documenting all 11 declassified files (2/2)
because they apparently expire on july 14th and you never know
part 1 here
#11 The Rift
taylor price
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda

JVL
todays bird

Janaina Medeiros

shark vs the universe
h
trying on a metaphor
Monterey Bay Aquarium

JBB: An Artblog!
sheepfilms
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
$LAYYYTER
Stranger Things

No title available

tannertan36
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her

#extradirty
d e v o n
Mike Driver
seen from United States

seen from Malaysia
seen from United Kingdom

seen from United States
seen from Brazil
seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from Ecuador
seen from United States

seen from Malaysia

seen from New Zealand
seen from Kuwait
seen from Tunisia
seen from United States

seen from Bulgaria

seen from United States

seen from Ukraine
seen from United States

seen from United States

seen from United States
@byler-blurts
documenting all 11 declassified files (2/2)
because they apparently expire on july 14th and you never know
part 1 here
#11 The Rift
documenting all 11 declassified files (1/2)
because they apparently expire on july 14th and you never know
#1 Underneath the Demogorgon Suit
#2 Soft But Scary
#3 Conceptualizing Eleven
#4 The Resurrection of Will Byers
#5 The Soviet Files
#6 The Autopsy of Chrissy Cunningham
#7 Max and Vecna’s Curse
#8 Dr. Kay’s Sonic Weapon
#9 The Rainbow Room
#10 Hawkins National Laboratory
#11 The Rift
... gets its own post because of the 30 images per post rule
part 2 here
smart mfers... you can't archive the declassified files on the wayback machine
Omg this might be the best thing I've ever made.
STRANGER THINGS IF IT WAS REALITY TV😭😭
(Byler fight at the end you're welcome)
A section, B section
Side A, Side B
mike wheeler is going to be alright, guys
cute little moment from the s4 epilogue for my subtext enthusiasts
mike gives his evaluation of the state of the cabin. a total disaster. it's all broken and messy. he doesn't see how it can be mended.
grody = repulsive, disgusting, dirty
nancy connects the dirty and cluttered cabin to mike's room. mike's room subtextually represents his inner world, his mind and private thoughts and feelings.
mike feels there is something repulsive, disgusting and dirty about him. a total disaster. but wait a minute
water still works! there is still hope for mike. water (feelings, someone's love) can help with cleaning the cabin (making mike believe he's not dirty and disgusting at all).
it is so sweet that it's nancy who says it. i hope this means that she'll accept mike and show him that his situation is not that bad.
will, jane, nancy and jonathan all help to clean up the cabin.
but the first to receive the mop?
mike wheeler himself! well, it's his job in the first place.
and he's doing goddamn well
i wonder what the tag looks like for the trolls with how many of us must have blocked them by now
The Sounds of Stranger Things
For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been going through each season’s original scores to see where I can draw parallels between tracks sounding alike, sampling from each other, and what scenes in particular they correspond with. I want to see if certain tracks may foreshadow plot points and narratives that will take place in the content we have yet to see. There are a lot of connections I’ve been able to gather between the seasons’ respective scores.
And while we’re on the topic of music: I would like to note that I really believe in the A-Side/B-Side theory. The theory that we have only seen the B-Side, the mostly unreliable narrative, of season five, and we are therefore still missing at least half the season. In 5x08 when they put on Prince’s Purple Rain, they play the B-side of that record. When Doves Cry is the first track on the B-side and Purple Rain is the last track on the B-side, implying the whole B-side of the record plays before the bomb goes off. The night of Finn's SNL show, for the first time in over a decade, the SNL cast played a new warm up song - Let's Go Crazy by Prince. The first song on the A-side of Purple Rain. We have yet to see the A-side, the reliable narrative, of season five but could we infer that it’s coming as hinted at by this particular SNL warm up song?
Anyway, back to the Stranger Things score analysis. I honestly had so much fun with this! And now look, I have no degree in music or experience in digital music production, but I am an audiophile and like to think I have amazing sound recognition. (I’d like to thank my dad who has a 600+ record collection and was always, always spinning records during my upbringing).
Here are my findings:
Season One: honestly nothing much to report, I mostly just used this as a reference. Foundational tracks we will revisit as we go through the later seasons.
Season Two: the undisputed goat score of the series and it’s not even close. Again, not a whole lot to touch on besides just using this season’s score as a reference. Quite a few foundational tracks here too!
The sleeper hit-rification of Season Three aka the goat season for theory crafting, hints towards Vecna and how I seriously overlooked Billy and Madwise.
Season Four – the spring break season of romance tracks & Lord Vecna has entered the chat.
Season Five – childhood friends to lovers = Confirmed aka the piece de resistance that is “We’re Friends, Good Friends”; the Lord Vecna-fication of it all, the crazy Planck’s Constant Theory, and a lot of “are you picking up what I’m putting downs”.
Tracks that just go hard
Tracks sevens and elevens of each season
Tracks hinting at birthdaygate / memory fuckery
And since we’re talking about music: WSQK official vinyl predictions – in a perfect world - if I were in the writer’s room - can you see the vision?
Season One:
Like I said, not much to report. We will revisit tracks that are sampled in later seasons such as; Kids (s1, track 2); Friendship (s1, track 6); Starts to Rain (s1, vol. 2, track 21).
You Can Talk To Me (s1, track 34) – can’t help but point out this song plays as Karen is having a heart-to-heart with Mike about his feelings with “everything that’s been going on with Will” while El is literally hiding in his closet. The implications have really been there from the jump, but I digress.
Castle Byers (s1, track 9) has got to be my favourite track oat. It was my most played song of 2017 lol. It gets a pink – aka it goes hard.
Season Two:
Again, not too much to report besides just revisiting this season for future seasons’ tracks that sample from season two; The First Lie (s2, track 7); Eulogy (s2, track 3); Eight Fifteen (s2, track 6).
And, as if I didn’t need more reasons to appreciate season two anymore than I already do, this season’s score is the undisputed goat – therefore, all of the tracks get a pink aka they just go hard. I would literally listen to this score for funsies, it’s really a vibe.
Season Three:
