Rihanna, Bobby “Boris” Pickett, And Rockwell: 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).

September 5

Rihanna – Love On The Brain

On “Love On The Brain,” Rihanna took inspiration from doo-wop and soul from the 1950s and 60s, repackaging it in a modern style. In the emotionally powerful track, the star sings of a toxic but addictive relationship. The song is trending again following Rihanna’s appearance in a perfume campaign for Christian Dior’s J’adore, with a promotional film soundtracked by “Love On The Brain.”

Bobby “Boris” Pickett – Monster Mash

Although considered a novelty song, Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s “Monster Mash” has experienced an enduring impact that many other tracks of its ilk fall short of. A now-traditional soundtrack of Halloween, the song tells the tale of a mad scientist who creates a monster that comes to life and comes up with a new dance move that becomes popular among other monsters, like Dracula and the Wolfman. As anticipation for Halloween 2024 ramps up, the song is beginning to experience its annual resurgence, with content creators online flocking to use the song in their videos.

Rockwell – Somebody’s Watching Me

In 1983, Rockwell released “Somebody’s Watching Me,” the lead single from his debut studio album of the same name. It featured vocals from Michael and Jermaine Jackson and Norman Dozier. It rocketed into the Top 5 of the charts around the world, including in the US, South Africa, Canada, Switzerland, and more. The track has become associated with Halloween thanks to its themes of paranoia and fear and is trending again as the season approaches once again.

Phil Collins – En Mi Corazón Estarás

Phil Collins contributed the song “You’ll Be In My Heart” to the soundtrack of Disney’s animated film Tarzan in 1999. “En Mi Corazón Estarás” is a Spanish version of that song, performed by Collins. That version of the track made it to No.32 in Billboard’s Hot Latin Tracks chart, marking the star’s only appearance on the list in his career. The song is trending on TikTok as creators use it to share the people and places that have touched their hearts.

The La’s – There She Goes

“There She Goes” gave The La’s its biggest single, hitting No.13 in the UK charts when it was re-released in 1990. The track was taken from the band’s self-titled debut album – its only LP to be released – and has frequently been listed as one of the greatest songs of all time. As autumn takes over from summer, the song is trending online, with fans using it as the soundtrack for seasonal snippets of Gilmore Girls and Gossip Girl, as well as in general autumn-themed content.

August 21

Sir Mix-A-Lot – Nasty Dog

The dog at the heart of Sir Mix-A-Lot’s 1994 track “Nasty Dog” isn’t a furry friend but, in fact, the rapper himself. Instead of taking an interest in his fellow canines, the star spends the song in pursuit of a “kitty cat,” tempting them down from treetops “with a jingle of my car keys.” Between his recounted attempts, barks and woofs take on a percussive role, Mix-a-Lot occasionally adding to the layers with baritone “bow wow” refrains.

Riley Green – There Was This Girl

On “There Was This Girl,” country singer Riley Green shares stories about different women he’s met, from encounters at bars to the front rows of his shows. What starts out as a tale of various crushes, though, ends in commitment and the musician finding out “what love is all about.” The 2018 single is experiencing a resurgence thanks to an acoustic version soundtracking a new TikTok photo swipe trend, in which users share photos of themselves and their partners.

Cher – Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves

Cher’s first solo US No.1 single “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves” put the pop icon in the shoes of a 16-year-old Romani girl, sharing details of her life. The big comeback track appeared on the album of the same name, which arrived in 1971 and earned Cher a nomination for the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy in 1972. It is receiving renewed attention thanks to a sync in Netflix’s Umbrella Academy, in which it soundtracks a dance sequence.

Hannah Montana – You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home

Hannah Montana’s 2009 track “You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home” was stuffed with superstar talent. Its vocals were recorded by the fictional Montana’s real-life counterpart, Miley Cyrus, while Taylor Swift co-wrote it with Boys Like Girls’ Martin Johnson. It appeared in 2009’s Hannah Montana: The Movie and is now trending thanks to Cyrus’ induction into Disney Legends.

