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).
It’s hard not to think of Jon Pardi’s “Can’t Turn You Down” as one that got away. It’s a fantastic country-pop song, featuring a great guitar hook and a soaring chorus and it can only have remained a deep cut from Pardi’s second album California Sunrise because that record also included sure-fire hits such as “Dirt On My Boots” and “Heartache On The Dancefloor.” Proving you can’t keep a good song down, “Can’t Turn You Down” is now in the spotlight as part of a country trend on TikTok where creators are showing off outfits and lip-syncing.
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Elton John’s “Rocket Man” needs little introduction. Originally released as the lead single from his fifth album, Honky Château in 1972, this classy, widescreen ballad went quintuple platinum in the U.S. alone and played a significant role in launching the esteemed British singer-songwriter on the international stage. A fan favorite ever since, the song lent its title to the 2019 biopic about Elton John’s life and career and it’s now rising again thanks to a TikTok trend where creators show off a variety of things they aren’t going to fall for because of artificial glitz and glamour.
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Promoted by a memorable video paying homage to the influential American crime drama Breaking Bad, Rich The Kid’s “Plug Walk” peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2018 and remains his biggest solo hit to date. The Queens, New York rapper recently posted an amazing video of himself walking with a tiger on TikTok and “Plug Walk” is enjoying an upsurge in popularity on the same platform as it’s part of a fun trend where creators lip-sync while looking like crooners.
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Issued as the fourth single from Young Jeezy’s acclaimed fourth album TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition, “Leave You Alone” also featured a cameo from the celebrated, multiple Grammy Award-winning R&B star Ne Yo. A slow-burner on the charts, the song narrowly missed the Top 50 of the U.S. Hot 100, but it did make it to No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs run down and eventually moved over a million copies. More recently, “Leave You Alone” is having a comeback on TikTok as part of a trend wherein creators are sad that they have to be alone.
HBO’s widely-acclaimed post-apocalyptic drama The Last Of Us is the TV series everyone is talking about right now, with the show attracting widespread acclaim as well as viewing figures in the multi-millions. It’s also been hailed for its impactful placing of songs to match its striking visuals. Its second series previously made strategic use of Nirvana’s “You Know You’re Right” and Pearl Jam’s “Future Days,” and the recent, action-packed season finale signed off in style with Soundgarden’s epic 1996 hit “Burden In My Hand” playing over the end credits.
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The lead single from All-American Rejects’ third album When The World Comes Down (2008), “Gives You Hell” was a U.S. Top 5 smash and it remains the band’s most successful single. This catchy guitar-driven song is seemingly irrepressible and it’s currently being aired on the popular Oklahoman alt-rockers’ “Pop Up” House tour of North America, during which the band has been surprising (and delighting) fans around the country with a series of surprise pop up backyard shows.
Yung Gravy’s first U.S. Top 30 hit “Betty (Get Money)” and its official video – featuring the Minnesota rapper dancing in a white fur coat – went viral on TikTok shortly after its initial release in 2022. However, the song is now causing a sensation on the platform for a second time as it’s currently at the center of a TikTok pause dance trend, where creators hold a specific pose for dramatic effect.
Issued as the second single from Maddie & Tae’s sophomore set, 2019’s The Way It Feels, “Die From A Broken Heart” rewarded the Nashville-based country duo with a U.S. Top 40 hit and it’s since gone platinum four times over. It’s a poignant breakup song with a broad appeal, so it’s no surprise that it’s currently trending on TikTok, where creators are lip sync-ing its heartbreak-ridden lyric that emphasizes how we all go through tough times in our lives.
Bell Biv DeVoe’s debut single “Poison” shot straight to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1990. An arresting example of new jack swing (a late 1980s/early 90s hybrid of hip-hop, R&B and swing), the song became one of 1990’s most successful singles, enjoying heavy rotation on MTV and significant airplay on mainstream radio, and it’s still the Boston vocal trio’s biggest-selling single. It’s currently undergoing a resurgence on TikTok as part of a trend where creators reveal their favorite pastimes, ranging from drawing to eating Mexican food and moving cartoons.
