The Verve, The Police, And The-Dream: Currently Trending Songs

What songs are currently trending online? Well, the path to virality, chart domination, and social media hits is no longer reserved for new, popular songs. The industry has seen an uptick in renewed interest around classic tracks that re-emerge in pop culture thanks to social media, soundtrack syncs, and commercial placements, and sometimes purely by chance. Look no further than the time a man went cruising on his longboard listening to Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.” This column will break down all of the older songs that are trending again (and explain why they became popular one more time).

December 11

The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony

Since its release in 1997, The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony” has become one of the defining songs of the Britpop age. Based on a sample of an orchestral version of The Rolling Stones’ “The Last Time,” it combined creative reinvention with an anthemic chorus and a whole lot of swagger. After receiving great acclaim at the time, it has only grown in stature, frequently named on ‘Greatest Songs Of All Time’ lists, including Rolling Stone’s 2015 Best Britpop Songs ranking, on which it finished third. It is experiencing a resurgence after appearing in Amazon Prime’s TV adaptation of Cruel Intentions – a callback to its use in the 1999 film’s final scene. It is also the focus of a growing trend on TikTok in which creators use the lyric “I’m a million different people from one day to the next” to highlight the evolutions of actors and characters over the years.

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The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony

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The Police – Every Breath You Take

In 1983, The Police released a beast – “Every Breath You Take,” the song that would become their biggest track ever. Frontman Sting wrote it in the middle of the night and said in a 1993 interview with the Independent he “didn’t realize how sinister it is” at first. The song promises to “be watching” a lover with “every breath you take/And every move you make.” It is trending on social media following Sting’s appearance on NBC’s The Voice, during which he played bass for the Top Eight artists as they performed some of his most beloved songs. It is also central to two current TikTok trends – one in which creators share sad quotes about their breakups and another that uses images of Paul Mescal, Phoebe Bridgers and Daisy Edgar-Jones to highlight what people have versus what they want.

December 4

The-Dream – Rockin’ That S__t

“Rockin’ That S__t” led The-Dream’s second studio album, Love vs. Money, in 2008, bringing early success to the record. It peaked at No.22 on the Billboard Hot 100, scoring Top 10 placements on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rhythmic charts, too. Now, it is at the center of two trends on TikTok – one in which users dance to the track to show what they would do for different items, and a festive variation based around holiday gifts.

Big Boogie – Pop Out

“Pop Out” featured on Big Boogie’s 2022 album UnderRated (Deluxe) and found the rapper detailing a tryst with a lady. It is experiencing a resurgence on TikTok as part of a dance trend performed in pairs.

Louis Prima – Pennies From Heaven

Penned in 1936 by Arthur Johnston and Johnny Burke, “Pennies From Heaven” has been recorded by numerous stars over the decades, including Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday. Louis Prima’s version was released in 1957 and appeared on his collaborative album with Keely Smith, The Call Of The Wildest. It later featured in the movie Elf and is trending on social media as the holidays approach once again.

November 27

Alessia Cara – Here

Alessia Cara emerged in 2015 with her debut single “Here,” immediately garnering interest for its combination of soulful and lethargic sounds, and relatable lyrics about social anxiety. The song detailed an experience at a house party where the Canadian singer-songwriter could only think about how much she wanted to leave, and it became a sleeper hit, climbing to the top of the Billboard Pop Songs chart over a stretch of 26 weeks.

November 20

Nelly Furtado – I’m Like A Bird

Nelly Furtado’s “I’m Like A Bird” might be a noughties pop classic now, but on its first release, it took a while to reach the huge levels of success it has since found. The slow-burning track was released in September 2000, but it wasn’t until the next year that it found international acclaim, hitting the top spot in Portugal and reaching the upper echelons of the charts in Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S. The track is currently experiencing a resurgence, thanks to it being featured in the seventh episode of Prime Video’s new original series, Cross, and a new TikTok trend in which people share situations that make them feel free.

