Songs By The Same Artist That Charted Twice

Two-Hit Wonders

Some songs are just too good, too infectious, to only have one go at widespread popularity. There are many reasons why a song might find its way back onto the charts. These songs were all hits when they were released and, in some cases, even bigger hits decades later.

The Righteous Brothers - “Unchained Melody” (1965)

A song that has undeniable links to the film, “Unchained Melody” was originally composed for the 1955 movie Unchained. 10 years later, The Righteous Brothers recorded their definitive version, sending the song to #4.

GAB Archive, Getty Images

The Righteous Brothers - “Unchained Melody” (1990)

The 1990 film Ghost, featuring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, reignited interest in the song thanks to an iconic scene featuring a pottery wheel. The Righteous Brothers re-entered the charts at #13.

Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Ben E King - “Stand By Me” (1961)

Ben E. King’s sentimental hit was based on a hymn called “Lord Stand By Me”. King’s gospel-inspired song was a major hit for the artist, hitting #4 on the Hot 100 in 1961.

Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images

Ben E King - “Stand By Me” (1986)

Another song that re-entered the charts thanks to a movie, Ben E King’s “Stand By Me” got up to #9 after featuring in a film of the same name. Based on Stephen King’s short story The Body, the film Stand By Me is a classic of the 1980s.

Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images

The Contours - “Do You Love Me” (1962)

“Do You Love Me” became a huge hit for The Contours, but they weren’t originally meant to have sung it at all! The song was written for The Temptations, but no one could find the group, so the Contours recorded it and scored a #3 hit with it.

Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

The Contours - “Do You Love Me” (1987)

You may be starting to notice a trend. In 1987, The Contours’s “Do You Love Me” re-entered the charts at #11 thanks to, you guessed it, being featured in a film. The hit romantic drama Dirty Dancing included the song on its soundtrack, re-igniting interest in the 25-year-old song.

Paulloeber, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Beatles - “Twist And Shout” (1963)

One of the earliest hits for the iconic Beatles, “Twist and Shout” was originally written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns. The lads from Liverpool released the song in 1963 and it peaked at #2 on the charts.

EMI, Wikimedia Commons

The Beatles - “Twist And Shout” (1986)

The power of film should be getting pretty obvious by now. “Twist and Shout” re-entered the charts at #23 in 1986 thanks to a memorable scene in the film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. In the film, Ferris sings the song during a parade, and fans wanted to get in on the fun.

ingen uppgift, Wikimedia Commons

Queen - “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975)

Queen’s epic “Bohemian Rhapsody” was the unlikeliest of hits when it was first released. Unlike the catchy pop songs of the time, “Bohemian Rhapsody” incorporated classical music and rock, and topped the charts in Queen’s native Britain.

Christopher Hopper, Wikimedia Commons

Queen - “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1992)

Almost 20 years later, an adaptation of a Saturday Night Live sketch catapulted “Bohemian Rhapsody” back onto the charts. In Wayne’s World, Wayne, Garth, and their friends rock out to the classic track in their car, a scene that helped the song hit #2 in the Hot 100.

Koh Hasebe, Wikimedia Commons

Queen - “Bohemian Rhapsody” (2018)

But “Bohemian Rhapsody” wasn’t done yet. Thanks to the trend of musical biography in film, Queen got the movie treatment in 2018 with the film Bohemian Rhapsody. Unsurprisingly, the title song re-entered the charts thanks to the film’s popularity.

Mick Rock, Wikimedia Commons

Fleetwood Mac - “Dreams” (1977)

Fleetwood Mac is known almost as much for their interpersonal drama as they are for their incredible music. “Dreams” was from their critically acclaimed album Rumors, and hit #1 upon its release.

