Top 20 Songs That Had a Big Resurgence Years Later

#20: “Bye Bye Bye” (2000)

NSYNC

At the beginning of the millennium, this signalled their ascension into pop royalty and their official split from their previous management. It was a huge hit, reaching the top five on the Billboard 100 and becoming one of NSYNC’s signature songs. Twenty years later, it accompanied the opening of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which went on to dominate the box office. Its inclusion introduced the track to a new generation of listeners, and caused it to surge in popularity for the first time in years. This was compounded by it being added to the game “Fortnite” as an official emote in 2024, featuring elements of the original and modified choreography. This has ensured that people of all ages can listen and enjoy this Y2K bop.

#19: “Where Is My Mind?” (1988)

Pixies

Thanks to Hollywood, even those not well-versed in the alternative scene have come to know and appreciate this classic tune. With its distinctive guitar line, 1988’s “Where Is My Mind?” was able to find an audience early on after its release. Over a decade later, it eclipsed its initial popularity after being featured in the cult classic “Fight Club.” It accompanied the final moments of the film perfectly, adding a melancholy vibe that tied everything together. It catapulted the song to new levels of success and provided inspiration to plenty of other directors who would go on to use it in their own movies. It now serves as an automatic sign to audiences that the character it’s accompanying is undergoing a break from reality.

#18: “Pop Muzik” (1979)

M

Social media is a powerful tool. Countless songs from previous eras have made comebacks, especially when paired with a popular dance trend. In 1979, English musician Robin Scott released “Pop Muzik” under the alias M. The piece saw an initial wave of success, and even had a stint in the peak position of the singles chart. Forty-five years later, it was reintroduced to the general public when choreographer Molly Long used it to craft a routine for a competition. The clip of the performance went viral, prompting everyone from professional dancers to people at home to try it out for themselves. As a result, both the tune and Scott’s music career have had new life breathed into them.

#17: “Headlock” (2006)

Imogen Heap

You may think that a piece that had hardly any presence on the charts would fade away shortly after being released. Luckily, that wasn’t the case for Imogen Heap’s synthesizer-laden electropop masterpiece, “Headlock.” After coming and going in the mid-2000s, it experienced a huge resurgence after TikTok users set it to edits of the game “Mouthwashing.” From there, the track took hold onto other factions of the social media app. Whether people are recording covers, using the audio, or creating dances based on the remix, it has now seemingly reached every corner of the ‘net. Nearly twenty years and over 100,000 videos later, it's become her first official entry on the singles chart.

#16: “Unwritten” (2004)

Natasha Bedingfield

Certain songs will always be timeless. Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten” is one of the best examples, with lyricism and production that still hit hard today. It was a huge hit when it first dropped, and stayed in the top ten for thirteen weeks. The millennial anthem saw a huge spike in relevance after being heavily featured throughout the 2023 rom-com “Anyone But You.” The first week of the film’s release alone led to the track earning over a million streams, and in turn helped it re-enter the minds of the general public. From there, users across the web featured the piece in their own videos, helping it reach a second peak.

#15: “Don’t Stop Believin’” (1981)

Journey

Given how prevalent the song is in pop culture now, it's hard to believe that it was originally met with middling reception from critics. Yet Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” has since become the band’s signature piece. Its inclusion in the finale of “The Sopranos” brought it back to the forefront of listener’s minds in the mid-2000s, and its usage at various sporting events across the country helped it find an even larger audience. However, it was the “Glee” cast’s cover in the first season that reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100. It was even awarded a Grammy Hall of Fame award in 2021, cementing its legacy for years to come.

#14: “Pretty Little Baby” (1962)

Connie Francis

Thanks to TikTok, even songs from bygone eras can have a second chance to shine. First featured on 1962’s “Connie Francis Sings ‘Second Hand Love,’” “Pretty Little Baby” went under the radar for decades. It wasn’t until the 2020s that it saw major success at all. Its usage in viral videos helped it amass billions of streams across various platforms, becoming a bona fide hit over sixty years after debuting. Francis– who was 87 and unfamiliar with the concept of Internet fame – had forgotten about the piece entirely, and was only reminded of it after its sudden surge in popularity. It helped her close out her career and life on a high note, as she passed away a few months into its renaissance.