The sleeper hit. Okay upon revisiting this season’s score, I realized just how much lore can be explored from this season. The theory crafting goes crazy!
I fear I’ve slept on season three far too much and seriously overlooked Madwise and Billy’s character as a whole. I can’t believe I just brushed off the fact that Will and Billy literally have the same name and it took me until listening to the track William (s3, track 14) to realize the parallels, oh my god.
I believe Billy is at the intersection of Will and Henry. Max and Will are very similar in the same way that Will and Billy are two sides of the same coin. What I mean by that is Billy and Will were both brought up with abusive fathers and bullied (Billy by his father) and although Max wasn’t abused by a parent, she got mistreated and abused by Billy. While Billy lets it corrupt him, becoming abusive and violent like his father, Will and Max insist on breaking the cycles of violence and holding onto their love and light, trying to remain pure despite it all.
Which also makes it even more insulting that Max ends up like a rageaholic and breaking things in the epilogue, when she refuted time and time again that she was not like her brother, she would not become like her brother. In their formative years, Will and Max both had the devotion and love from the same friend group when they needed the support the most. Will and Max shared the same supporting group of loved ones, that Billy and Henry likely didn’t have in their upbringings.
And although, in the end, Billy was able to be brought back from the dark-side by his purest memory, I believe he was very much at the tipping point of becoming just like Henry, becoming another Vecna. And Billy was brought back with a memory and a corresponding track about the “wave being seven feet” no less – Seven Feet (s3, track 26). Although, what we see of Billy, he is a real pos, this track and this scene was really a beautiful moment, proving that, no matter how far gone they seem, how corrupted they seem, there is always a chance they can still be saved. So, in terms of how close to the tipping point of total corruption goes, it would look like this: Will/Max -> Billy -> Henry/Vecna.
I feel like…this could really be foreshadowing…a certain character…also named William…needing to be saved from the dark-side…in a certain season five…with a memory involving a seven…(“seven feet” / “it was a seven.”)
and…possibly…another character who seems very much…fully corrupted and evil as far as we know…possibly…being redeemed…and turning on its master…just like Billy… (I’ll never forget that leaked official merch t-shirt that had the description: "Vecna faces off against the Mind-Flayer in one epic design depicting the final battle". I shant forget what I saw!)
I also can’t help but crack theorize that the meat flayer pieces were told to look for “William” and just happened to stumble upon Billy who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, and the meat flayer pieces were like, “ah yes, William, we have been looking for you”. lmao. I should also add here that I really don’t think the mind-flayer/meat-flayer from season three is the shadow monster, they are just not on the same level, not the same entity.
Okay, but interestingly enough, as if the parallels of Will and Billy weren’t obvious already, this sequence of tracks is very telling:
William (s3, track 14) -> Destroying the Castle (s3, track 15) -> He’s Here (and “He’s here” is interesting because the Mind Flayer is a feminine entity, right? Mindy Flare? Kali’s powers being more akin to the Mind Flayer? So, I believe Will is subconsciously aware – even though his memories of Vecna are supposedly gone - his trauma in season one and his connection to the hive mind comes from Vecna).
In episode 3x03 the tracks actually go as follows: Not Kids Anymore (s3, track 35) – the rain fight -> Destroying the Castle (s3, track 15) – Will destroys Castle Byers -> paralleling William (s3, track 14) – Billy gets corrupted by the meat flayer and starts building his army -> He’s Here (s3, 38) – Will sensing that the big bads are back. “I want you to build” is what the flayed say to Billy. Who else is called a builder in season five? Will.
Will breaking down and destroying Castle Byers has so much significance as it is directly paralleling Billy getting corrupted. Then “He’s here” – could this be signalling that Vecna senses that Will is beginning to crack? Much to think about. The hinting at Vecna is certainly there as one of the next tracks: Portal Drill (s3, track 19) is very Lord Vecna coded, and I don’t know a better way to explain the Lord Vecna songs besides they just sound “Vecna-y”, okay?
(Edit to add: I now believe Billy is queer, and deeply repressed. And that’s exactly why he becomes a host for the Mind Flayer in s3. It’s all in my latest analysis.)
Destroying the Castle (s3, track 15) and Mirkwood (s3, track 18) and Blueprints (s3, track 33) all go hard by the way, they all get pinks!
Tammy (s3, track 17) is an enlightening track and it sounds very El coded. Tammy sounds like it samples from Eight Fifteen (s2, track 6) – the track that plays when we find out El is still alive and living in Hop’s cabin – and First Kiss (s1, track 7). I want to stress that I don’t claim that El is Mike’s Tammy. Their relationship also goes beyond a “hallway crush”. I believe they have a lot of genuine love for each other, but Mike’s heart does not belong to her. I think if anything El should be Mike’s Steve. As in, they should have more of a Stobin dynamic, just with more history and a deeper connection.
The First I love You (s3, track 8) samples from The First Lie (s2, track 7). I’ll remind you that “love” is the only non-capitalized word, hm, what could that imply I wonder. It is the track that plays when Robin comes out of the closet to Steve and when El kisses Mike in front of Will’s closet. The implications speak for themselves. One scene of a character coming out of the closet – another scene with closet imagery – and both scenes either confirming explicitly (Robin) or implying sub-textually (Mike) unexpected revelations of feelings. The First I love You is also one of only three tracks with the word “love” in its title, and the only one with the word “love” not capitalized, the other two are in seasons four and five.
The Week is Long (s3, track 27) – Listen, I’m not one to play records backwards or slow songs down to find hidden meaning in them, I’m not doing all that. But…I feel like if any track could have a secret message in it, it could be this one? Upon listening carefully to the scores for this analysis, it just sounds like there is something more to this track, I can’t explain it.
The Silver Cat Feeds (s3, track 12) doesn’t really go with The Week is Long, they don’t really work together, but The Silver Cat Feeds does end up sounding like/sampling from Starts to Rain (s1, vol. 2, track 21). I don’t know if that implies anything, it’s just something I noticed!
