3 Classic Songs that Had a Resurgence Years After Their Original Release

Sometimes when a song is released into the world, it hits right away. In the first week, it rockets up the charts and becomes a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. But other times, that is not the case. There are songs in music history that were slow burns or that, due to a moment in pop culture, made them rise up into the cultural landscape.

Here below, we wanted to explore three such songs. From rock to pop to even a holiday track that took its time entering the sonic consciousness. But once they did, they were here to stay for good. Indeed, these are three classic songs that had a resurgence years after their original release.

[RELATED: 5 of Kate Bush’s Most Underrated Albums]

“Running Up that Hill” by Kate Bush from Hounds of Love (1985)

This song by Kate Bush was originally released in 1985 on her LP Hounds of Love. But when it was part of an important episode on the Netflix series Stranger Things, “Running Up that Hill” ran right up to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2022. The spirited song has a beautiful climax after beginning slow and breathy and it proved to all fans of Bush their devotion and loyalty was worthwhile. On the now-iconic track, she sings,

And if I only could

I’d make a deal with God

And I’d get Him to swap our places

Be runnin’ up that road

Be runnin’ up that hill

Be runnin’ up that building

Say, if I only could, oh

“Truth Hurts” by Lizzo from Cuz I Love You (2017)

Released as a single in 2017, this song became a hit in 2019 when Lizzo seemed to become the biggest pop star in the world and was one of the major musical voices in the early 2020s. She released the track again in 2019 on the deluxe version of her popular LP Cuz I Love You. And along with songs like “Juice,” it cemented her status in pop culture. The song itself opens with a heavy piano line and perhaps Lizzo’s most famous lyric: Why men great ’til they gotta be great? And on the rest of the tune, she sings,

I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% that b—h

Even when I’m crying crazy

Yeah, I got boy problems, that’s the human in me

Bling bling, then I solve ’em, that’s the goddess in me

You coulda had a bad b—h, non-committal

Help you with your career just a little

You’re ‘posed to hold me down, but you’re holding me back

And that’s the sound of me not calling you back

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee from Merry Christmas from Brenda Lee (1958)

Released way back in 1958, singer Brenda Lee earned a No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023. It’s one of the most popular Christmas songs and bridges the holiday spirit with rock and roll. Of course, it’s been used in myriad television shows and movies, including the beloved film Home Alone. When the track went No. 1 in 2023, it made Lee—at 78 years old—the oldest artist to ever garner a top hit. And on the tune, she belts,

Rockin’ around the Christmas tree

At the Christmas party hop

Mistletoe hung where you can see

Every couple tries to stop

Rockin’ around the Christmas tree

Let the Christmas spirit ring

Later we’ll have some pumpkin pie

And we’ll do some caroling

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Photo by Chris Moorhouse/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images