#13: “Unchained Melody” (1965)

The Righteous Brothers

Though several musicians had success with the song in the 1950s, those versions wouldn’t be the one to become a phenomenon. It would be the Righteous Brothers’ 1965 cover that would hold that distinction– but not for another twenty-five years. Their take on “Unchained Melody” reached the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 that year, but would see even more success after being featured in one of the most iconic scenes in the 1990 classic “Ghost.” Its inclusion in the film helped propel it to new heights, giving the group a career resurgence of their own. It even made the American Film Institute’s list of the best songs used in cinema in 2004, cementing its prevalence in pop culture for years to come.

#12: “Bloody Mary” (2011)

Lady Gaga

With all the iconic singles on the “Born This Way” album, it makes sense that the deep cuts were primarily only known by her biggest fans. All of that would change over a decade later in 2022, when “Bloody Mary” was suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Though it wasn’t used in the scene in question, a sped-up version was edited alongside a dance sequence featured in the Netflix original series “Wednesday.” That was all it needed to give the original song a boost in engagement and streams. The star herself even participated in the trend, only adding fuel to the track’s fire. By the end of that year, it had reached the global charts and become a signature bop of that era.

#11: “Never Gonna Give You Up” (1987)

Rick Astley

TikTok isn’t the only site where classic tunes can find a new audience. In the Internet’s earlier days, one song ruled above the rest: Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The 1987 hit was popular when it first dropped, but its true legacy wouldn’t come for another thirty years. In the late 2000s, people began participating in a trend known as Rickrolling, where they would send a link to a friend that would then suddenly redirect to the music video. It became a widespread cultural phenomenon, helping the video reach over a billion views on YouTube. Astley himself has encouraged the trend and even participated in it himself, ensuring that he and his timeless piece will live on forever.

#10: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (1958)

Brenda Lee

Rockabilly singer Brenda Lee was just 13 when she recorded the holiday classic “Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.” Penned by prolific Christmas songwriter Johnny Marks, the tune didn't make a big splash initially, but it gained popularity over time, as Lee’s fame grew. Its first major resurgence came in 1990, after it appeared in the holiday film “Home Alone.” However, its most impressive comeback occurred in December 2023. To celebrate its 65th anniversary, Lee released the song’s first music video, featuring cameos from country stars Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood. This propelled the track to the top of the charts, even surpassing Mariah Carey's “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” With this achievement, Lee became the oldest artist ever to top the Hot 100.

#9: “Do You Love Me” (1962)

The Contours

Motown Records boss Berry Gordy Jr. initially wrote “Do You Love Me” for The Temptations. However, when he couldn’t locate the group to record it, the song was instead given to The Contours. A rock n roll tune that sparked a dance craze in the early 60s, “Do You Love Me” became an instant hit, climbing up the Hot 100, where it peaked at number three for three weeks. Like most other hits, it eventually fell off the charts, until it received a second life 25 years later after its inclusion in a scene from 1987’s “Dirty Dancing.” The movie’s success introduced the track to a new generation, propelling it back onto the Hot 100, this time reaching a new peak of number 11.

#8: “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” (1988)

The Proclaimers

When it first came out in 1988, “I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by Scottish duo The Proclaimers wasn’t even officially released in North America. The song enjoyed modest success in the UK, and topped the charts in Australia, Iceland and New Zealand. It finally made waves in the U.S. in 1993 due to its inclusion in the comedy film “Benny & Joon.” Thanks to this exposure, “I’m Gonna Be” was released as a single in North America, after which it soared to number three on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2007, the song saw a resurgence in the UK when the Proclaimers re-recorded it with comedians Peter Kay and Matt Lucas for charity. This new version outperformed the original, reaching number one on the charts.

#7: “Dreams” (1977)

Fleetwood Mac

Although they are one of the world’s best-selling bands, Fleetwood Mac’s peak occurred long before the advent of social media. Their most iconic album remains 1977’s “Rumours,” which produced the single “Dreams,” their only number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100. While the song has seen occasional revivals over the years, its most significant resurgence came in late 2020, thanks to a viral TikTok clip. In the video, a man named Nathan Apodaca rides a skateboard to work while lipsyncing to the song. The laidback vibe struck a chord with millions, sparking a wave of recreations from numerous users on TikTok and a renewed love for the track. This led to “Dreams” re-entering the Hot 100 at number 21, Fleetwood Mac’s highest peak since 1988.

