The 2010s lost classics that became sleeper hits a decade on

In the music industry, some songs take a long time to gain popularity, and this phenomenon has been observed recently with a list of the most successful songs of 2024. Among the expected chart-toppers and timeless classics, there are several tracks that initially struggled to make an impact when they were first released, particularly during the 2010s. These songs have since emerged as beloved favorites, a trend that Stuart Dredge, the head of insight at Music Ally, describes as 'one of the most fascinating trends right now. ' Let's explore some of the most notable sleeper hits from the 2010s. One standout track is 'The Night We Met' by Lord Huron, which was released in 2015. At the time of its release, the song only managed to reach number 77 on the UK charts. However, by 2024, it had climbed to become the 60th most popular song, surpassing even Charli XCX's biggest hit. The song gained traction after being featured in the soundtrack of the Netflix series '13 Reasons Why' in 2018. With its poignant lyrics reflecting on the early stages of a relationship, it has since been embraced in various TikTok memes, despite being a break-up song. Cosmopolitan even placed it at the top of its playlist. Another sleeper hit is 'Sweater Weather' by The Neighbourhood, released in 2012. This track reached the top 20 in the US but failed to break into the UK top 40. However, it has since exploded on social media, becoming the seventh most-streamed song in Spotify history and spending over three years in the global daily top 50. Its autumnal theme contributed to its status as an 'accidental seasonal hit,' and it has also been adopted as a popular choice for various social media trends. 'Champagne Coast' by Blood Orange, released in 2011, is another example of a song that found new life on TikTok. Initially, it did not chart, but British singer Dev Hynes' sultry refrain gained popularity after being featured in the soundtrack of the show 'Euphoria' in 2019. The song surged in popularity on TikTok last summer, ultimately reaching the UK top 20 in July. 'Evergreen' by Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners, released in 2017, is a brief 87-second track that initially went unnoticed but became a viral sensation on TikTok for its uplifting message. It spent an impressive 35 weeks in the UK top 60 in 2024 and made it into the overall end-of-year top 100. Billie Eilish's 'Lovely,' released in 2018, also gained significant traction after being included in the '13 Reasons Why' soundtrack. Although it did not reach the UK or US top 40s upon its release, it has since become Eilish's most-streamed song and ranks 14th on Spotify's all-time list. The Arctic Monkeys' 'I Wanna Be Yours,' a reimagining of a 1982 poem by John Cooper-Clarke, was part of the hit album 'AM' but only reached number 99 in the UK as a single. However, last year, it garnered more Spotify plays than any other song over a decade old, as TikTok users embraced its melodramatic chorus for their romantic declarations. Disturbed's haunting cover of 'The Sound of Silence,' originally by Simon and Garfunkel, has also enjoyed renewed success, spending eight months in the UK top 60 over the past year, aided by a dance remix and a TikTok shuffle dance trend. Tyler, the Creator's 'See You Again,' released in 2017, initially failed to chart but gained popularity on TikTok, where a snippet of the song became part of a personality quiz. The track finally reached number 21 in the UK in 2023 and was the 19th most-streamed song on Spotify in the US in 2024. The resurgence of older hits is not a new phenomenon, as songs from various eras have been making comebacks for years. Classics like 'Mr. Brightside' by The Killers, released in 2004, and Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill,' released in 1985, have seen renewed success thanks to their inclusion in TV and film soundtracks. However, the 2010s seem to dominate the sleeper hit landscape. Sarah Kloboves, a music data analyst, suggests that this revival is driven by individuals who grew up during that decade, as they introduce their favorite tunes to others. This trend is particularly prominent among older Gen Z listeners in their mid-20s, who are now sharing these songs with younger generations, including Gen Alpha. Dredge agrees, noting that many influencers on platforms like TikTok are using songs from the 2010s that resonated with their teenage years. Taylor Swift's 'Cruel Summer,' released in 2019, could also be classified as a sleeper hit, as it was not released as an official single at the time but eventually reached number one in 2023 and became the fifth-biggest song of 2024 on Apple Music. Musically, many of these sleeper hits possess a more restrained and atmospheric quality, often serving as emotive soundtrack songs rather than upbeat anthems. Kloboves explains that these songs were not created with the intention of becoming pop hits, and they often stand out from the mainstream sound. This uniqueness is likely why listeners connect with them on a deeper level. Eight additional sleeper hits worth mentioning include 'Pink + White' by Frank Ocean, 'No Role Modelz' by J Cole, 'Jocelyn Flores' by XXXTentacion, 'All I Want' by Kodaline, 'Lovers Rock' by TV Girl, 'Space Song' by Beach House, 'Apocalypse' by Cigarettes After Sex, and 'Freaks' by Surf Curse. Many of these songs owe their newfound success to TikTok, where tracks that evoke emotional responses in listeners tend to thrive. Toyin Mustapha, TikTok's UK head of music partnerships, emphasizes the importance of emotional resonance in a song's success. The way fans engage with music has evolved, as they now actively participate in the culture by using songs as soundtracks for their personal moments. While record labels do attempt to promote older songs as sleeper hits, it often occurs organically through fan engagement. Dredge notes that songs that evoke specific feelings or moods are more likely to go viral, and sometimes, a great song simply needs time to be appreciated, regardless of when it was created.