August 14

The Cardigans – Lovefool

The Cardigans’ catchy hit single “Lovefool” was released in 1996 but didn’t reach the upper echelons of charts around the world until a year later. Its success was propelled by a feature on the soundtrack of Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet and a re-release, pushing it to No.2 on the Official UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay Chart and to No.1 in New Zealand and Scotland. The song is now experiencing a resurgence as fans use it to soundtrack edits of couples they wanted to see together on TV shows and share their own covers of it.

Lorde – The Love Club

In 2012, Lorde introduced herself to the world with The Love Club EP. Its title track depicted the then-teenager befriending the bad kids in her peer group and shone a light on the negative sides of popularity. TikTok users are setting it to a new trend on the app where they show recent photos from their camera roll.

Lloyd – You

“You” previewed Lloyd’s second studio album, Street Love, in 2007 and boosted a feature from Lil Wayne. It became the R&B singer’s first Top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100 and his first No.1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Nearly a decade after its release, it is regaining attention after being posted by Olympian Suni Lee.

Young Jeezy – Leave You Alone

Young Jeezy’s slow-burning “Leave You Alone” was released in 2012 and saw the rapper team up with hip-hop icon Warren G, who produced the track. It marked Jeezy’s fifth single from his 2011 album, Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition, and after a steady climb up the charts earned him a No.3 placement on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Kavinsky – Nightcall

Kavinsky’s “Nightcall” brought together some of the buzziest names of the early 2010s, featuring CSS’ Lovefoxxx, produced by Daft Punk’s Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and mixed by Sebastian. It went on to be used as the theme for Nicolas Winding Rein’s Drive and appeared on Kavinsky’s debut album OutRun in 2013. It is now getting a second life after he performed it with Phoenix and Angèle at the Paris Olympics closing ceremony.

The Tragically Hip – Ahead By A Century

In 1996, The Tragically Hip scored its most successful single in its home country of Canada with “Ahead By A Century.” It topped the singles chart in the territory and was one of the top 10 most-played songs there that year. A decade later, it would become the final song the band would play live, closing out its last concert in Victoria, BC. After featuring in the new season of Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, the track is gaining fresh momentum.

Christopher Jackson – Where You Are

Hamilton superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda penned “Where You Are” for the soundtrack of Disney’s Moana, tapping into the feeling of finding happiness in one’s current situation. It’s become a central part of a TikTok trend that sees users sharing vacation posts, expressing their gratitude for being “where they are.”

August 7

Jhené Aiko – None Of Your Concern

On 2019’s “None Of Your Concern,” Jhené Aiko got personal. The track delved into her then-former relationship with Big Sean, who guested on the track, and detailed the couple’s issues and the pain of moving on. It followed the pair collaborating on Sean’s “Single Again,” which also looked at their partnership in detail. The track has since been certified double platinum by the RIAA and is experiencing a resurgence as fans share live clips from the star’s tour.

Lynyrd Skynyrd – I Need You

“I Need You” appeared on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s second studio album, Second Helping, in 1974. The song, co-written by Ed King, Gary Rossington, and Ronnie Van Zant, details being away from a loved one and yearning to be back by their side. TikTok users are soundtracking a new trend where they share the people – or things – that they love.

Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting

Richard Marx wrote his 1989 single “Right Here Waiting” as a love letter to his wife, Cynthia Rhodes, while she was away in South Africa filming a movie. He initially sent it to Barbra Streisand to sing but, after she rejected it, recorded it himself. It went on to become a No.1 hit in countries around the world and is now featured in the trailer for Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice sequel.

Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu – Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride

“Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” was the main theme on the soundtrack for Disney’s animated movie Lilo & Stitch. “There’s no place I’d rather be/Than on my surfboard out at sea,” Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu sings in the track, and fans are using the song as the basis for videos sharing their vacations in Hawaii and beyond.

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