Rapper and producer Young Jeezy went supernova with his 2005 smash “Soul Survivor” featuring Akon. A U.S. Billboard Top 5 hit, the song remains his highest-charting single and his signature hit, though its parent album, Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 also shot to No. 2 and went double platinum in North America. “Soul Survivor” has continued to serve Young Jeezy well ever since. It featured on Def Jam: Icon, a video game for the Xbox 360 & PS3 and it’s currently at the center of a TikTok trend (#thatsanairball) where creators reflect on moments where people expect you to be mediocre, but instead you were extraordinary.
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Pearl Jam’s Lightning Bolt highlight “Future Days” has been part of The Last Of Us lore since 2020, when it appeared in the pre-TV show video game The Last Of Us II, in an emotional scene where one of the main characters (Joel) plays the song for another (Ellie). “Future Days” returned to the HBO drama series last week when it appeared at the end of The Last OF Us’ most recent episode in a pivotal scene featuring a hauntingly memorable throwback to that original scene from 2020.
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English new wave act Wang Chung enjoyed significant chart success in the U.S., chalking up five Billboard Top 40 singles during their mid-80s heyday. Rising to No. 2 during the 1986 Christmas season, the infectious “Everybody Must Have Fun” remains the band’s biggest hit to date and it’s now enjoying a spike in popularity after featuring in the latest trailer for the action adventure video game Grand Theft Auto VI.
R&B singer and rapper (and sister of Jhené Aiko) Mila J released two widely-acclaimed EPs for the legendary Motown imprint prior to releasing her full-length debut Dopamine in 2017. The first of her Motown EPs included the exuberant “My Main” (featuring Ty Dolla $ign) and the song is currently integral to a TikTok dance trend placing a unique emphasis on creators moving their knees.
Jessie J originally recorded “Flashlight” for the soundtrack of Pitch Perfect 2, but actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld has received widespread acclaim for her performance of the same song, known as the “Sweet Life Mix.” Steinfeld famously sings the song at her audition for the Barden Bellas in the film (which celebrates its tenth anniversary this week) and her “Flashlight (Sweet Life Mix)” has recently seen some uplift in popularity due to Steinfeld’s role in director Ryan Coogler’s latest blockbuster Sinners.
Dazz Band’s name comes from a portmanteau of the description “danceable jazz” and that seems entirely appropriate as the enduring Cleveland, OH outfit has consistently filled dancefloors since the late 1970s. Arguably the band’s signature song, 1982’s funky, Grammy Award-winning “Let It Whip” was a U.S. Billboard Top 5 hit on release and it’s now behind a new TikTok dance trend where creators strut their stuff and show off their old school disco funk moves.
Though it’s now regarded as one of ABBA’s many classic songs, “Thank You For The Music” was originally a deep cut from the Swedish superstars’ fifth LP The Album that also partnered with “Eagle” on a double A-side single in limited territories. However, it later came to prominence (making the U.K. Top 40) when it was issued as a single to promote the band’s 1983 compilation, also titled Thank You For The Music. It’s now behind a viral post from April 17 that highlights some of the greatest musicians of all time (it’s currently hit 10.9m views and counting) and it’s sparked a TikTok trend where creators use the sound to celebrate artists they love or things they’re grateful for – with some including a comedic twist or two.
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Few bands evoke the feeling of sun, surf and summertime more readily than The Beach Boys, though the Brian Wilson and Mike Love-penned “The Warmth Of The Sun” perhaps carries a little more of the melancholy we usually associate with the fall. Nonetheless, this sublime ballad (a highlight of the Californian stars’ 1964 album Shut Down Vol. 2) sounds good at any time of year, so it’s no surprise to learn it’s popular with creators on TikTok where it’s currently sound-tracking makeup tutorials and much more.
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The second single lifted from Empire Of The Sun’s second album, 2013’s Ice On The Dune, “Alive” has gone on to become one of the pioneering electronic duo’s key songs. A true blue electro-pop banger, the song topped Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart on release and went on to go quadruple platinum in the band’s native Australia. Also a staple of film soundtracks such as Dumb & Dumber To and Endless Love, “Alive” is now part of a TikTok trend where creators list things they would do that would extremely agitate a person the opposite of their type.