Theory Crafting
Season three, although I hate to say it, probably remains my least favourite season, which is why I fear I overlooked it as much as I did, but if you’re not familiar already with the Tharizdun theory by heir.to.Icarus on TikTok, please take a look. This theory is brilliant and makes even deeper sense of our characters’ development and storylines in this season from a very cool DnD lore perspective. I love this theory so much, I can’t stress it enough. I can’t help but to think Cold As Ice (soundtrack) and It’s Just Ice (s3, track 22) support this theory even more.
Another theory that bases its crafting in season three is the Planck’s Constant theory which we will revisit in season five’s section - Planck’s Constant (s3, track 24).
Season Four:
All right first thing I notice right away is Teens (s4, track 3) obviously bases its foundation in Kids (s1, track 2) but Teens has ticking and Vecna chimes in the background – Vecna’s influencing even our original score tracks! Teens mixes with the main theme a little bit too.
In the closet (at Rink O Mania) (s4, track 6) is actually an insane, unhinged title, like they really threw subtlety out the window for that one. “We’re friends, we’re friends”, yeah okay. In the closet actually gets really quite dark, tragic, twisted and like another Lord Vecna track. It even sounds like a busy phone line beeping in the background of this track too. “You called maybe a couple of times” - “Maybe you should have reached out more, I don’t know” – “Joyce has this new telemarketing job, she’s always on the phone. Mike won’t stop whining about it.” Their miscommunication will be the death of me. Mike would only be calling for Will. Mike and El had to write letters or use Cerebro as to keep her whereabouts private.
Other Lord Vecna songs – A Realm Unspoiled by Mankind (s4, disc 2, track 12); there are some things worse than ghosts…(s5, track 42); and oddly enough: [delicate, intense music playing…] (s5, disc 2, track 29) lol. Bylers clocking that, with closed captions on, canon couples and Mike and Will scenes would often have [delicate, emotional music playing…] or [tender, delicate music playing…] so this one is just funny (rude) to me that it’s actually a dark Lord Vecna track.
We are NOT Heroes (s4, track 15), just what an odd name for a track. Maybe hinting that Heroes in the end credits (s5) does not mean our heroes won in the end, as Vecna said, “you have already lost” at the end of season four. You Have Already Lost (s4, disc 2, track 37) also happens to be the very last track of season four’s score, hm. And then to have Spellbound (soundtrack) playing in the end credits of season four. I wonder if they are trying to tell us something…
You’re the Heart (s4, track 20) plays during the Mike to El love profession. As soon as the track starts to build is exactly when El changes her focus onto Max, giving her the strength to fight. “There is so much more to life than stupid boys” – “Not Hopper, not Mike, you.” Cannot stress enough how much I love Elmax. You’re the Heart is also not particularly romantic in the least bit, it’s actually quite sad at first but becomes an empowering track by the end.
Letter to Willy (s4, track 24) is also an interesting title. It plays when, you guessed it, Max reads her letter to Billy. Also plays when Mike and Will are sitting on the junkyard car talking about opening up about feelings. I can’t help but think the track’s title is also trying to remind us to look back at Will/Billy parallels…and perhaps hint at lettergate (listen, a girl can dream, okay).
Brenner’s Little Pet (s4, track 27) – the title is crazy work. I wonder if they are trying to tell us we shouldn’t be rooting for a certain couple… “What is she your little pet?” – “Yeah, am I your pet?”
On the Bus (s2, track 4) - plays when Mike and Will are having a heart-to-heart and agreeing about being a team again, which just so happens to be the same track that plays when Lucas and Max have their first heart-to-heart scene in season two. Which leads me to:
Spring Break Season of Romance Tracks <3 (they also all get pinks because they are all very good + just a vibe to listen to)
Surf That Tasty Pie (s4, disc 2, track 6)
Hiiiiiiiii (s4, disc 2, track 2)
Still Dizzy (s4, disc 2, track 3)
Unambiguous True Love* (s4, track 9) – the second of three tracks with “love” in the title.
Being Different* (s4, disc 2, track 9)
*Trust we will be revisiting these tracks when I get into the piece de resistance that is We’re Friends, Good Friends (s5, track 6).
Season Five:
Eulogy (s2, track 3) plays when Jonathan and Nancy are about to die. Can’t help but to worry about their true fate, but I honestly think they’re safe. Now another duo, Dustin and Steve, I’m not so sure about.
You Die, I Die (s5, track 5) – it gets to a point where you repeat a certain line so many times that it becomes a manifestation. Dustin and Steve have now repeated this line to each other three times throughout the series going all the way back to season three. I hate to say it, but I sincerely fear that they are bones. Because may I present to you Stinkgate.
Stinkgate: After their successful mission of 1,2,3, Kill Vecna, as they are driving back to the MAC-Z gate, Robin makes a note that Steve stinks, she says she doesn’t know what it is, but he smells like shit from a butt apparently, so much so she has to air out the truck in the Upside Down. Then, in the final DnD scene, when our party leaves the basement and the younger kids take over, Derek says to Josh, who is in the seat Dustin was just in, “you stink, are you farting, you smell like rotten pizza.” And I can’t help but notice this has been hinted at since even season one which is insane but… at the end of the campaign, when Jonathan goes down to the basement to get Will, he makes a comment about how it stinks down there, and Lucas said that it’s Dustin, “he farted, Dustin farted!” I think they’ll die together tragically, possibly making a sacrifice, something something you need two keys to destroy the machine (callback to season three). I’m ready for some emotional damage after that mindless spectacle of 5x08.
Like I Could Fly (s5, track 4) – I know a Castle Byers sample when I hear one.
Will the Wizard (s5, track 13) – end of Sorcerer, Will’s powers – and Like a Sorcerer (s5, track 5) – field scene (track is romantic as fuck) – This and the context of 5x01 should tell us we should expect a tragic Mike vs. Dark-sided Will showdown. Will is still possessed and may even harm Mike but I don’t think Mike will go quietly, he will be brave and bring Will back from the dark-side but it will be a fight. Something’s gotta happen to Mike’s arm, right? Mike foreshadows this in 5x01 when he says, “This is Mike the Brave, he fights monsters, evil wizards, and sorcerers.”
