Why watch Stranger Things the boring, traditional way when there are new formats springing up that make for a far more tantalizing experience?
“Stranger Sings” is a comedy musical backing track — think Mystery Science Theater 3000 or RiffTrax — that is supposed to be played in place of the normal audio track. Synced up, “Stranger Sings” tells an alternative story to the ‘80s-inspired sci-fi world that Matt and Ross Duffer dreamt up a couple of years ago. “Stranger Things” takes place in Hawkins, Indiana, but tells the story of a local boyband. Together, they’ll take on a questionable, sketchy jazzman (who takes the place of the Demogorgon) and Eleven is an escaped princess.
Created Brian David Gilbert, Jonah Scott and Laura Kathryn Gilbert, Stranger Sings” isn’t in any way a new concept, but it’s the pitch perfect deliverance and high production quality that makes it especially interesting. The story itself is hilarious and, because of the juxtaposition of the nonsensical tribulations facing the boyband and the seriousness of Stranger Things itself, operates as a brilliant piece of absurdist comedy.
Gilbert has only published the first video so far, which plays over the entirety of the first episode, but noted on YouTube that it took three weeks of non-stop work to accomplish. The album is available to purchase on BandCamp, but Gilbert doesn’t say in the video if a second episode is coming anytime soon.
As far as prep for Stranger Things 2 goes, “Stranger Sings” may not give you the canonical information you need, but it’s just as enjoyable of a watch.
Stranger Things 2 will be available to stream on Netflix on Friday, Oct. 27.