Lorde is very much back in the spotlight as her new single “What Was That” was released on April 24, just two days after some of her most devoted fans crammed into New York City’s Washington Square Park ahead of her impromptu appearance in that legendary outdoor space. Her fans spontaneously began singing “Ribs” before Lorde hit the stage and this same song – originally a highlight of 2013’s Pure Heroine – is presently at the heart of a Butterfly Effect Trend on TikTok where creators appreciate a certain key moment that brought their lives to its current fruition.
Connie Francis became the first woman in history to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 when “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” topped the chart in 1960. One of the world’s biggest stars during her 1950s and early 60s heyday, her catalog also includes further huge hits such as “Lipstick On Your Collar,” “Follow The Boys” and “Pretty Little Baby.” The latter song is currently undergoing a resurgence as TikTokers are lip-syncing to the cute old classic while sporting their best looks.
A U.S. Billboard Top 10 smash from the L.A.-based Black Eyed Peas’ hit-stuffed fifth studio album, The E.N.D, “Rock That Body” was co-produced by David Guetta and ingeniously uses samples from Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock’s “It Takes Two.” It’s a sure-fire party anthem which simply refuses to age, so it’s no surprise to discover TikTokers are now dancing and singing along to the catchy tune with a shimmy style.
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Widely regarded as one of the most significant releases in Elton John’s canon, 1973’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was a runaway success, reaching No. 1 on the U.S Billboard 200 and going on to sell more than 20 million copies worldwide. Reading like a greatest hits album in itself, the album features the likes of “Candle In The Wind,” “Bennie & The Jets” and “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting,” not to mention its classic titular song, which now features in one of the final scenes of the final season of the recently released Netflix psychological thriller series You.
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Few rock songs are quite as iconic as Queen’s legendary “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Topping the U.K. singles chart for 9 weeks on its initial release in 1975, this epic track is now widely recognized as one of the best-selling singles of all time as well as the most streamed song from the 20th Century. As popular as ever in the 2020s, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is currently trending on TikTok in content during which creators lip-sync the line’s “I don’t wanna die” line, dramatizing stressful moments in their lives. It’s also recently made its presence felt at Coachella 2025 where Green Day used it for the walk-on during their headlining set and Benson Boone covered it with help from a very special guest – Queen’s Brian May.
The lead single from The Sundays’ third and final studio album Static & Silence, “Summertime” was actually inspired by several of the bands’ friends joining a dating service. A U.K. Top 20 hit on release in 1997, the song also performed strongly around the world and it remains one of The Sundays’ most loved tracks. Its upbeat vibe is now an integral part of a TikTok trend where creators present general feel good content in preparation for a great summer ahead.
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Though based in the U.S., acclaimed singer-songwriter NIKI is currently the most-streamed Indonesian musical artist in history, with over 4.4 billion streams on Spotify as of April 2025. One of her biggest songs to date, 2021’s smooth, R&B-flavored “Every Summertime” featured in the soundtrack album to the Marvel Comics-inspired Shang-Chi & The Legend Of The Ten Rings and is now central to a TikTok photo carousel trend where creators display images of themselves slowly growing older with long-time friends.
Young, Birmingham, U.K. – based singer Katie May burst onto the scene with “You’re The Only One” in 2007. However, this irresistible, club-friendly electro-pop banger has now come to prominence again via a TikTok trend where creators are enthusiastically lip-sync-ing to the track’s chorus.
The popular musical fantasy TV series Shimmer & Shine ran for four series on Nickelodeon from 2015 to 2020 and it has since spawned a series of books and a toy line manufactured by Fisher Price. The show stars twin genies, Shimmer and Shine, who grant wishes for their human friend Leah and it eventually ran to 86 episodes in all. The program’s upbeat theme song was performed by Melanie Fontana, though a sped-up version of the track is currently trending on TikTok as part of a dance trend that continues to grow.
Elton John’s widely-celebrated “Bennie & The Jets” topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on its initial release in February 1974. Also a highlight of John’s magnum opus Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and a highlight of his set at 1985’s Live Aid, this enduring hit song is again undergoing a resurgence as part of a TikTok trend in which high schoolers are proudly showing off their best Prom outfits.
