5 Now-Legendary Songs That Became Hits Years After Their Original Release

Some songs are hits almost immediately–they resonate with fans and listeners and dominate the airwaves as soon as they’re released. Others, however, take more time, even years, before they top the charts. In some cases, songs have movies and TV shows to thank for their ultimate success, as being included as part of a soundtrack can lead to renewed interest.

“Dream On” by Aerosmith

Aerosmith released their debut album in 1973, with now-classic “Dream On” as its lead single. And although the song was particularly popular in the band’s hometown of Boston, it fizzled out on the Billboard charts. In December of 1975, the band’s manager, David Krebs, convinced their label to re-release the song, and it climbed the charts into early 1976, ultimately peaking at No. 6 that April.

“Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s seventh studio album, Lover, was released in 2019, but hit “Cruel Summer” wasn’t released as a single until four years later, in 2023. Thanks in part to Swift’s huge Eras tour, fans paid even more attention to the song, and it started climbing the charts and racking up impressive streaming numbers. Swift officially released it as a single, and it peaked at No. 1.

“Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” by Kate Bush

Kate Bush has been beloved in the alternative scene for decades, but the hit Netflix show Stranger Things is what propelled her song “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” to No. 1–almost 40 years after it was released. Originally, it reached No. 3 on the UK singles chart but peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100, but after Stranger Things, it hit No. 3.

“Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake

Whitesnake’s hit “Here I Go Again” was originally included on their 1982 album Saints & Sinners and peaked at No. 34 on the UK Singles Chart but didn’t chart at all in the US. Five years later, in 1987, the band re-recorded the song for their self-titled album and once again released it as a single, and it became a hit. It’s now remembered as one of the best songs of the ’80s.

“What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World,” released in 1967, is a beloved classic now, but it wasn’t very popular in the US when it was first released, in part because Larry Newton, the president of ABC Records, didn’t like it and refused to promote it. But 20 years later, it was featured in the movie Good Morning, Vietnam, leading it to become a hit.