As someone who has been around the block a few times when it comes to music and its ever-changing landscape, I must say that this list of songs is a fascinating journey through time. Each one tells a story about how the tides of popularity can ebb and flow, sometimes revealing hidden gems that were overlooked at their original release only to be rediscovered years later.
Popular tunes rise then fall, enjoying significant airplay or gracing the charts temporarily. For many, they become cherished memories, occasionally played on the radio, yet mostly preserved in the annals of music history.
There are a select group who manage to resurface on the charts, often even more successful than before, and it’s not only their original fanbase propelling them up the charts, but also younger audiences who are discovering them for the first time.
Behind most revivals, there’s often a strategic plan rather than happenstance. This is typically due to their reappearance in films, television series, advertising campaigns, or the popularity of new shows that feature them. Here are a dozen “veterans” who have recently made successful comebacks on music charts.
12 classic songs that made it back on the charts years after being originally released
“Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
Original release year: 1961
Comeback year: 1986
Ben E. King drew inspiration for this song from the traditional gospel tune “Lord, Please Be With Me,” giving a more worldly feel to the words. Upon its initial release, it climbed up to the fourth spot on the charts. After Rob Reiner incorporated the track in his successful movie with the same name, it resurfaced at position 9.
“Twist and Shout” by The Beatles
Original release year: 1963
Comeback year: 1986
Actually, this song isn’t an original composition by the Beatles; instead, they adopted it from the Top Notes, who didn’t achieve significant success with it on the music charts.
1963 saw the Beatles climbing the ladder of success, and their rendition that took off, eventually peaking at No. 2 in the charts the following year. In a surprising resurgence in 1986, the song found its way into two popular movies – notably “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” – causing it to re-enter the charts, reaching as high as No. 23.
“Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac
Original release year: 1977
Comeback year: 2020
Back in the day, Stevie Nicks’ timeless classic was a regular feature in Fleetwood Mac’s concerts, hailing from what is arguably their finest album, “Rumours.” It quickly became a chart-topper when it first debuted, securing the No. 1 spot. Fast forward to 2020, and a new wave of listeners rediscovered it on TikTok. As of now, it has garnered countless views on this popular social media site.
“Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie
Original release year: 1981
Comeback years: 2016 and 2018
In the early ’80s, Bowie and Queen were simultaneously working on their individual endeavors in the Swiss Alps. They collaborated on a shared song during this time. This collaboration proved successful, as it peaked at No. 29 on the charts and stayed there for an impressive 16 weeks. After Bowie’s death in 2016, the song experienced a resurgence in popularity. The biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, released in 2018, played a significant role in bringing it back to the charts once more.
“Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
Original release year: 1983
Comeback years: 2009 and 2014
Released in 1983, this song became incredibly popular, with Michael Jackson excelling at crafting both catchy pop tunes and visually stunning music videos simultaneously. If you’ll pardon the expression, it was a picture-perfect combination that effortlessly climbed to the No. 1 spot. After his passing in 2009, it reappeared at No. 4 on the charts, and again in 2014, reaching No. 14.
“Purple Rain” by Prince and The Revolution
Original release year: 1984
Comeback year: 2016
Initially, Prince believed that Fleetwood Mac could have made a fantastic country version of this song. However, that plan didn’t materialize, so he decided to record it himself since he felt it was something he wanted to do regardless. The result was a top-charting single and one of the standout tracks on his album (and movie) with the same name. Tragically, Prince passed away in 2016, which led to a resurgence of the song’s popularity and the soundtrack reaching No. 2 as well.
“Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” by Kate Bush
Original release year: 1985
Comeback year: 2022
Here’s where contemporary streaming platforms really shine. When it initially came out in 1985, it only managed to climb as high as No. 30 on the charts, which was still considered a decent achievement for a song that bucked the trends of popular hits at the time. However, when it was strategically featured in the fourth season of Stranger Things, it gained significant momentum and effortlessly reached the top spot on the charts.
“Goo Goo Muck” by The Cramps
Original release year: 1981
Comeback year: 2022
In 1981, The Cramps reimagined Ronnie Cook and the Gaylads’ rockabilly hit from 1962 with a punk flair, yet this version didn’t make it onto the charts at that time. However, when it was featured in the Netflix series “Wednesday” (released in 2022), both the song and The Cramps experienced renewed interest.
“The End” by the Doors
Original release year: 1967
Comeback year: 1979
In 1967, The Doors’ iconic long-playing tune received minimal radio play due to its length (12 minutes) and the dark, unconventional lyrics penned by Jim Morrison. Mainstream radio stations weren’t inclined to broadcast such content at that time. However, when Francis Ford Coppola incorporated it into his groundbreaking film, Apocalypse Now, its recognition significantly increased, as it deserved all along.
“Lust for Life” by Iggy Pop
Original release year: 1977
Comeback year: 1996
Iggy Pop, known for avoiding controversy, likely couldn’t avoid a lack of popularity with his collaboration with David Bowie in 1977 when the song was initially released. However, its inclusion in Danny Boyle’s classic movie, Trainspotting, finally gave the song the recognition it deserved.
“Murder on the Dancefloor” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Original release year: 2001
Comeback year: 2024
In 2001, Ellis-Bextor initially released this tune that had a disco vibe to it, and it was quite successful then, climbing up to the second spot on charts. Although it wasn’t as prominent for a while, in 2023, the Netflix show “Saltburn” brought it back into the limelight, causing the song to chart once more across various platforms.
“How Long” by Ace
Original release year: 1974
Comeback year: 2020
Despite being recognized as one of the top representatives of a genre known as pub rock, Ace never managed to attain widespread popularity, remaining more of a cult band. However, this song climbed as high as No. 3 in the U.S. and Canada at its release, only reaching No. 20 in the UK. In an unexpected twist during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when Amazon Prime used it for their advertisement, the song shot to No. 1, surprising even Ace themselves.
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2024-11-20 14:00