Hundreds of songs go viral on the popular social media app TikTok every day, but a select few stand out for their relative “antiquity.” TikTok is notorious for reviving these older songs and introducing them to younger listeners. The following songs have recently been revived by the app:
“Copacabana” by Barry Manilow (1978)
The oldest song on the list, “Copacabana,” became popular on TikTok in late 2023, beginning around September. The song’s third verse in particular was most popular with videos overlaid with the song going viral on the app.
Many TikTok users were captivated by the song’s story about a woman named Lola as she moved through her career and eventually lost her partner, her job, and her mind. Despite this, the song’s upbeat, disco-heavy production covers the song’s otherwise somber mood.
“Copacabana” was released in 1978 by multi-platinum selling artist Barry Manilow. The song, unlike many others on this list, was fairly popular and well-known prior to its resurgence on TikTok.
The song peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Manilow his first and only Grammy Award in 1979.
“Army Dreamers” by Kate Bush (1980)
Bush’s songs are no stranger to popularity on TikTok. Previously, Bush’s 1985 song “Running Up That Hill (Deal With God)” gained popularity from the hit Netflix show Stranger Things.
The song’s chorus proved to be the most alluring part of the song to TikTok users. Similar to “Copacabana,” “Army Dreamers” also has a more sorrowful story within the song, although “Army Dreamers” is more similar in production to its story.
The story behind “Army Dreamers” is about the effects of war on a mother after her son is killed in battle. Bush sings on the song’s chorus, “should have been a father, but he never even made it to his twenties. Waste a waste, Army Dreamers”. The song is among many that advocate against war and conflict.
TikTok allows for reinterpretations of classic songs and turns them into viral sensations. This not only breathes life into older music but reshapes how music is made in the digital age, blending both new and old aesthetics into the musical landscape of today.
