The Toto song playing while Nancy and Steve study in her room in Stranger Things season 1, chapter 1 is “Africa.” It appears in “Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers” as Steve helps Nancy with her chemistry work before their study session turns romantic.
“Africa” was released by Toto in 1982 on the band’s fourth studio album, Toto IV. Written by David Paich and Jeff Porcaro, it became Toto’s only Billboard Hot 100 number-one single and later became one of the defining pop-rock songs associated with the 1980s.
A common mix-up is the music heard just before Steve arrives: “Every Little Bit” by Jackie James and Ian Curnow plays while Nancy is studying alone. Once Steve climbs through her window and joins her, “Africa” is the recognizable Toto track associated with the scene.
The song’s use also fits Stranger Things’ broader soundtrack approach, which combines an original synthesizer score with prominent period hits. Other major songs in the first season include The Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” Peter Gabriel’s “Heroes,” and Foreigner’s “Waiting for a Girl Like You.”