And if that isn’t a hint enough, listen to: Real Life Honest To God Sorcerer (s5, track 27), this track is actually really dark and sinister sounding. I think we are in for a reveal that something actually really bad happens when Will taps into his “Vecna powers”.
Move Worlds (s5, track 13) – towards the end of this track it starts sounding like Planck’s Constant (s3, track 24), and the very next track in season five’s score is Zone G1 (s5, track 14) which directly samples from Planck’s Constant. I haven’t had the best success with hyperlinking TikToks, but in the event I can’t link, Whitney Wickham’s account has the best videos on it. I don’t claim to know anything about science (I really am not that girl), but I’ll try my best.
Planck's Constant Theory: Planck’s Constant is the point in quantum mechanics where everything is stable above Planck’s Constant. Once you dip below that, everything begins to decompose. The theory is that when Suzie gives Dustin Planck’s Constant over Cerebro after their Never-Ending Story duet, Vecna/MF were spying and this is the moment when they are able to break through and infiltrate their world and begin merging their two worlds, and possibly starting either a time-loop or two/multiple timelines.
The end of the track Move Worlds (s5, track 13) beginning to sound like Planck’s Constant (s3, track 24) is certainly suspicious and could support the theory that when Vecna hears Planck’s Constant, he is able to begin making plans to merge/move worlds. Move Worlds is a very strange, sinister, and unsettling track, indeed.
The Abyss (s5, track 18) goes hard.
We’re Friends, Good Friends – oh shit, here we go.
We’re Friends, Good Friends (s5, track 6 – which we have yet to hear in the show), the piece de resistance that you are…the number of times I had to listen to this track to get this analysis just right. This is the Byler track and it’s not up for debate. This is the most childhood friends to lovers track that could ever exist in this show’s universe. Let’s get into it:
The track samples from and lays most of its foundation in the track Friendship (s1, track 6) ->
Around 0:30 into the track, it begins playing flickering synths, the same, or very similar, flickering synths that are in The First Lie (s2, track 7, which is Jonathan and Nancy’s first kiss track). The flickering synths sound as close to what I imagine “electricity” could sound like in a song, electricity, as established in the show, is synonymous with romantic chemistry.
Then, as We’re Friends, Good Friends starts to build, it begins layering soft organ synths. It now has Friendship as its foundation, and flickering synths of “electricity” from The First Lie, and now soft romantic organ synths from Being Different (van scene, see 0:45 – 2:33) and Unambiguous True Love (Joyce and Hopper first kiss).
It is the friends to lovers track. And it is the Byler track because as @byelerheart said in one of their recent posts: Byler is not a ship, it is a story that has not finished. Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein really said, “all right, we need a friends to lovers track. What if we use Friendship as its foundation, and layer it with samples from two of our canon ships’ first kiss tracks, sample flickering synths that sound a whole lot like music’s equivalent of electricity aka romantic chemistry, layer that with soft organ synths from tracks called Being Different and Unambiguous True Love, symbolizing how sacred this love is and call it We’re Friends, Good Friends. Is that friends to lovers enough for you?”
I’m so intrigued by this next sequence of tracks (not that the scores are put in chronological order but the sequence is rather interesting!)
Afraid to Look For You (s5, disc 2, track 35) – this track is awesome.
A Love Supreme (s5, disc 2, track 36 - the third and final track with “love” in its title) – this track is sad and gets a little weird in parts. If we were to get a fakeout death, I think it would be to this one. I even get flickergate vibes from this, but that could just be because I can never get flickergate off my mind. (A Love Supreme is the name of the John Coltrane cassette album that conceals Jonathan’s ring.)
She Has Corrupted Your Mind (s5, disc 2, track 37) – I have no idea what this track or track title could mean but this track is also so cool.
You Are the Curse (s5, disc 2, track 44) – damn is this play about us?
And finally: I Need You to Believe in Me is the very final track of season five’s score which is certainly interesting! Maybe they are trying to tell us something…
Tracks hinting at birthdaygate / memory fuckery
A memory within a memory (s4, track 43)
Just A Memory (s5, disc 2, track 23)
Memory Go Round (s5, disc 2, track 26)
Never Forget (s5, track 46) – very emotional, euphoric and cathartic song.
Stuck in 1983 (s4, track 10)
November 6 1983 (s5, disc 2, track 20)
I Like Presents Too (s3, track 2) – this is a quote between Mike and El at the end of season three but I can’t help but think about birthdaygate.
I wouldn’t remember me either. (s4, track 2) – this is an Eddie quote from his scene with Chrissy, but again can’t help but think about birthdaygate when I read this track title.
TRACKS SEVENS:
These could really be meaningless but just thought I’d cover all the bases.
Season One: Eleven / First Kiss
Season Two: The First Lie (Jonathan and Nancy kiss) / A Familiar Shape (dark track but refers to Bob recognizing Lover’s Lake)
Season Three: The Ceiling is Beautiful (When Stobin are tripping balls at the mall just before they yack in the toilets)
Season Four: Does that make us friends? (Interesting, track plays when Nancy and Robin have a chat in the woods) / Follow Me Into Death (ouch, feel like this could be foreshadowing – fakeout death?)
Season Five: Preppers / Just Us and the Crickets (Jopper proposal reference, but if you follow the ESOTSM Montauk stuff…could have a deeper meaning).
TRACKS ELEVEN:
Season One: The Upside Down (iconic track) / Speak of the Devil
Season Two: Chicago / The Spy (Kali being flayed?)
Season Three: Find the Source (The Source was the original title for 3x05 which was renamed The Flayed)
Season Four: Hawkins National Lab (El’s backstory – makes sense) / I Want You to Watch
Season Five: Even Comes with a View / He’s Still Human
WSQK Predictions
It’s still very weird that there are ten tracks on the official vinyl, but only two of them have played in the show, considering they have to license all of these songs so without featuring them is strange. And one of them is heavily protected and nearly impossible to license (similar to Prince songs) – Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2.
So anyway, just thought I’d make some predictions of how these unheard songs could be used if we get more content. Because I’m really good at visualizing theoretical scenes to music (I do it when I’m out of valium).
