Was just listening to that song a minute ago and realized the lyrics was describing what the Mind Flayer is doing "Every single day, every word you say, every game you play i'll be watching you".
Sure most of you probably realized it but it just now occurred to me lol, perfect song choice to end it on with the Mind Flayer watching them from the Upside Down.
Yes, a very romantic song with some menacing lyrics. It was perfect both for our two young couples to dance to (and kiss) and for that final shot of the Mind Flayer standing over the school. I'll be watching you.
shareYeah it fit so perfectly, as you said it has the romantic vibe to it for them to dance to but the lyrics are very menacing and dark to go with the Mind Flayer watching them.
shareI think we can all agree the original intent behind the lyrics was sinister. I would also argue the use of this song has more than one meaning. The lyrics in this case can apply remarkably well to both the lingering threat of the Mind Flayer and the particular dynamics of Mike and El. Consider how El was watching Mike without him seeing her back, just like the stalker in the song. Or how Mike was "lost without a trace" ever "since she was gone". There's a yearning to the song that speaks to their romance, and the voyeuristic component works on two levels.
shareIt also works with Lucas and Max and also Dustin. Max called the two stalkers, although the two weren't really stalking her. She even calls Lucas a stalker at the dance.
But at least with Mike and Eleven stalking each other, the two both liked each other and both were aware of it. Well, at least Eleven knew Mike liked her. Not sure if Mike knew she liked him also. But Mike was the one she was always around in Season 1, so maybe he thought she liked him the same way or hoped she did. So because of all that their stalking was more cute than creepy, making the song romantic for once.
At first I hated the song choice because of it being about a stalker. But breaking down the song and relating it Mike and Eleven, the upside monster, and Lucas and Max (along with Dustin), it's a fitting song.
Yeah, how El was watching Mike is one of the only situations where you can make some of those lyrics legitimately work in a romantic context.
Also interesting how you point out how Mike may not have necessarily known how deep El had feelings for him as well. The fact that she admitted to listening to him speaking to her every night kind of put that to rest quickly.
From my experience with girls, that doesn't really mean anything. I've had girls "stalk" me similar ways as Eleven did to Mike but they didn't have feelings for me and stuff. They were just doing it just because or because we were friends.
shareI think in a real life context, I suppose you could still cast some doubt on it. I didn't get that sense of doubt from Mike in that moment, but it's also possible given the writers had their snowball thing already planned they may not have given it much thought. But if not then, El going in for a kiss as they were saying goodbye would seem a pretty clear indication of how she feels.
shareRomantic is the wrong word for me. The song is definitely about obsession and control, not romance.
It's perfect here because the Mind Flayer is now watching over the Scoobies like a stalker. And because it was actually released in 1983, so the timing is perfect on a plot level.
That song has more than one interpretation because the lyrics aren't all menacing, and neither is the music. I looked them up. Here's one part that's not menacing at all:
Since you've gone I've been lost without a trace
I dream at night, I can only see your face
I look around but it's you I can't replace
I feel so cold and I long for your embrace
I keep crying, "Baby, baby, please"
A lot of us know exactly how that feels. That's not psychotic, it's just human. And "you belong to me" could be meant like "we belong together", as opposed to "if I can't have you no one will". When I was a kid I always pictured a guy who had lost the love of his life but still had to see her every day, and couldn't help being painfully aware of everything she did, but also held out hope they would get back together.
Apparently Sting himself has said it was an attempt to get inside the mind of a stalker, he even pictured a guy using high tech gadgets to spy on his ex, Big Brother style. I'm just saying you could give it another interpretation, especially the way it's sung. If Metallica had done the same song, with the same lyrics, that probably wouldn't be the case though. The dark menacing tone would be too blatant to deny. What made this song perfect for the scene was precisely the fact that you CAN look at it two different ways.
Yeah, we have a different view of romance.