7 Classic Songs That Made a Big Comeback

Gen Ys and Zs are powering the revival of back-catalog tunes sung by yesteryear’s favorite artists, and the nostalgia is strong for some of us. This resurgence of songs is proof of the self-renewing quality of good music. It also goes to show that artists can find appreciation and an audience at any stage in their career. Here are the artists and their songs that hit the right note with the boomers, Gen Z, and everyone in between.

Pretty Little Baby – Connie Francis

Connie Francis is remembered for many things, including being the first woman to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the 1960s “Everybody’s Someone’s Fool.” She had other hits, too, such as “Who’s Sorry Now?,” “Stupid Cupid,” and “My Happiness.” And then her song “Pretty Little Baby” became a household favorite, but not until early 2025.

The song stirred up quite an audience on the social media platform TikTok when users and influencers started using it as a background tune to dance. Others used the tune for cute short videos featuring babies and pets. The song gained so much momentum that even the late Connie Francis hopped on the trend. The artist was thrilled about the song’s success, even though it came 63 years after its release. She took to a Facebook post to thank everyone on TikTok for their love.

Put Your Head On My Shoulder – Paul Anka

Unlike “Pretty Little Baby,” this song by Paul Anka was a hit when it came out in 1959. The song peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top 100 chart for three weeks. And why wouldn’t it? The ballad “captured the coy tenderness of the 1950s teenage popular culture.”

Then, in 2020, the #SilhouetteChallenge on TikTok brought the song to the masses. The challenge starts with Paul Anka’s song before transitioning into a song named “Streets” by Doja Cat. The platform saw over 1.2 million videos, which allowed the old but gold tune to start trending again.

The challenge started as a body-positive movement. The first half showcases a person dancing to Paul Anka’s song. Then, as the music transitions to Doja Cat’s “Streets,” a red filter comes on and the person strikes a pose.

Running Up That Hill – Kate Bush

When Kate Bush released “Running Up That Hill,” she explained what the song was about. “It’s saying if the man could be the woman and the woman the man… they’d understand what it’s like to be the other person, and perhaps it would clear up misunderstandings.” The lyrics may have been one of the reasons why the song did well in the ’80s.

And then came 2022, when the song catapulted to the top of the UK Singles Chart once more, thanks to its use in the popular Netflix series Stranger Things Season 4. In the show, a character by the name of Max Mayfield, portrayed by Sadie Sink, listens to the song to overcome her fears and ultimately save her life. The song resonated immensely with audiences and found a new generation of fans.

Cold Heart – Elton John and Dual Lipa

Many people who listened to “Cold Heart” by Elton John and Dua Lipa, remixed by the Australian band PNAU, found it familiar. That’s because it is. The song is a fusion of not one but four Elton John songs: “Rocket Man,” “Sacrifice,” “Kiss the Bride,” and “Where’s the Shoorah?” Yes! It took four classics to make this hit number.

The song gained popularity after users across social media incorporated it into various challenges. For instance, some groups on TikTok curated unique dance moves with “Cold Heart” playing in the background.

Dreams – Fleet Macwood

When Fleetwood Mac released “Dreams” in 1977, it was already a hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song sold over one million copies and also hit No. 1 in Canada. In 2020, the song found its way back into people’s hearts. And all it took was a man drinking some cranberry juice and skateboarding to do it.

To put things into perspective, Nathan Apodaca, an Idaho skater who goes by 420doggface208 on TikTok, created a video in which he was skateboarding while sipping on cranberry juice. The short video gained over 50 million views (at the time), which also encouraged other users to recreate it. You can even see Fleetwood Mac’s drummer, Mick Fleetwood, hop onto the trend. Ultimately, the classic was heard well over 230 million times in just two weeks across social media, streaming services, and the radio.

Come and Get Your Love – Redbone

This hit song spent 18 weeks in the Top 40 and was the fourth most popular song on Billboard’s Hot 100 for 1974. And let’s be honest, Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love” was always relevant. The song has been played just about everywhere since its release, from commercials, TV shows, and the radio.

While the song is a playlist favorite for many, its listenership spiked in 2014 when Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy came out. In the opening scene, Star-Lord Peter Quill, portrayed by Chris Pratt, dances to the song while walking toward a doorway. The song witnessed a sudden resurgence in popularity after this.

Since its return, this timeless song has been used as the theme song in multiple places, including the Netflix cartoon series F… Is for Family and in campaigns for the Google Pixel and J C Penney.

Boney M – Rasputin

The 1979 retro music hit “Rasputin” by Boney M topped charts across continents following its release. The song debuted at No. 168 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart and spent its second week at No. 184. In 2021, a disco classic made its way back to the charts, following a TikTok challenge. “Rasputin” had over 6.5 million streams and 2,600 downloads in that year.

So, what exactly was this challenge? Well, Gen Z decided that this was an apt song to which they could flex their muscles. We may not be too fond of the trend, but we’re glad it put the song back on our playlists.