Magnificent Seven and Bicycle Race – both kind of chaotic songs, very upbeat, and very anti-conformity. I picture them in action sequences. In particular, in scenes of Mike’s escape from Camazotz. I theorize that Mike will have to escape through memories, just like Holly, particularly memories with Will. I picture Mike revisiting the rain fight or even “it’s a seven”, getting on his bike and racing after Will, while everyone else in Camazotz starts noticing that Mike is trying to escape. So, as Mike is biking after Will to his next memory to the tune of Bicycle Race, the rest of the flayed people in Hawkins Camazotz are pursuing him to prevent him from escaping.
Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2 – Mike breaks out and with El or anybody else that exists outside of Camazotz, they help the other members of the party break out of Camazotz, or if Mike escapes = the whole illusion is effectively broken, Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2 will play as we see our protagonists break out of conformity and regroup for the final battle plans.
Here Comes the Rain Again – y’all already know. This will be the Byler soundtrack song.
And one last thing, I Think We’re Alone Now is Mike’s guilty pleasure song.
the second conformitygate gets some attention again people pop into the tag just to shit on us 🤡
Having Robin say that her and Vickie are good friends after Will catches them KISSING, and then having Mike reassure Will that they are not friends, best friends after Will CAME OUT and stared him straight in the eyes while he said. After sharing a water bottle, an indirect kiss (last seen in S3 with Lumax, and fucking HEATED RIVALRY)
Please actually use your brain for once if you think Mike Wheeler is a straight man. 😹
STurn Playlist Analysis
Many people have analysed this playlist before me, but it’s been awhile and Finn has removed songs off of it. This is also just a nice way for me to archive my thoughts and write them down.
I will look at these songs through a Conformity Gate and Byler (Mileven is GONE) lens since there’s not really another way to look at them to me.
I will go through each song, include all the lyrics, starting from the first song on the playlist and work my way down!
LINK TO PLAYLIST! (For those of you who don’t know, Finn Wolfhard (Mike) made this playlist and it’s heavily rumoured to be a Stranger Things one.)
1. Ballad of the Texas King - Cut Worms
21 July 2023 | Album: Cut Worms
ABOUT
Ballad in of the Texas King is about rock singer Bobby Fuller.
Robert Gaston Fuller (October 22, 1942 – July 18, 1966) was an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist best known for "Let Her Dance" and his cover of the Crickets' "I Fought the Law," recorded with his group the Bobby Fuller Four.
The information above is from Wikipedia!
LYRICS
No one saw Nothing at all, no law was there to fight All dressed down Walkin' out in the California night
California mentioned!
Hey, kid, come along, something is wrong I believe you know All this to say, only one way That this can go
“Something is wrong I believe you know” Hmm…
Come on with us for a ride Step on inside that long, black car Show you the meaning of hell Boy, just let me tell you, that's where you are
Going through hell while on a ride? Sounds like Mr. Suppressed Feelings/Emotions riding the Cali van.
My heart won't beat ‘Til we meet again together Oh, don't cry Keep me on your mind forever
Oh hello! “My heart won't beat ‘Til we meet again together” As in El leaving Mike for the Nina Project or Will and her moving to California? I like to think of this in a Byler context, because Mileven is so dead.
I found a new song Pulls me along to that other plane I'll see you sometime Off down the line whеre it never rains
I’m not sure what to make of this, but music taking you to another plane sounds sorta Conformity Gate coded.
I put my foot in thе gas tank for the last time, I know I'll be right by your side from Paradise to El Paso
Mike is by Will’s side (literally) from Lenora to El Paso. El Paso is a city in Texas!
SUMMARY
This is Mike riding the van with the Cali Crew to find El. But he’s going through it, I wonder why… (I don’t wonder).
2. After The Earthquake - Alvvays
7 October 2022 | Album: Blue Rev
ABOUT
Got this from Google’s AI (can’t escape it, sigh) overview: “The song's meaning revolves around navigating a relationship through trauma, unresolved conflicts, and finding sudden epiphanies—or "post-catastrophe clarity"—when faced with a sudden crisis.”
The song is inspired by Japanese author Haruki Murikami’s short story collection collection After the Quake, which describes the strange ways that the 1995 Kobe earthquake affected people’s lives. Rankin applies this concept of post-catastrophe clarity to a couple that got into a major disagreement before one of them falls into a coma from a car crash. The narrator grapples with her partner’s dire condition while their unresolved conflict still hangs in the air. In a metaphorical sense, it could describe a more mild situation in which Rankin must put their conflict on hold because something more important turns up.
From Genius!
LYRICS
After the earthquake Pictures hanging diagonally Drive through, crying in a milkshake It wasn't built to last Up in the front seat You were playing with the station And I was fidgeting with the heat Looking back to the vibrant days of
“After the earthquake” really reminds me of the end of S4 when Vecna connected all the curse gates. It kinda mirrored an earthquake. Milkshake mentioned! Milkshakes at Melvalds, anyone?
Racket in the hall, caution to the breeze Say you'll climb your way out of your wake now Velvet curtain drawn, flowers at your feet Say you'll contemplate how you're weighed down
I have no idea how to interpret this.
The pulse of the brake light Is the colour of burning embers If you wake up, will you remember The awful things I said at the еdge of the bed? Thrashing likе a great white (I feel the northern tide) As they rolled you up on a stretcher (Crashing on the pines) And the faint words of Jessica Fletcher (I feel the northern tide) Were drowned out by the sound of (Crashing on the pines)
“will you remember the awful things I said” hello, “it’s not my fault you don’t like girls!” Rolling someone on a stretcher, like Will being rolled onto the hospital bed in S2?
Racket in the hall, caution to the breeze Say you'll climb your way out of your wake now
I can’t decipher anything here.
Those days, I'd never let you fall apart But things fade like the scent of a brand new car Why would I ever fall in love again When every detail is over the guardrail?
“Those days, I’d never let you fall apart” reminds me of S2 Byler…
Say you'll climb your way out of your wake now Say you'll contemplate how you're weighed down Are you awake now? Are you awake now?
Hello? This is so CG coded! “Are you awake now?” I don’t know, are you Hawkins?
Racket in the hall Caution to the breeze Velvet curtain drawn Flowers at your feet
Nothing to see here!
SUMMARY
I think this is foreshadowing? Maybe…