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Billy Preston’s second solo U.S. chart-topper, 1974’s “Nothing From Nothing” is also famous for being the first song ever to be performed live on the long-running Saturday Night Live. In the present day, though, it’s trending on TikTok and enjoying an uptick in streams after it soundtracked the final moments and closing credits of the season 3 finale of HBO’s comedy drama series The White Lotus that aired on April 6.
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Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” is well used to setting trends and breaking records. This massive hit song, featuring contributions from Pharrell Williams and rapper T.I. spent 12 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, making it the longest-running single of 2013 in the United States. It’s since earned a Diamond certification in North America and has become one of best-selling singles of all time, with estimated sales of around 15 million and counting. However, it still has legs and it’s presently at the heart of a TikTok trend wherein creators share feel good content mixed with nostalgic throwback dance videos.
A U.S. Top 10 smash on its original release in 1977, Commodores’ much-loved, Lionel Richie-penned smooth soul classic “Easy” has again risen to prominence as part of TikTok’s on-going “God forbid” trend where creators may find themselves guilty of a specific action, yet they’re questioning what’s the big deal.
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James Brown’s seminal “Get Up Offa That Thing” vigorously urges listeners to “dance ‘til you feel better.” Accordingly, it’s no surprise that the R&B legend’s enduring 1976 hit is again doing just that on TikTok as part of a viral trend wherein creators show off “Old school funk” dance moves.
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A key track from Los Angeles-based Swedish R&B singer Snoh Aalegra’s Grammy-nominated third album Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies, 2021’s “In Your Eyes” has returned to prominence thanks to a Smooth dance trend on TikTik incorporating Michael Jackson’s famous head bob – one of the late pop superstar’s signature moves.
One of nu-metal stars Limp Bizkit’s best-loved tracks, 2000’s “Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle)” topped the charts in the U.K. and also provided the band’s biggest U.S. hit. The song has recently returned as the theme tune to Netflix’s urban fantasy action series Devil May Cry which launched on April 3 and is also central to a TikTok trend where creators show off hand poses resembling popular poses from nu-metal artists such as Limp Bizkit from the early 2000s.
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A new recording of Sting’s “Fragile,” composed by Aaron May and David Ridley provides the show-stopping anchor at the end of the second episode of Netflix’s new U.K. crime drama series Adolescence. The haunting new version of this key track from Sting’s second solo album, Nothing But The Sun (1987) is performed by the actual children’s choir depicted in the series starring Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper.
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Also soundtracking memorable small screen action – and trending on Tik Tok – Mondo Cozmo’s “Shine” features in the final episode of the third series of Amazon Prime’s Reacher, starring Alan Ritchson and based on the best-selling book series by author Lee Child. One of the Philadelphia singer-songwriter’s most acclaimed tracks, “Shine” also topped Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay Chart on its initial release in 2016.
Avicii’s U.K. chart-topping 2012 hit “I Could Be The One” is at the center of lipsync and fitness-related content currently trending on Tik Tok. A collaboration between the late Swedish superstar and Dutch DJ Nicky Romero, the song also features uncredited vocals from Swedish singer Noonie Bao and remains one of Avicii’s most-loved tracks.
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Having ripped up dancefloors since it first became a transatlantic Top 10 smash in 1981, Kool And The Gang’s enduring disco funk classic “Get Down On It” is still inducing music fans to strut their stuff. The song is at the heart of a Tik Tok trend where groups of friends – including the Gator Boys basketball team – take turns in enjoying feeling liberated and showing off their best old school dance moves.
Country creators are currently admiring Billy Currington’s “Don’t” as well as the country lifestyle in general on Tik Tok. Originally released in 2008 – and also a feature of the Nashville-based country star’s album Little Bit Of Everything – the song is also imbued with R&B as well as country, with the song’s soulful groove and relaxed vibe contributing to its broad appeal for listeners of all persuasions.
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The introspective, piano-framed ballad “Half A Man” originally won friends as the emotional denouement to Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis’ debut album A Place We Know in 2019. Now, creators from Tik Tok’s sub-community BookTok who are also fans of best-selling fantasy novel Onyx Storm are gravitating to the track as a theme song for one of the main characters after the book’s author Rebecca Yarros included it in her Writing Vibes playlist for the book.
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