Norah Jones, Fall Out Boy, And Vangelis: 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).

July 24

Norah Jones – “Don’t Know Why”

“Don’t Know Why” was originally penned by singer-songwriter Jesse Harris for his 1999 album, Jesse Harris & The Ferdinandos. Three years later, Norah Jones covered the track, scoring a triple Grammy-winning hit and global success story. Jones’ version peaked at No.30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and entered the upper echelons in the charts in the likes of Australia, Croatia, and New Zealand. It has since been certified double platinum in the U.S. Her take on the song is now experiencing a resurgence, thanks to Jones performing it on NPR’s Tiny Desk.

Fall Out Boy – “Centuries”

“Centuries” served as the lead single from Fall Out Boy’s sixth album, American Beauty/American Psycho, in 2014. It went on to become the band’s first Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in eight years and their fourth overall. Its anthemic nature has seen it used as the soundtrack to sports coverage over the years, including on ESPN in the year following its release. As the 2024 Olympic Games approach, the song is once again receiving new interest.

Vangelis – “Chariots Of Fire”

In 1980, Vangelis composed “Chariots Of Fire” as the theme song for the film of the same name. Two years later, the instrumental piece hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, 22 weeks after it first entered the chart, making it the only release by a Greek artist in the chart’s history to reach No.1. Since then, it has been covered in numerous styles by a host of other artists and has become synonymous with TV coverage of sporting events. It is also witnessing a resurgence ahead of the Olympics in Paris.

Chris Stapleton – “Either Way”

Although Chris Stapleton co-wrote “Either Way” with Tim James and Kendell Marvel, he wasn’t the first artist to release it. Lee Ann Womack recorded a version of the track for her 2008 album Call Me Crazy. But, in 2017, Stapleton reprised the song himself, including it on his album From A Room: Volume 1. A year later, it picked up the award for Best Country Solo Performance, with the musician’s heartfelt reflections on the end of a relationship striking a chord with voters. The song is receiving fresh attention after being included on the soundtrack for Tyler Perry’s new movie, Divorce In The Black.

Dove Cameron – “If Only”

Pop star Dove Cameron starred in the Disney Channel’s original movie Descendants in 2015, playing the character of Mal. As part of the role, she performed the song “If Only,” which took the form of an internal monologue about having her heart pulled in different directions. The track is trending following the release of the latest Descendants movie, Rise Of Red, on Disney+.

July 17

Justin Bieber – “Baby”

In 2010, Justin Bieber followed up the early success of his first two singles with “Baby,” a Ludacris-featuring track that made the Canadian pop star a household name worldwide. It earned the singer his first Top Five entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No.3, and entered the Top 10 in charts across the globe. Additionally, the music video held the record for the most viewed video on YouTube for over two years. The song is experiencing a resurgence thanks to a sped-up version of Ludacris’ verse, which is at the center of a lip-syncing trend on TikTok that sees groups of friends miming along to the lyrics.

Smino – “Backstage Pass” ft. Monte Booker & The Drums

In 2020, rapper Smino teamed up with Monte Booker and The Drums for “Backstage Pass,” a contribution to the Madden NFL 21 soundtrack. In the song, the star asks someone to “get down with me,” later trying to convince them that they “really wanna be my only one.” Fans are returning to the track following the announcement of the new NCAA 25 football game and using it to soundtrack football edits.

Bee Gees – “Tragedy”

“Tragedy” was one part of a fruitful writing session for Bee Gees, during which it wrote this song, “Too Much Heaven,” and “Shadow Dancing.” When “Tragedy” was released in 1979, it scored the trio huge success, hitting the top of the charts in both the U.K. and the U.S. The song has played a big part in pop culture since, both in the British band Steps’ cover and in its inclusion on the soundtrack for the West End version of Saturday Night Fever. Now, it has been included in the trailer for Tim Burton’s new Beetlejuice movie.

Danny Elfman – “Alice’s Theme”

Danny Elfman penned “Alice’s Theme” for the soundtrack of the 2010 movie Alice In Wonderland, which Tim Burton directed. The song’s lyrics capture some of the most famous details of the classic tale, from the dream-like nature of the story to its experiments with making Alice bigger and smaller. “Alice’s Theme” is experiencing a resurgence over a decade on, trending in the countries of Spain and Mexico.

July 10

The Killers – Mr. Brightside

Since its release in 2003, The Killers’ debut single “Mr. Brightside” has taken on a life of its own, becoming a huge hit worldwide. One of the first songs ever written by the Las Vegas band, it is one of its best-selling songs in the U.S.; in the U.K., it is a record-breaking triumph. The track is the country’s third biggest-selling/streaming song of all time and the longest-charting single on the singles chart, spending over 408 weeks in the Top 100. The modern indie anthem is experiencing a resurgence after The Killers performed it at a recent gig at London’s The O2 – seconds after pausing the show to screen the final moments of the England soccer team’s Euros 2024 semi-final victory.

Iggy Azalea – Work

In 2013, Iggy Azalea introduced herself with her debut single, “Work,” an inspirational track that depicted the obstacles she faced in her efforts to make it in the music business. It made a strong first impression for the Australian rapper, becoming a sleeper hit in both the U.K. and the U.S., where it charted at No.17 and No.54 on the respective singles charts. The track is now trending on TikTok, thanks to it soundtracking a new trend where users share the very specific reasons why they are their “favorite animal.”