LPB Poody – Batman

West Orlando rapper LPB Poody first rose to fame in 2019, before signing a deal with Chameleon Entertainment and Interscope Records. In 2021, he released his third single under the deal, “Batman,” in which he told a potential partner: “No, I can’t be your Batman ‘cause I be robbin’.” Four months after its initial release, a remix was shared, featuring Lil Wayne and Moneybagg Yo. The track is trending on TikTok as part of a trend dubbed “women in male fields” that sees women treat men like men treat women.

November 13

Village People – YMCA

Village People’s signature song was released in 1978, serving as the only single from its third studio album, Cruisin’. It was written after lead singer Victor Willis explained the concept of the YMCA’s single-room occupancy scheme to producer Jacques Morali, who was inspired to write a song about it together. It went on to become the group’s biggest hit, reaching No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and selling over 12 million copies worldwide to date. It is trending online after Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential election, with creators replicating his dance to “YMCA” on TikTok.

Snoop Dogg – Drop It Like It’s Hot

Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams teamed up on 2004’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” scoring both critical acclaim and commercial success for the track worldwide. Its impact is enduring, with it regularly moving back to the forefront of the public consciousness. Recently, it has done so again following Snoop Dogg joining Fortnite as one of the main characters for the Chapter 2 Remix. The game brings back the boogie bomb, which, when thrown at a player, makes them dance and starts “Drop It Like It Hot” playing.

Toadies – Possum Kingdom

“Possum Kingdom” was taken from alt-rock band Toadies’ 1994 album Rubberneck and was inspired by a piece of folklore from its home state of Texas, named after Possum Kingdom Lake near Fort Worth. It is experiencing a resurgence after being featured in the trailer for Marvel’s Thunderbolts.

Nov 6

Lil Tecca – Ransom

New York rapper Lil Tecca made his breakthrough in 2019 with “Ransom,” a track he released independently before resharing it after signing with Galactic Records and Republic Records. The song is now considered his signature track and climbed up the Billboard Hot 100 to peak at No.4. It also scored considerable success around the world, charting in the Top 10 in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, the UK and more.

October 23

X Ambassadors – Unsteady

X Ambassadors’ “Unsteady” might be about the dissolution of a relationship, but the track only served to build the U.S. rock band up higher. Originally released as part of its 2014 EP The Reason, it later featured on its debut album, VHS, and earned both a nod for Top Rock Song at the 2017 BBMAs and a Billboard Hot 100 chart placement. It is trending on TikTok as users try to recreate a dance move from Dancing With The Stars to it, with some famous faces – like U.S. rugby player and DWTS contestant Ilona Maher – getting involved.

Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra – Somethin’ Stupid

Although originally recorded by C. Carson Parks and his wife Gail Foote in 1966, it wasn’t until Frank and Nancy Sinatra released “Somethin’ Stupid” a year later that it would become a hit. The father and daughter duo’s version topped both the Billboard Hot 100 and U.K. Singles Chart and has become a mainstay in pop culture over the decades since. A clip of Jennifer Lawrence singing the song in her 2015 film Joy is trending on TikTok, forming the basis of a trend where creators, including pop star Sabrina Carpenter, describe a sad habit they do to their significant other that ruins a relationship.

Peggy Lee – I Go To Sleep

The Kinks’ Ray Davies penned “I Go To Sleep” in 1965, with the song going on to be covered by the likes of The Applejacks, Cher, and Peggy Lee. The latter’s version appeared on her 1965 album, Then Was Then – Now Is Now!, and is now being used as the ending credits song for a new Prime Video TV series, Edge Of Sleep.

Billy Idol – Eyes Without A Face

Billy Idol took inspiration from Georges Franju’s 1960 film Les Yeux sans visage for “Eyes Without A Face,” the British rock star’s 1984 hit. Using the English translation of the movie’s title, he began to form the song around it, diving into a relationship that had gone wrong. The song went on to give him his first Top 10 hit in the U.S., peaking at No.4 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is now experiencing a resurgence on TikTok as users make it the soundtrack to videos around emo and alternative fashion and lifestyle trends or show off their spooky Halloween decor.