The song speaks of being in a car crash and going into a coma, has anyone else read those theories that there was a terrible car crash? (Link to theory)! Going into a coma is interesting considering how many times characters go unconscious in the show (Max is in a coma, Will goes unconscious how many times?).
3. Angst In My Pants - Sparks
29 March 1982 | Album: Angst In My Pants
ABOUT
This song is kinda suggestive in a way… I’ll let genius do the talking:
The song is about someone who feels unsatisfied even though they a respectable and perfect life, according to the stereotypical american dream. the phrase “Angst in My Pants” means to have an er*ction, and the subject of this song has a metaphorical er*ction, a longing for satisfaction, that hasn’t gone away despite getting everything they thought they wanted.
LYRICS
I hope it doesn't show It'll go away It's just a passing phase It'll go away
I feel like this could be interpreted as romantic feelings for your friend- sorry, best friend. Especially, in Byler context.
You can dress nautical Learn to tie knots Take lots of Dramamine Out on your yacht
I don’t know what this could mean but apparently Genius does:
“The gist here is that you can wear clothes like a sailor and tie knots like a sailor but at the end of the day you’re only hurting yourself by pretending you’re someone you’re not.”
HELLO? This is Mike Wheeler.
But when you're all alone And nothing bites You'd wish you'd stayed at home With someone nice
Mike doesn’t wanna be lonely.
But when you think you made it disappear It comes again, "Hello, I'm here" And I've got angst in my pants
So when Mike thinks he’s finally over his feelings they come back?
You can be smart as hell Know how to add Know how to figure things On yellow pads Answer so no one knows What you just said But when you're all alone You and your head
So… Mike is smart (he’s a nerd, and seems to enjoy physics) and has all the answers. That is, except for when he’s all alone he gets lost in his thoughts.
What's the computer say, it's mumbling now It says, "Hey, Joe", it's spelled it out And you've got angst in your pants You've got angst in your pants
Joe mentioned! And there are so many Joes on the Stranger Things cast (theres only two but whatever). So Joe (Eddie or Steve?) spell it out for him?
(But when you think you've) But when you think you've made it disappear You're sure you made it disappear And you've still got angst in your pants
It’s never gonna leave, Micheal!
I hope it doesn't show It'll go 'way It's just a passing phase It'll go 'way
Nope, it’s not.
I hope it doesn't show It'll go 'way Give it a hundred years It won't go 'way
It shows, to the Bylers at least.
And I've got angst in my pants I've got angst in my pants I've got angst in my pants I've got angst in my pants I've got angst in my pants I've got angst in my pants I've got angst in my pants I've got angst in my pants I've got angst in my pants...
I think we get the point.
SUMMARY
Mike has feelings that he’s trying to repress and push away. He’s hurting himself by ignoring them and trying to be someone else. Someone (Joe) spells it out for him. Anyways, I wonder which feelings he’s trying to hide…
4. The Better Side - The Slaps
29 April 2021 | Album: The Slapson Audiotree Live
ABOUT
Interestingly, Finn chose The Slaps’ live cover they did for Audiotree, I can’t find a version that isn’t live which is weird. It doesn’t seem like it’s a cover so I have no idea what’s going on with this song.
There’s no official lyrics so I had to listen and type them out. Theres maybe two words wrong, the singer has a clear voice so that helped!
LYRICS
You’re never gonna see the sun You’re never gonna see me run And I say Oh baby Don’t make me stay out too lately I’ma go to sleep
I don’t know what this could mean.
I know you’d cry And I’m trying to keep you by my warm (?)
I’m clueless!
You’re never gonna see my eyes You’re colouring all the skies You want to and I say Oh baby don’t make me do the falling when I’m drinking of you
“You’re colouring all the skies” reminds me of the scene of Will painting the sky of the painting.
You’re on the better side You’re always the better one for me
This is interesting. Isn’t Will Mr. Sunshine? The better one for Mike?
I’ve tried staying alive Keep my head on the better side When you’re far away and you’re h*rny (?) as hell
“I’ve tried staying alive” *gets quarry scene flashbacks* Keeping his head on the “better side”? The mentally stable side when Will is far away in California?
And you’re all that I need I’m not gonna miss you anymore
*Gasps*
SUMMARY
Honestly, this song really confused me because why does it have no digital footprint? Anyways…
5. What Do You Want Me To Do - Pointed Sticks
26 February 2024 | Album: Waiting For The Real Thing (This is so CG coded?)
ABOUT
Google’s AI Overview (how do I escape AI?):
The phrase and song refer to a frustrating romantic situation where a person is left confused after their partner breaks up with them or walks out of the relationship. The song lyrics revolve around asking a former lover exactly what is expected or wanted after everything has fallen apart.
LYRICS
You walked out, took your chance You turned your back on our romance You said you found somebody new You said the change'd do you good
Oh?
But then the bubble burst your dream It turned into a nightmare scream You pushed until you nearly cracked But now you say you want me back
What???
But baby, baby What do you want me to do? (what do you want me to do?) Say that I need you more? (need you more) Is that what real lovers do (is that what real lovers do) Or only what you used before? (used before)
*insert Jenifer Lawrence “what do you mean?” meme*
You never even gave me a thought You figured that would be all right I nevеr had a chance to persuade you You nеver let me put up a fight
HUH?
Well, you wanted that boy so bad Until you found out that you'd been had You came crawling to me on your knees And you were asking me to love you please
Who is getting broken up with?
But baby, baby What do you want me to do? (what do you want me to do?) Say that I need you more? (need you more) Is that what real lovers do (is that what real lovers do) Or only what you used before? (used before)
I’m so lost now.
Oh baby, baby What do you want me to do? (what do you want me to do?) Say that I need you more? (need you more) Is that what real lovers do (is that what real lovers do) Or only what you used before? (used before)
We’re starting to repeat ourselves now…
So what do you want me to do? (what do you want me to do?) What do you want me to do? (what do you want me to do?) What do you want me to do? (what do you want me to do?) Oh, what do you want me to do? (what do you want me to do?) Oh, what do you want me to do? (what do you want me to do?) Baby, what do you want me to do? (what do you want me to do?) What do you want me to do? (what do you want me to do?) Baby, what do you want me to do? (what do you want me to do?) What do you want me to do? (what do you want me to do?) What do you want me to do? (what do you want me to do?) What do you want me to do? (what do you want me to do?) What do you want me to do…
