The recent success of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” follows a well-executed feature in Stranger Things Season 4, and happens to be just the latest in a pattern of once-popular songs regaining popularity thanks to their inclusion in movies and series. One of the more prominent examples of this from days gone by was Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, which was featured in Wayne’s World. The inclusion of the song in the film brought it up to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 after originally peaking at No. 9 in 1975-76 – proving that Stranger Things isn’t breaking new ground here. 

Many songs have seen a rapid rise in popularity, in the same way, these just being a few of them.

Unchained Melody, Ghost

The Righteous Brothers released the best-known rendition of “Unchained Melody,” which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 list in 1965. After The Righteous Brothers’ track was utilised in the box office blockbuster film Ghost during the iconic pottery wheel scene, “Unchained Melody” resurfaced on the US Billboard charts in 1990. “Unchained Melody” reentered the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 13 due to the scene’s popularity.

Stand by Me, Stand by Me

Stand by Me, written by Ben E. King, was featured on the soundtrack of the 1986 film of the same name, and a music video featuring King, River Phoenix, and Wil Wheaton was created to promote the film. The song, which peaked at No. 4 on the Hot 100 in 1961, was re-released in late 1986 and reached No. 9.

Bohemian Rhapsody, Wayne’s World

Bohemian Rhapsody is one of Queen’s most well-known songs, which was made popular again in 1992 with the comedy film Wayne’s World. The song was featured in the infamous scene where Wayne Campbell and his friends start singing along to Bohemian Rhapsody. Bohemian Rhapsody was repopularized as a result of the scene, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 after originally peaking at No. 9 in 1975-76.

Straight Outta Compton, Straight Outta Compton

Straight Outta Compton was the first gangsta rap album to be certified platinum, with one million copies sold by the time it was released. The album reached #9 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart that year, as well as #37 on the Billboard 200 chart for mainstream albums. Thanks to the success of the N.W.A biopic film, Straight Outta Compton (2015), the song re-entered the charts and reached No.38 in 2015.

Something in the Way, The Batman

Something in the Way is the 12th track on Nevermind, Nirvana’s second album, which was released in September 1991. The album launched Nirvana into stardom and sold 1 million copies worldwide. “Something in the Way” charted for the first time in August 2020, after appearing in the first trailer for the American superhero film The Batman. It was never issued as a single and was never a continuous part of the band’s live performance. Billboard’s US Rock Digital Songs Sales chart peaked at number two, while their US Alternative Digital Songs Sales chart peaked at number five.

Come and Get Your Love, Guardians of the Galaxy

The entire Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) soundtrack is full of great songs that have resurfaced in popularity, but one that sticks out is Come and Get Your Love, which is featured in the film’s opening scene. The song peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on April 13, 1974. In 2014, It was also included in the Guardians of the Galaxy’s soundtrack album, which reached the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart.

Running Up That Hill, Stranger Things

Running Up That Hill is a song by English singer and songwriter Kate Bush. It was her most successful 1980s release, reaching number nine on the UK Singles Chart and giving Bush her first hit in the United States since 1978 when it charted at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. When “Running Up That Hill” was featured significantly in season 4 of the Netflix series Stranger Things in 2022, it earned increased prominence. The song’s return on the charts led to it reaching the top ten in Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, becoming Bush’s first top-five success on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number four.