October 16

Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth – Defying Gravity

Taken from the musical Wicked, “Defying Gravity” is performed by the characters Elphaba and Glinda, with the former vowing to fight the Wizard of Oz. It is often considered the musical’s signature song and is experiencing a resurgence as fans prepare for the release of the soundtrack for the movie adaptation of the stage show.

Amy Winehouse – Tears Dry On Their Own

“Tears Dry On Their Own” appeared on Amy Winehouse’s second and final studio album, Back To Black, in 2006. It fused her retro influences with distinctive style, interpolating Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s 1967 hit “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” It is trending on TikTok as users share the things that make them upset.

Snoop Dogg – Drop It Like It’s Hot

In 2004, Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams both scored their first No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” The song was the lead single from Snoop’s seventh studio album, R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta), and was co-produced by Williams and his Neptunes cohort, Chad Hugo. The track remained at the top of the chart for three weeks and later earned two Grammy nominations. It is featured in Piece By Piece, Williams’ Lego-based biopic, sparking a resurgence for the song.

Wreckx-N-Effect – Rump Shaker

US hip-hop group Wreckx-N-Effect released its single “Rump Shaker” in 1992 as a preview of its second album, Hard Or Smooth. It was co-written by a pre-fame Pharrell Williams and peaked at No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is also featured in Williams’ Piece By Piece film.

Mazzy Star – Fade Into You

“Fade Into You” is often cited as one of the best songs of all time, securing spots in such lists by Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. It was released in 1993 and is Mazzy Star’s only single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No.48. It is trending on TikTok as creators use it to soundtrack videos of content themed around autumn and lifestyle trends.

Mary J Blige – I Can Love You

On “I Can Love You,” Mary J. Blige teamed up with Lil’ Kim. The track, which appeared on her third album, Share My World, contained parts of Kim’s own track “Queen Bitch,” a sample that producer Rodney Jerkins brought in. It is part of a trend on TikTok in which creators exemplify a form of love.

Lorde – Ribs

“Ribs,” taken from Lorde’s debut album Pure Heroine, found the New Zealand singer fretting over ageing and taking inspiration from a party she threw. Although it was never released as a single, it is now certified triple platinum in the U.S. It is trending on TikTok, as users take its “You’re the only friend I need” lyric and pay tribute to their pals.

October 9

Olly Alexander – Breathe

In 2015, Olly Alexander – then under the name Years & Years – shared a cover of Blu Cantrell’s hit song “Breathe.” The cover served as the B-side to “Take Shelter” and was later re-released on Years & Years’ debut album Communion. It now serves as the soundtrack to a new TikTok trend where users lip-sync to a brief dialogue before launching into a dance routine.

City Girls – What We Doin’

Taken from City Girls’ 2018 album Girl Code, “What We Doin’” is a liberating anthem in which the duo takes care of their responsibilities and is ready to hit the town. It is trending on TikTok as the unlikely accompaniment to a trend where users share their reactions via images of Chicken Little.

Jeremih – Birthday Sex

“Birthday Sex” was Jeremih’s debut single and was released in 2009. It scored the then-R&B newcomer huge success, peaking at No.4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and being certified five times platinum by the RIAA. It forms the soundtrack for a new TikTok trend in which creators share their take on the cue “when he asks me to dance but…”.

Jon Bellion – All Time Low

On his 2016 single “All Time Low,” Jon Bellion captured the feeling of being three days into a breakup, where the emotions are weighing you down and making life feel futile. It struck a chord with many around the world and is now certified four times platinum in the U.S. Fans are using it as the music for edits of footage from the NFL.

Lady A – Downtown

“Downtown” was the first taste of Lady A’s fifth studio album, Golden, kicking off that era of the band in huge style. The track topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart and scored a Top 30 finish on the Hot 100. It’s now the basis of a homecoming dress trend on TikTok, which finds creators lip-syncing to the song as they transition from regular clothes to their chosen gowns.

Listen to all the best viral tracks on TikTok on Apple Music and Spotify.