Don’t ask me.
SUMMARY
Finn’s laughing hard reading this cause he added songs for vibes and here I am losing my mind trying to connect the non-existent dots.
But seriously, who got broken up with??? Is this Mileven? Or a different couple? I’m confused. And an interesting song to choose as the reaction…
6. Substitute - Live - The Who
16 May 1970 | Album: Live At Leeds (Expanded Edition)
ABOUT
Finn chose another live version of a song, interesting. I wonder if he just likes live versions or there’s some hidden meaning.
Google AI Overview:
The lyrical meaning highlights the theme of being an imitation or a "substitute". The narrator attempts to act confident, cynical, and detached in his relationships, admitting that he isn't what he appears to be and putting on a fake persona to mask his own insecurities.
LYRICS
You think we look pretty good together You think my shoes are made of leather But I'm a substitute for another guy I look pretty tall, but my heels are high The simple things you see are all complicated I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated, yeah
Mileven? They look “pretty good together” right? A happy, normal, safe, relationship. Except they’re not happy, they’re just conforming.
(Substitute) Your lies for fact (Substitute) I see right through your plastic mac (Substitute) I look all White, but my dad was Black (Substitute) My fine-looking suit is really made out of sack
They can see through each other’s lies.
I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth The north side of my town faced east And the east was facing south And now you dare to look me in the eye Those crocodile tears are what you cry It's a genuine problem, you won't try To work it out at all, just pass it by, pass it by
Oh my gosh, this reminds me of the “from Mike” argument. El’s “crocodile tears” and their “genuine problem” that they don’t try to work out. “It’ll pass by” but it won’t.
(Substitute) Me for him (Substitute) My coke for gin (Substitute) You for my mum (Substitute) At least I'll get my washing done
Eish, someone is projecting their love for someone else onto the other… (*cough* Mike *cough*)
I'm a substitute for another guy I look pretty tall but my heels are high The simple things you see are all complicated I look pretty young, but I'm just backdated, yeah
Same as the last snippet above!
I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth The north side of my town faced east And the east was facing south And now you dare to look me in the eye Those crocodile tears are what you cry It's a genuine problem, you won't try To work it out at all, just pass it by, pass it by
Work through your problems, Mileven. Please.
(Substitute) Me for him (Substitute) My coke for gin (Substitute) You for my mum (Substitute) At least I'll get my washing done
Sigh
(Substitute) Your lies for fact (Substitute) I see right through your plastic mac (Substitute) I look all White, but my dad was Black (Substitute) My fine-looking suit is really made out of sack
“My fine-looking suit is really made out of sack” anyone else getting flashbacks to Mike arriving at the airport and Argyle calling him out for his rip-off shirt?
SUMMARY
Mileven is DEAD. Everyone cheer! In all seriousness, they’re not happy and they’re lying to each other. This relationship is hurting both of them. Anyone with half a brain can tell.
7. The Rebel Kind - Modernettes
7 December 1982 | EP: View From The Bottom
ABOUT
Once again, I can’t find anything about this song. Its digital footprint is pretty much zero. It’s pretty much about conforming VS non conforming!
LYRICS
They call us the rebel kind But they don’t understand The things that men (?) must do to prove that he’s a man
Jonathan talking about Lonnie forcing him to kill the rabbit in S1 to “prove” that he’s “a man”. I’m sure the Party’s boys don’t want to have “prove” themselves.
It’s not easy But I don’t mind I just wanna run with the rebel kind
It’s not easy being an outcast, but Mike’d rather be free
We live in a two-room flat (?) and barely make the rent Before the checks are cash (?) the money is spent (?)
I’m getting Byers vibes!
I know one day we’re gonna leave this part (?) behind And we’ll be free to run with the rebel kind
Mike wants to leave Hawkins in S5 to find somewhere peaceful. He wants to go with his friends.
Some folks are born to walk while others get to run It sure looks easier on the other side (?)
I couldn’t decoded the rest from the song since it’s not super clear quality being 40+ years old. If anyone can find the lyrics and send them to me, please do!
SUMMARY
Being “different” is hard, but Mike and the Party would rather be so than be normal!
8. Block Rockin’ Beats - The Chemical Brothers
1 January 2008 | Compilation: Brotherhood
ABOUT
The chess pieces! Anyways, I think this song is pretty self explanatory, you’ll see…
LYRICS
Back with another one of those block rockin' beats Back with another one of those block rockin' beats Back with another one of those block rockin' beats Back with another one of those block rockin' beats Back with another one of those block rockin' beats Back with another one of those block rockin' beats
Guys, I think they’re back with another on of those block rockin’ beats…
We're 'bout ready to rock steady We're 'bout ready to rock steady Back with another one of those block rockin' beats Back with another one of those block rockin' beats
Mhm…
SUMMARY
Stranger Things will be back with another “block rockin’ beat” let’s hope!!!
9. Just What I Needed - The Cars
06 June 1978 | Album: The Cars
ABOUT
Google AI Overview (I really hate this feature):
Written by the band's frontman Ric Ocasek, the track explores a complicated, almost addictive relationship. While the chorus repeats "you're just what I needed," the verses reveal a witty, slightly twisted edge where the narrator accepts that the woman wastes his time because he is so obsessed with her.
LYRICS
I don't mind you comin' here And wastin' all my time 'Cause when you're standin' oh, so near I kinda lose my mind It's not the perfume that you wear It's not the ribbons in your hair And I don't mind you comin' here And wastin' all my time
Okay, so this is clearly a love song about a woman but like… if this is Finn’s playlist it’s probably gonna be songs that relate to his character, right? And I’d be stupid to say this is about Mileven…
I don't mind you hangin' out And talkin' in your sleep It doesn't matter where you've been As long as it was deep, yeah You always knew to wear it well, and You look so fancy, I can tell And I don't mind you hangin' out And talkin' in your sleep
*Caleb voice* BYLER, BYLER, BYLERRR
I guess you're just what I needed (Just what I needed) I needed someone to feed I guess you're just what I needed (Just what I needed) I needed someone to bleed
This new content is gonna kill us.
