yourself this question even before season four of Stranger Things came out. We’ve all certainly thought about it since that “Running Up That Hill” sequence in episode four. But if you’re having trouble deciding which song you’d play to save you from Stranger Things 4‘s Vecna, Netflix’s Upside Down playlist on Spotify can help you figure out the answer. It’s described as “your personal playlist to help you escape from Vecna and the Upside Down” and combines a curated list of songs with your account preferences. And according to the show’s Twitter account, song #1 is your “savior song,” the one your friends should play if you suddenly become unresponsive due to demonic possession.
Once you find out which song might save your life if you encounter Vecna, perhaps sharing the information with your nearest and dearest is a good idea. Add your anti-Vecna song to your emergency planning kit. It’s like knowing where flashlights are in case of a power outage or having all your important paperwork in one place if you have to evacuate. You never know when a demon is going to set its sights on you and the only thing that can save you is your friends knowing what music to play to your unresponsive body.
Will you and Max share a theme song? “Running Up That Hill” makes an appearance on many people’s playlists. Kate Bush’s song is once again charting nearly 30 years after its release, thanks to the show. It has also inspired covers, some more interesting versions of the song than others.
The Nerdist crew received mixed results when putting the playlist to the test. But then again, we’re a wacky bunch. When I looked at it without signing in, the first song was “Cause of Death” by Motionless in White. This seems an inauspicious option, considering it’s supposed to help me avoid death. Once I logged in, the algorithm took over and everything made sense. Canadian folk music and Christmas songs would indeed save my life from Vecna and the Upside Down. Spotify knows me. If I heard anything from Steven Page or Barenaked Ladies, I would go towards the light it created.
Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.
