16 hours ago
Radiohead's Decades-Old Song Finally Becomes A Rare Chart Hit For The Band
Radiohead's 'Let Down' debuts on four Billboard charts after going viral on TikTok, marking a rare ... More chart smash for the alt-rock legends. Radiohead, Phil Selway, Jonny Greenwood, Thom Yorke, Colin Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Luna theater, Brussels, Belgium, 05/12/1995. (Photo by)
TikTok users have a habit of turning some of the most random songs into hits. One user may cleverly include a track in a video, and in a matter of days, it becomes not only a trending cut on the platform, but also a strong streamer and bestseller, as attention is directed to an older release.
Over the past several years, dozens of songs have benefited from going viral in this way. At the moment, Radiohead becomes the latest act to enjoy such a revival with a years-old track that has long been a fan favorite, but never a major chart win until now.
The Radiohead tune 'Let Down' has been included in a huge number of uploads and what are known as fan-made edits throughout the past several days. That surge in activity has caused many listeners to turn to streaming platforms and digital download storefronts to consume the song. Some are discovering the composition for the first time, while others are reminded of how much the Radiohead track has impacted them.
"Let Down" opens inside the top 20 on each tally it appears on this frame. It launches highest on the Hot Rock Songs list, coming in at No. 14. It also appears on the Hot Alternative Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs rankings at Nos. 18 and 20, respectively.
The track even approaches the Hot 100 — the general ranking of the most consumed cuts throughout the U.S. — but instead it is forced to settle for the Bubbling Under Hot 100. That tally ranks the songs that didn't quite make it to the main list, and this time around, "Let Down" starts at No. 20.
Despite being one of the most successful names in alternative music history, Radiohead scores just its second career win on the Hot Alternative Songs chart this week. The group previously climbed as high as No. 3 with "Creep." The outfit has now landed eight wins on both the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and Hot Rock Songs tallies, including this latest arrival.
