Well, it finally happened. The last chapter of Hawkins has closed, and the final credits have rolled on Stranger Things. After a journey that has spanned nearly a decade, saying goodbye to these characters feels like leaving a piece of your own history behind. But in the midst of all this collective fan emotion, something truly unexpected and beautiful is happening. A song, not from the show's official 80s-infused soundtrack, but from one of its most beloved stars, has become the unofficial anthem for this farewell.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Following the Stranger Things Season 5 finale, Joe Keery's song has skyrocketed to No. 2 on the Global Spotify chart.
- ✓ The track, "End of Beginning," pulled in a staggering 5.04 million streams in a single day.
- ✓ Keery releases music under the solo project name Djo, which he started after leaving his band Post Animal in 2018.
- ✓ The song first went viral on TikTok in early 2024, long before its resurgence with the show's finale.
- ✓ "End of Beginning" was originally released in 2022 on Djo's second album, Decide.
- ✓ The song's nostalgic theme about leaving Chicago has become an unofficial anthem for fans saying goodbye to Hawkins after a nine-year journey.
I'm talking, of course, about "End of Beginning" by Djo, the musical alias of the one and only Joe Keery, our beloved Steve "The Hair" Harrington. In the wake of the series finale, this gorgeous, synth-drenched track has exploded, rocketing to number two on the Global Spotify chart. It’s a fascinating moment where the lines between a character, an actor, and an artist have completely blurred, all thanks to the power of a perfectly timed, emotionally resonant song.
The Unlikely Anthem for Hawkins' Farewell
Let's just take a moment to absorb the numbers, because they are genuinely wild. "End of Beginning" is currently sitting at No. 2 on the Global Spotify chart, pulling in an incredible 5.04 million streams right after the finale dropped. The only thing ahead of it is a Taylor Swift track, which tells you the kind of heavyweight territory we're talking about. This isn't just a niche fan movement; this is a global music event, sparked by the emotional fallout of a TV show's conclusion.
So, why this song? Why now? The real story here is the perfect storm of nostalgia, timing, and thematic resonance. The song itself is a bittersweet reflection on leaving a place that shaped you—specifically, Keery's time in Chicago. He sings about that recurring feeling of returning to a place and realizing that while it feels the same, you've changed. Sound familiar? It's the exact emotion millions of fans are grappling with as they say goodbye to Hawkins, a fictional town they've grown up with over the last nine years.
What this tells us is that fans have subconsciously, or perhaps consciously, chosen their own closing credits song. The show gave us its ending, but the audience is creating the emotional soundtrack for the aftermath. The love for Steve Harrington, a character who had one of the best arcs in television history, has seamlessly transferred to Joe Keery the artist. It's a testament to his performance that fans are now championing his other creative endeavors as a way of keeping a part of that journey alive.
A Title That Was Meant to Be
You honestly couldn't script it better. The song is literally called "End of Beginning." For a show that launched the careers of so many young actors and became a defining cultural touchstone of the 2010s and 2020s, that title is just poetic perfection. It's not just the end of Stranger Things; it's the end of the beginning for its cast, its creators, and the millions of us who followed along. The song captures that sense of closing one major chapter to start the next.
From Deep Cut to Global Hit: The Journey of a Viral Song
Here's the thing that makes this story even more compelling: "End of Beginning" isn't a new song rushed out to capitalize on the finale. It was originally released way back on September 16, 2022, as the sixth track on Djo's sophomore album, Decide. For over a year, it was a fantastic album track beloved by Keery's existing music fans, but it wasn't a chart-topper.
Then, in early 2024, the magic of the internet happened. The track started gaining serious traction on TikTok, with users latching onto its dreamy, nostalgic vibe for their own videos about memory, friendship, and growing up. The momentum became so undeniable that the song was officially released as a single on March 1, 2024. It was a true word-of-mouth success story that saw it break into the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart for the first time—a massive achievement for an independent artist. You can learn more about the album's initial release and critical reception on its Wikipedia page.
From my perspective, this two-act structure is what makes its current success so significant. The song had already proven its organic appeal. The Stranger Things finale didn't create its popularity; it amplified it on a monumental scale. It provided a powerful, universal context that took the song's personal themes of nostalgia and made them feel like a shared global experience for the show's massive fanbase.