I don't mind you comin' here And wastin' all my time, time 'Cause when you're standin' oh, so near I kinda lose my mind, yeah It's not the perfume that you wear It's not the ribbons in your hair And I don't mind you comin' here And wastin' all my time
We heard this already!
I guess you're just what I needed (Just what I needed) I needed someone to feed I guess you're just what I needed (Just what I needed) I needed someone to bleed I guess you're just what I needed (Just what I needed) I needed someone to feed I guess you're just what I needed (Just what I needed) I needed someone to bleed Yeah, yeah, so bleed me
Just so we’re clear, Mike guesses that someone is just what he’s needs?
(You're just what I needed) (You're just what I needed) (You're just what I needed) Yeah, yeah-yeah
Okay, good. So there is someone…
SUMMARY
There’s *someone* that Mike loses his mind around and thinks that they’re just what he needs!!!
CONCLUSION
A few things that this analysis has told us: Mike has an internal battle going on, he’s not happy in his current relationship, and there’s *someone* else.
And/or:
Stranger Things will be back with another “block rockin’ beat” and it’s “just what I (we) needed”!!!
That’s the whole playlist! I’m not a master analyst but I did my best. If there’s anything that you caught that I missed, let me know!
Finn, if you’re reading this, awesome playlist!
omg this just reminded me that i have a post about this very playlist sitting in my drafts haha
but yeah this playlist is sus af! i'll try to finally post my own thoughts on it soon
i used to be the 13 year-old annoying and extremely unhinged fangirl and now i‘m the one cringing at those exact fans in my fandoms, full circle moment
A development in Metagate!
Involving the legend himself David Bowie 💫
A clip was posted on David Bowie’s official TikTok channel 2 days ago (the timing of this!). It was from his Berklee Commencement Speech at Berklee College of Music in 1999:
Here’s a short snippet I compiled of 2 clips:
Watch the full speech here
Most interesting CG phrases he used:
“Manipulation of Signs”
“Twist & turn the fabric of pop”
“Producing something extremely beautiful, very powerful, and imbued with strangeness”
Music as “Sublime means of communication when I’ve wanted to touch people”
Music has been “both the doorway of perception and the house I live in” 🚪
BUT THIS ONE👇🏻
Turns the volume dial up to “catch the last note”
Remember the End Credits?? How David Bowie’s “Heroes” didn’t finish through to the last note:
Which is ALSO referenced in The First Shadow:
There’s a tether to Dustin’s speech:
And who else did a Commencement Speech recently??
Duffer Brothers Speech post here
Just a side note:
“You never know the ending until it’s all sung through” 💙💛
michelle is tall; she's about 5'10. she's taller than the rest of the women in her family and only a few inches shorter than her father. she's always been very self conscious about this trait, always taller than all the boys in her grade, getting picked on for being a tall and gangly.
but willow has always made her feel better about it, without knowing or trying.
willow is quite short, the same height as her mom, 5'3. she's always loved how she fits perfectly under Michelle. michelle constantly hugs willow, tucking her chin on the top of willows head and it drives her crazy. the only good thing about the position she ends up in is that she can hide her blush into michelles chest.
michelle loves pulling that move out. it always makes her feel better when shes had a rough day or is in need of some sort of comfort. and willow seems to always be able to tell when michelle needs it most. she takes one look at michelle and can tell she needs a hug, opening her arms without even needing to ask. and michelle, of course, melts right into her.
its different when theyre sitting or laying down, though; willow, instead, will tuck michelle under her chin and wrap her in her arms. michelle also has to hide her blush into willow's chest.
these two are so smitten with each other, yet they still truly believe that theyre only best friends. that simple best friends cuddle and wrap their entire frames around each other, kissing the top of each others' heads at every opportunity.
throwback to this ✊
the phone is not that heavy mike
“byler was never in the cards” okay what fuck was this then
i have a soft spot for the "el is a representation of mike's love for will" interpretation of st. if you know which article on substack i'm talking about, this one is for you
short note before i show you something
in the beginning of s4 el is struggling. she's miserable, isolated and lonely. she has lost her powers. read: mike's love for will is suffering while mike and will are apart and not talking.
rink-o-mania happens and el hides in the closet, she's desperately hurt and ashamed. read: when mike arrives to lenora and he and will have a fight, mike's love for will is hidden and shamed upon by mike.
el leaves to get her powers back. she's working on it step-by-step and shows progress. her powers surface in bursts, uncontrolled, still vulnerable and very much repressed. but they are there. read: in jane's absence mike and will reconnect, become closer and mike can't stop himself from showing his love to will. he gives in to his feelings in outbursts and flirts with will. we see that the feelings are still there. they are flickering, if you will. but they are still in a very vulnerable state.
el finally gets full access to her repressed (!) memories and the powers are back. and oh aren't they the strongest they have ever been? she's calm, she's in control, and nobody can stop her. read: after mike received will's painting, his love is clearer than it's ever been. mike knows he's in love and he is determined to do something about it. nobody can stop him. right?
well this is just a re-tell. i don't claim any of these ideas, they are not mine, but i just love to think about them. what i noticed, though, is this...
el's powers need a spark. spark of electricity. electricity in the show is a metaphor for attraction/feelings. el needs electricity to bring her powers back. she needs her powers so she can protect herself and finally stop hiding. read: mike's love for will needs electricity outburst of feelings to stop hiding.
so you see here el's powers are the strongest they've ever been and she's wearing the electric collar. i don't know about you, but when i was watching this scene, i was expecting this collar to spark up any moment. read: while el is fighting with her collar on, mike's feeling it all in the van. he's this 🤏 close to bursting out and confessing.
but as soon as mike reconnects with jane, the girl,
el loses her electric collar.
read: mike's suppressing his love for will, when jane, the girl, is around. as soon as jane's back, mike's love loses its spark.
he can only contain his love when jane's near. my good friend will byers is helping me win my case here
soft skin in the morning, cool air in the morning