Warner Bros. Records, Wikimedia Commons

Fleetwood Mac - “Dreams” (2020)

And finally, we get to a song that re-entered the charts for a reason other than being featured in a film. A 2020 TikTok video featuring the song boosted streams of the 43-year-old song by over 88%

Randy Miramontez, Shutterstock

Queen And David Bowie - “Under Pressure” (1981)

The Queen/Bowie hit was a result of a lot of improvisation and an unusual location: the Swiss Alps. The song hit #29 in 1981 and stayed on the charts for 16 weeks.

Carl Lender, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Queen And David Bowie - “Under Pressure” (2016)

David Bowie’s death sparked a resurgence in interest in his vast, acclaimed catalog of music. After the artist’s passing in 2016, “Under Pressure” re-entered the charts. And just to keep our trend of film going, it charted again after the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody was released.

Hunter Desportes, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Michael Jackson - “Billie Jean” (1983)

After years of sharing the spotlight with his brothers, Michael Jackson’s Thriller album cemented his place as a solo artist and the King of Pop. The video for the song also broke barriers, being one of the first clips featuring a Black artist to appear on the MTV network.

Zoran Veselinovic, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Michael Jackson - “Billie Jean” (2009)

Another case of the passing of an artist spurring interest in their back catalog. When Jackson passed in 2009, “Billy Jean” re-entered the US charts, peaking at #4. A 2018 viral video also put the song briefly back on the charts.

Vicki L. Miller, Shutterstock

Prince And The Revolution - “Purple Rain” (1984)

Prince is considered to be one of the most talented and revolutionary artists to come out of the 1980s. The song, originally intended as a country song for Stevie Nicks, was recorded live and hit #2 on the charts in 1984.

penner, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Prince And The Revolution - “Purple Rain” (2016)

It seems it’s either a film or a death that sends songs back to the charts. Prince’s unexpected passing in 2016 sent “Purple Rain” back to the charts. The soundtrack album of the film of the same title hit #2 on the album charts that same year.

Yves Lorson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Rockwell - “Somebody’s Watching Me” (1984)

Rockwell, the son of Motown founder Berry Gordy, had a little help on this #2 record from 1984. Both Michael and Jermaine Jackson performed backup vocals on the track. The song was a great success despite Rockwell’s father not being impressed with his son’s demo.

Aaron Rapoport, Getty Images

Rockwell - “Somebody’s Watching Me” (2021)

A third trend is starting to emerge: viral videos. Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” returned to the charts at #42 after being featured in a viral TikTok video in 2021.

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Michael Jackson - “Thriller” (1984)

Jackson’s songs are a mainstay on the pop charts, and “Thriller” might be his most famous. The horror-themed song and video was one of seven singles released from Thriller, an album often considered to be one of the most successful of all time.

Matthew Rolston, Wikimedia Commons

Michael Jackson - “Thriller” (2021)

Remember Rockwell and his returning hit “Somebody’s Watching Me”? The same video that returned Rockwell to the charts combined his hit song with Jackson’s “Thriller”. Jackson’s song re-entered the charts in 2021.

Larry Davis, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Kate Bush - “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” (1985)

Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” made it to #30 when it was first released in 1985. Bush became an iconic face of the New Wave movement of the 1980s. Her distinctive voice set her apart from the majority of artists of the time.

Guido Harari, Wikimedia Commons

Kate Bush - “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” (2022)

Okay, so it’s not a movie, but it’s pretty close. Bush’s song re-entered the charts, peaking at #4, after being featured in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. The show is set in a fictional version of the 1980s, and “Running Up That Hill” had a significant role in the show’s fourth season.

Paul Carless, Wikimedia Commons

The Chicks - “Not Ready To Make Nice” (2006)

The band originally known as The Dixie Chicks fell out of favor in 2003 after making some critical comments about then-US President George W Bush. This song, about their exile from the music industry, hit #23 upon its release.

