Back in Time Today
Remember that catchy tune from years ago that suddenly everyone’s humming again? Thank TikTok for that musical resurrection!
The social media platform has become a powerful force in the music industry, breathing new life into songs that had faded from radio playlists.
From ’70s classics to early 2000s pop gems, these tracks found unexpected second lives through viral dances, emotional montages, and creative challenges.
10. “Champagne Coast” – Blood Orange (2011)
The dreamy alternative R&B track from Dev Hynes’ project Blood Orange unexpectedly skyrocketed to fame a decade after its release. Originally a cult favorite among indie music fans, the song’s hypnotic beat and atmospheric production made it perfect for TikTok’s aesthetic slow-motion videos. With over 1.1 million videos using the sound, “Champagne Coast” became the soundtrack for romantic couple content and artsy fashion clips. Its revival was so powerful that many new listeners didn’t realize the song wasn’t a recent release. Blood Orange even acknowledged the track’s surprising resurgence, showing how TikTok can completely transform an artist’s most-streamed catalog overnight.
9. “Forever Young” – Alphaville (1984)
This melancholic synth-pop anthem from the ’80s found its emotional home with Gen Z creators. The nostalgic lyrics about youth and immortality struck a chord with TikTok users creating bittersweet life montages and coming-of-age content. Featured in nearly half a million videos, Alphaville’s track became the go-to soundtrack for graduation videos, childhood memory compilations, and vintage-style edits. The song’s dreamy synthesizers and hopeful yet wistful message perfectly complemented TikTok’s visual storytelling format. Many younger users discovered the song for the first time, proving that great music transcends generations when given the right platform to shine again.
8. “Come and Get Your Love” – Redbone (1974)
This Native American rock band’s groovy hit experienced a spectacular revival nearly five decades after its release! While Guardians of the Galaxy gave it an initial boost in 2014, TikTok truly cemented its modern popularity with wholesome family dance videos and multi-generational challenges. The song’s infectious rhythm and positive vibes made it perfect for feel-good content. With over 386,000 videos, creators used Redbone’s classic track to showcase everything from parents dancing with children to friends enjoying carefree moments together. The song’s universal appeal demonstrates how TikTok can bridge generational gaps, bringing grandparents and grandchildren together through shared musical appreciation.
7. “Another Love” – Tom Odell (2012)
Raw emotion powers this piano ballad’s TikTok resurrection. Originally released in 2012, Odell’s haunting vocals found new resonance with users creating breakup content, emotional POV stories, and vulnerability challenges. The song’s dramatic crescendo became particularly popular for transition videos where creators revealed personal struggles or transformations. With nearly 240,000 videos utilizing the track, it became the unofficial anthem for emotional catharsis on the platform. Interestingly, different sections of the song sparked different trends – the quiet opening for intimate confessions and the powerful chorus for emotional reveals – showing how versatile even a single track can be in TikTok’s creative ecosystem.
6. “Harness Your Hopes” – Pavement (1999)
Talk about an unexpected comeback! This obscure B-side from indie rock legends Pavement wasn’t even released as a proper single in 1999. The quirky track with its offbeat lyrics suddenly exploded on TikTok, transforming from deep-cut obscurity to the band’s most-streamed song ever. TikTok’s algorithm mysteriously pushed the song to users, sparking a trend of indie music discovery videos and alternative aesthetic content. The infectious guitar riff and Stephen Malkmus’s distinctive vocals captured a new generation of listeners who embraced its quirky charm. With over 219,000 videos, this revival proved TikTok doesn’t just resurrect mainstream hits but can completely rewrite a band’s legacy by elevating previously overlooked gems.
5. “Unwritten” – Natasha Bedingfield (2004)
The ultimate empowerment anthem got its second wind through TikTok’s creative community. Bedingfield’s uplifting 2004 hit became the soundtrack for confidence-boosting transformations, journal-writing aesthetic videos, and nostalgic Y2K fashion content. Its inspiring lyrics about embracing possibilities resonated with creators documenting personal growth journeys. The chorus’s declaration that “the rest is still unwritten” perfectly aligned with TikTok’s emphasis on authentic self-expression and life’s endless potential. Featured in over 207,000 videos, the song sparked collaborative challenges where users would dramatically throw open windows or doors during the chorus – a literal interpretation of the lyrics that became one of the platform’s most joyful trends.
4. “Genie in a Bottle” – Christina Aguilera (1999)
Christina’s breakthrough hit found fresh magic with TikTok’s Y2K obsession. The late ’90s pop anthem became the perfect soundtrack for makeup transformations, fashion throwbacks, and dance challenges that celebrated the era’s distinctive aesthetic. Creator-choreographed routines incorporated the song’s suggestive lyrics with modern interpretations, while beauty influencers used it to showcase dramatic before-and-after reveals. With over 207,000 videos, the track introduced Aguilera’s early work to Gen Z audiences who embraced its nostalgic appeal. The song’s revival coincided perfectly with the broader fashion resurgence of Y2K styles, demonstrating how TikTok trends often operate at the intersection of music, fashion, and cultural nostalgia.
3. “Kiss of Life” – Sade (1993)
Sade’s silky smooth jazz-soul fusion track found an unexpected home among TikTok’s aesthetically-minded creators. The 1993 gem became the soundtrack for soft-focus fashion videos, self-care routines, and romantic couple content under the viral hashtag #sadegirl. The song’s warm, intimate production quality paired perfectly with TikTok’s dreamier visual trends. Users gravitated toward its sophisticated vibe to elevate everyday moments into cinematic experiences – from morning coffee rituals to sunset drives. With nearly 194,000 videos featuring the track, this revival introduced Sade’s timeless elegance to a new generation while inspiring a broader trend of seeking out sophisticated ’90s R&B deep cuts for content creation.
2. “Murder on the Dancefloor” – Sophie Ellis-Bextor (2001)
From early 2000s dance-pop hit to 2023 viral sensation! Ellis-Bextor’s catchy track exploded on TikTok after a memorable scene in the film “Saltburn” featured actor Barry Keoghan dancing to the song in a particularly unforgettable way. The movie moment sparked a wave of recreation videos, with users attempting their own versions of the provocative dance. What began as film appreciation quickly evolved into a broader dance challenge that introduced the British pop star to an entirely new audience. With over 191,000 videos, this revival demonstrates TikTok’s unique power to amplify cultural moments from other media, creating a feedback loop that can catapult a 20+ year old song back onto global charts.
1. “Look After You” – The Fray (2005)
This heartfelt ballad from The Fray’s debut album found its emotional second life through TikTok’s relationship and nostalgia content. The piano-driven track became the perfect soundtrack for romantic montages, long-distance relationship stories, and sentimental life milestones. Users particularly gravitated toward the song’s protective lyrics about caring for loved ones. The track’s gentle build and emotional chorus provided the perfect backdrop for creators sharing vulnerability about important relationships in their lives. With approximately 188,000 videos, this revival showed how TikTok can resurrect songs that connect deeply with universal emotions rather than just dance-friendly beats, proving that heart-tugging ballads have just as much viral potential as upbeat tracks.