Vengaboys – We Like To Party!

Dutch Eurodance troupe Vengaboys made its preferences clear with its 1998 single, “We Like To Party!” The track, which featured on its debut album, Up & Down – The Party Album – took listeners on a fun ride on “the Vengabus” and rode into the Top Five in the U.K., Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland. The song is currently experiencing a resurgence thanks to a spike on Shazam.

Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F

German musician Harold Faltermeyer composed “Axel F” as the theme tune for Eddie Murphy’s 1984 movie Beverly Hills Cop. It went on to become a hit across the globe, hitting the top spot on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and on the Irish Singles Chart. It also scored huge success in the U.K. and across Europe – but the film’s producers weren’t initially impressed with the song. It wasn’t until director Martin Brest gave it his approval that it was allowed to move forward.

Snoop Dogg – Drop It Like It’s Hot

Already a hip-hop icon by 2004, Snoop Dogg’s 2004 single “Drop It Like It’s Hot” earned the rapper his first Billboard Hot 100 No.1. It stayed at the top of the chart for three weeks and also marked the first chart-topper for guest artist Pharrell Williams, too. In 2009, the track was named by Billboard as the most popular rap song of the noughties.

Alan Silvestri – The Avengers

American composer Alan Silvestri reprised his role as soundtrack mastermind for Marvel following his work on Captain America: The First Avenger with The Avengers score. “The Avengers,” a track taken from the OST, is now trending as part of a “Then and Now” video on YouTube that shows how the cast of the film has changed over the years since its release. It is also trending as the sound for videos that show the journey of an activity, from creating popcorn to learning how to drive a race car.

July 3

The Police – Every Breath You Take

In 1983, The Police released “Every Breath You Take,” which would go on to become the biggest song in North America that year. The track, which appeared on its Synchronicity album, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and Canada’s corresponding RPM chart for four and earned two Grammys (Song Of The Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals) in 1984. Now considered the band’s signature song, it was crowned the most-played song in radio history by BMI in 2019. As The Police ready a reissue of Synchronicity, its fifth and final album, “Every Breath You Take” is experiencing a resurgence among fans.

Nina Simone – Feeling Good

“Feeling Good” was originally written for the musical The Roar Of The Greasepaint – The Smell Of The Crowd, but perhaps its most famous version is the one recorded by Nina Simone. The star covered the track for her 1965 album, I Put A Spell On You, although it wasn’t released as a single until 1994. It has been sampled by numerous artists over the years, including Jay-Z and Kanye West, Flo Rida, and Bassnectar. Simone’s version of the track has returned to the front of the public consciousness thanks to its appearance in the A Quiet Place prequel, Day One.

Sia – Breathe Me

Taken from Sia’s third studio album, Colour The Small One, “Breathe Me” was released in 2004. Since its release, it has sold over 1.2 million copies in the U.S. alone and has been featured on multiple TV shows, including Misfits, The Simpsons, and Six Feet Under. It is now trending on TikTok as users share their experiences of resilience and getting through tough situations.

Lorde – Solar Power

In 2021, Lorde returned with a markedly different sound from her second album, Melodrama, in “Solar Power.” The lead single from her third album of the same name centered around psych-tinged, sunkissed indie-pop and featured backing vocals from Clairo and Phoebe Bridgers. As summer continues, fans are returning to the track and others from Lorde, causing it to trend online.

Keith David – Friends On The Other Side

“Friends On The Other Side” was written by Randy Newman and performed by Keith David for the 2009 animated film, The Princess And The Frog. David voices villain Doctor Facilier in the movie and the song depicts him plotting to take control of New Orleans. The song is being used as a soundtrack for gaming videos on YouTube Shorts, with fans particularly using it for the game Geometry Dash.

June 26

ScHoolboy Q – Collard Greens (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

Released in 2013, “Collard Greens” served as the lead single from ScHoolboy Q’s third studio album, Oxymoron. It featured an appearance from Kendrick Lamar, which saw the rapper include bars in Spanish and French. The track made an entrance on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK R&B Chart and gave Q a Top 40 finish on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It is experiencing a resurgence after the rapper joined Lamar on stage at his recent LA show.

Jhené Aiko – My Mine

Taken from her mixtape Sailing Soul(s), “My Mine” found Jhené Aiko exploring the darker side of relationships. “Buried alive here inside a nightmare,” she sings. “Living a life where you’re gone / There is no light here.” Fans are using the song to soundtrack a new TikTok trend where they profess they’ll be OK through a breakup.

Sublime – Doin’ Time

On its 1997 track “Doin’ Time,” Sublime compared being cheated on and treated poorly by a girlfriend to being in prison. The track samples numerous other songs, including a Herbie Mann cover of George Gershwin’s “Summertime,” Beastie Boys’ “Slow And Low,” and Malcolm McLaren’s “Buffalo Gals,” among others. As summer hits the northern hemisphere, the track is experiencing a resurgence online.

Anthony Gonzalez – Un Poco Loco

“Un Polo Loco” features on the soundtrack for Disney/Pixar’s 2017 animated film Coco and is sung by characters Miguel and Héctor during a music contest in the Land Of The Dead. The track is regaining popularity online as people use it to soundtrack gaming videos.

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