JD Lasica, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Chicks - “Not Ready To Make Nice” (2007)

“Not Ready To Make Nice” fell off the charts until The Chicks performed the song at the Grammy Awards, and won best country song for the track. The song re-entered the charts at #4, the highest ranking The Chicks have ever achieved.

s_bukley, Shutterstock

Lady Gaga - “Million Reasons” (2016)

Lady Gaga is a true modern hitmaker. That said, “Million Reasons” was not a huge hit for the singer, peaking at #52 upon its initial release. That seemed to be it for the song in December 2016.

Carlos M. Vazquez II, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Lady Gaga - “Million Reasons” (2017)

And then Gaga performed the song at the 2017 Superbowl. The performance made “Million Reasons” one of Gaga’s 17 top 10 hits, peaking at #4 in 2017.

Rogue Artists, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Burl Ives - “A Holly Jolly Christmas” (1964)

Burl Ives narrated the beloved Christmas special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 1964, voicing Sam the Snowman. “A Holly Jolly Christmas” featured in the television special, and became an instant holiday classic.

University of Washington, Wikimedia Commons

Burl Ives - “A Holly Jolly Christmas” (2022)

In 2022, Ives’s song re-entered the charts, settling at #10 after peaking at #4. The song has made numerous chart entries over the decades, a testament to its enduring appeal.

Cecil W. Stoughton, Wikimedia Commons

Aly & AJ - “Potential Breakup Song” (2007)

This sister act was famous for their Disney film and television roles, as well as their teen-focused pop music. “Potential Breakup Song” was from their third album, and reached #17 on the charts.

Jennifer, Wikimedia Commons

Aly & AJ - “Potential Breakup Song” (2020)

A 2020 viral video prompted renewed interest in “Potential Breakup Song”, even inspiring Aly & AJ to release a new version of the song with some less-than-Disney-friendly lyrics in place of the originals. The song reached #8 in 2020.

Paparazzo Presents, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Elton John - “Candle In The Wind” (1973)

This song was originally written as a tribute to film star Marilyn Monroe. Written by John and writing partner Bernie Taupin, it appeared on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and reached #11 on the 1973 charts.

Eddie, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Elton John - “Candle In The Wind” (1997)

Another song that re-charted after a slight rewrite, John re-wrote and re-released the song after the untimely passing of Princess Diana, a member of the British Royal Family. “Candle In The Wind” became one of the best-selling singles of all time, topping charts around the world.

Ernst Vikne, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Whitney Houston - “I Will Always Love You” (1992)

Upon its release in 1992, Whitney Houston’s cover of the Dolly Parton classic set a record by staying at #1 for 14 weeks. Houston’s cover of the song was featured in The Bodyguard, in which the singer starred opposite actor Kevin Costner.

Mark Kettenhofen, Wikimedia Commons

Whitney Houston - “I Will Always Love You” (2012)

This hit got its first chart from a popular movie, but its second one came from a much sadder event: Houston’s passing in 2012. The song, which showcased Houston’s incredible voice and iconic stage presence, returned to the charts at #3, a testament to one of the great voices of pop music.

Asterio Tecson, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Louis Armstrong - “What A Wonderful World” (1967)

Strangely, this iconic song wasn’t a hit in the US upon its initial release. It did hit #1 in the UK and Europe in 1967, but record company interference kept it from reaching audiences in the US for over 20 years.

Herbert Behrens, Wikimedia Commons

Louis Armstrong - “What A Wonderful World” (1988)

Robin Williams’s incredible, career-defining performance in the film Good Morning, Vietnam was a watershed moment for Armstrong’s song. “What a Wonderful World” featured prominently in the movie, and the song made it to #32 that same year.

Decades later, however, the song would be blacklisted. After the tragic 9/11 attacks, iHeartMedia (Clear Channel Communications at the time) sent out an internal memo of songs that were deemed "lyrically questionable". Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World" made that list—the higher-ups thought it was inappropriate to play such a cheery and idealistic song after so soon after the attacks. 

World-Telegram, Wikimedia Commons