CURIOSITIES
Songs that became hits long after their release
Sleeper Hit: this term refers to songs that achieved international fame long after their release as singles, months, years or even decades later.
There are many reasons why a song that initially went unnoticed can later become a hit: for example, the inclusion of the song on the soundtrack of a film or TV series, or the release of a remix of that single.
Here are some of the most famous cases of sleeper hits, songs that reached success late.
Artwork, Screenshot Videoclip
Sleeper Hit: some of the most famous cases
Sleeper Hit. This term refers to songs that achieved international fame long after they were recorded or released as singles: months, years, or even decades later. There are many reasons why a song that initially went unnoticed can later become a hit: for example, the inclusion of the song on the soundtrack of a film or TV series, or the release of a remix of that single. Here are some of the most famous cases of sleeper hits, songs that reached success late.
Take on me - a-ha
"Take on Me" was first released in 1984 and failed to enter the charts even in Top 100. Subsequently, partly thanks to the support of a revolutionary video clip, the song managed to become an international hit between 1985 and 1986, reaching the top of the best-selling singles charts in many countries in Europe as well as in the United States and Canada.
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
The cover of the famous song by Leonard Cohen, recorded by Jeff Buckley in 1994, remained virtually anonymous until 2007, when it achieved incredible success worldwide after Columbia released a "Best of" to commemorate Jeff Buckley 10 years after his death. Subsequently, the U.S. magazine Rolling Stone listed this cover as 264th on its list of the 500 best songs of all time.
Summertime Sadness - Lana Del Rey
"Summertime Sadness" was released as a single on 22 June 2012, but in its original version it achieved moderate results without becoming a hit. It was DJ Cedric Gervais's remix of the song in the summer of 2013, which gave it a dance feel. This version became world-famous and managed to sell more than a million copies in the US, where it is still Lana Del Rey's best-selling track.
It Must Have Been Love - Roxette
The original version of this song dates back to 1987 and was a Christmas song, which only managed to reach the Top 5 in Sweden, the country of origin of the duo Roxette. In 1990, the song was rearranged for inclusion on the soundtrack of the film 'Pretty Woman', starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. The new version of 'It Must Have Been Love' achieved great success, being certified with two platinum and four gold discs.
Breathe - Midge Ure
"Breathe' was released in 1996 as the first single from the album of the same name. In the first two years, the song was virtually unknown to the general public. In 1998, it was then used in support of a famous Swatch advertising campaign and this allowed the song to gain notoriety outside the UK.
Living on My Own - Freddie Mercury
'Living on My Own' was the ninth track on Freddie Mercury's first solo album 'Mr. Bad Guy' and was released as a single in 1985. The original version of the song had very little success, but in 1993, the No More Brothers remixed the song in a house key and the song became a worldwide hit.
All of Me - John Legend
John Legend's romantic song was released on 12 August 2013, at a time of year when ballads usually go fairly unnoticed. The turning point came during the 2014 Grammy Awards: John Legend performed 'All of Me' live and his emotional performance reached the hearts of so many people. So, after that performance, the song achieved incredible fame, topping the Billboard 100 in May 2014 and selling a total of around 12.3 million copies.
Creep - Radiohead
'Creep' is the first single released by Radiohead and is part of their debut album, 'Pablo Honey'. The song was first released in 1992, but was judged to be too depressing and did not succeed in its homeland either. In May 1993, Radiohead was in the US: a radio station in San Francisco heard the song and played it on the radio, so gradually 'Creep' began to be played all over the US, eventually becoming a worldwide hit. Because of this, Radiohead re-released the song as a single on 6 September 1993.
Bloody Mary - Lady Gaga
That of 'Bloody Mary' is a very special case: the song was part of the 2011 album 'Born This Way', but was not released as a single. 11 years later, the song became world-famous when a TikTok user included the song in a video of a scene from the Netflix TV series 'Wednesday'. Due to its incredible success, Interscope Records decided to release the song on the radio on 2 December 2022, and it became a hit more than 10 years after it was recorded.
Running Up That Hill - Kate Bush
We conclude with a triple hit: back in 1985, this song was a big hit. Then, in 2012, a remix of the song was released for the closing ceremony of the London Olympics and was also a success. Finally, in summer 2022, 'Running Up That Hill' returned to the charts, regaining popularity thanks to its inclusion on the 'Stranger Things' soundtrack. On this occasion, the song achieved a record, becoming the single that has taken the longest to reach the top of the UK charts since its debut: 37 years. In the US, on the other hand, 'Running Up That Hill' in May 2022 increased its ratings by 9,900% on listening platforms.