#6: “Twist and Shout” (1963)

The Beatles

In 1964, the Beatles scored a number two hit with their cover of “Twist and Shout” by R&B group The Top Notes. Their version was hailed as arguably the most stunning rock and roll vocal and instrumental performance of all time, and became a highlight of their live shows. Fast forward to 1986 and the song appeared in not one, but two popular comedy films. In “Ferris Bueller's Day Off,” it was featured in the iconic parade scene, with Ferris lip-syncing to it. It also appeared in the Rodney Dangerfield film “Back to School,” which was released just two days later. Being featured in two successful films helped breathe new life into “Twist and Shout,” propelling it to number 23 on the Hot 100.

#5: “Cruel Summer” (2019)

Taylor Swift

Co-written with Jack Antonoff and St. Vincent, “Cruel Summer” is the second track on Taylor Swift’s seventh album “Lover.” Although it debuted in the top 30 and quickly became a fan favorite, it was not initially promoted as a single. Whether intentional or not, this delayed approach seemed to pay off as the song went viral four years later after being performed during the Eras Tour. This surge in interest led to its official release as a single in June 2023, following which the track reached number one on the charts. Although Swift initially planned to release “Cruel Summer” as a single in 2020, she changed her mind due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the end, the wait seemed to work in the song’s favor.

#4: “Murder on the Dancefloor” (2001)

Sophie Ellis-Bextor

2023’s “Saltburn” rekindled our love for vintage aesthetics and gave a new, disturbing meaning to bathtubs. But the true gem it unearthed was “Murder on the Dancefloor.” Originally released in 2001, this disco pop classic was the second single from English singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s debut solo album. It became a massive success across Europe, peaking at number three in the UK and reaching the top 10 in several other countries. After eventually fading away, the song made a resounding return to the dancefloor in 2023 when it was featured in the provocative final scene of “Saltburn.” Not only did this revival make the song chart in the U.S. for the first time, it also resulted in a major career renaissance for Ellis-Bextor.

#3: “Fast Car” (1988)

Tracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman’s debut single, “Fast Car,” is a poignant folk anthem about escaping hardship and chasing a better life. Ironically, it also ensured a better life for Chapman, as it became one of the biggest hits of her career. When it was first released, “Fast Car” was a monumental success, reaching the top ten in the U.S., UK and a host of other countries. Then, in 2023, it was given a country spin by American singer Luke Combs, which introduced the song to a new generation of listeners. Combs’ version reached number two on the Hot 100 and won Chapman the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year, making her the first black artist to do so.

#2: “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975)

Queen

Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a genre-defying epic that broke all the rules, and made that rebellion its trademark. The track confused record executives but captivated the world, topping the UK charts for nine consecutive weeks and reaching the top 10 in the U.S. But its journey didnt end there. In 1992, it roared back into the spotlight, thanks to a headbanging scene in “Wayne’s World.” The exposure from that movie sent the song to a new peak of number two on the Hot 100. Still, “Bohemian Rhapsody” received another victory lap due to the release of the 2018 biopic of the same name. This renewed interest pushed the track back onto the charts, making it the most streamed song from the 20th century.

#1: “Running Up That Hill” (1985)

Kate Bush

Set in the 1980s, “Stranger Things” weaves in numerous cultural references from that decade, introducing them to young audiences unfamiliar with the era. It was in this vein that “Running Up That Hill” found a new audience. Originally released in 1985, the Kate Bush classic wasted no time in running up the charts. It hit number three in the UK and was a top 30 hit in the U.S. and Canada. Decades later, it re-entered the spotlight after appearing in a pivotal scene in the fourth season of “Stranger Things.” For many young viewers, it was a first encounter; for longtime fans, a nostalgic revival. This time around, it topped the UK charts and reached the top three in the U.S.

What song do you hope has a resurgence next? Let us know in the comments below!