Beyond the Upside Down: Getting to Know Djo
For anyone just discovering Joe Keery's music, it's a fantastic rabbit hole to go down. This isn't just some actor's side project; music has been a core part of his creative life for years. Before his solo work as Djo, he was a member of the Chicago-based psychedelic rock band Post Animal. He eventually had to step back from the band in 2018 due to his demanding acting schedule with Stranger Things, but his passion for making music clearly never faded.
As Djo, Keery has carved out a distinct sound that blends psychedelic rock, synth-pop, and funk. His music is often layered and textured, with smooth vocals gliding over intricate instrumental arrangements. "End of Beginning" is a perfect example of his style—it's got those warm, nostalgic synths that feel straight out of the 80s (a happy coincidence for Stranger Things fans) but with a modern, polished production. It’s music that feels both timeless and deeply personal.
What's really cool is how he’s built this musical identity largely separate from his on-screen persona. He performs as Djo, often in disguise with a wig and sunglasses, letting the music speak for itself. It’s a clear statement that this is a serious artistic endeavor, not just "Steve Harrington sings." Now, with this global hit, the two worlds have collided in the best way possible.
The Modern "Kate Bush Effect": When Fandom Shapes the Charts
We can't talk about a song exploding because of Stranger Things without mentioning the OG. The "Kate Bush Effect" from Season 4, which sent "Running Up That Hill" to No. 1 around the world decades after its release, fundamentally changed how we think about the relationship between television and music. The official Netflix series proved that a sync placement could be more powerful than any modern marketing campaign.
But what's happening with Joe Keery is arguably a new, more evolved version of this phenomenon. "End of Beginning" wasn't featured in the finale. There was no dramatic scene scored to its synth riffs. Instead, the connection was made entirely by the audience. It’s a fan-driven, organic movement where the community collectively decided this was their song for this moment. This is arguably even more powerful because it reflects a deeper emotional connection between the audience, the actor, and his art.
This tells us a lot about modern fandom in the streaming age. Audiences aren't passive consumers anymore. They are active participants who curate their own experiences, create their own narratives, and can collectively propel a song to the top of the charts based on a shared feeling. The success of "End of Beginning" is as much a story about the power of the Stranger Things community as it is about Joe Keery's incredible talent.
Why This Moment Is So Perfect
When you step back and look at all the pieces, it’s hard to imagine a more fitting coda for the Stranger Things era. The show has always been about friendship, memory, and the bittersweet pain of growing up. Joe Keery's character, Steve, evolved from a walking 80s jock trope into the heart and soul of the group—the protector, the friend, the world's best babysitter. His journey was one of profound change and finding a new version of himself.
"End of Beginning" mirrors that journey perfectly. It’s a song about looking back at the person you used to be in a place you used to call home and recognizing the distance between then and now. For an actor who has spent the better part of a decade growing up on this show, the lyrics feel incredibly poignant. And for an audience that has watched him—and the entire cast—do it, the song serves as a perfect, heartfelt mirror to their own feelings about the end of this journey. It’s a beautiful, full-circle moment where art imitates life, and life imitates art right back.
Conclusion
The end of Stranger Things was always going to be a major cultural event, but nobody could have predicted that one of its biggest lasting impacts would be launching one of its own stars into musical superstardom. The incredible resurgence of Joe Keery's "End of Beginning" is more than just a chart statistic; it’s a beautiful story about the power of fandom, the magic of perfect timing, and the emotional resonance of a great song.
It proves that in today's media landscape, the connection between an artist and their audience can create waves that defy marketing budgets and industry expectations. Fans didn't just watch the end of a show; they felt it, and they found a soundtrack for that feeling in the music of an actor they’d grown to love. As we say our final goodbyes to Hawkins, Djo’s nostalgic anthem serves as a perfect reminder that every ending is just the start of a new beginning.
About the Author
This article was written by the editorial team at ChopalCharcha, dedicated to bringing you the latest news, trends, and insights across entertainment, lifestyle, sports, and more.
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