Catalog Comeback: Sync's Second Life

Stranger Things and TikTok prove film and social media can resurrect classics like Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" and Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" into global phenomena.

Tracklist

  1. Pink Moon — Nick Drake
  2. Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) — Kate Bush
  3. Dreams — Fleetwood Mac
  4. Don't Stop Believin' — Journey
  5. Bohemian Rhapsody — Queen
  6. Unchained Melody — The Righteous Brothers
  7. Stuck In The Middle With You — Stealers Wheel

Transcript

Welcome to OffStereo. Hope your afternoon's going well. Let's dig in.

We've got a story to unfold — let me set the frame before we drop into the music.

Pink Moon — Nick Drake

Sometimes the late-night sky holds a rare, almost magical glow, revealing truths in its quiet light. This next track knows that feeling well.

Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) — Kate Bush

Kate Bush called the impact of "Running Up That Hill" in Stranger Things "quite shocking really," giving her a UK No. 1 after 44 years and her first ever US Top 10. The show’s strategic placement turned a classic into a global phenomenon, spiking streams by 9,900% in the US.

Dreams — Fleetwood Mac

Beyond film and TV, social media became an unpredictable catalyst. Nathan Apodaca’s viral TikTok of him skateboarding to "Dreams" garnered 93 million plays, sending Fleetwood Mac back onto the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time since 1977.

Don't Stop Believin' — Journey

David Chase chose "Don't Stop Believin'" for The Sopranos' ambiguous finale despite initial crew resistance, creating a definitive cultural moment. Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain noted his phone "blew up" after the scene aired, showing a creator's bold call can generate immediate, lasting impact.

Bohemian Rhapsody — Queen

Film has long driven these revivals. Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" re-entered the Top 40 and reached number two on pop charts after its iconic use in the opening scene of the 1992 film Wayne's World, proving cinema's enduring power.

Unchained Melody — The Righteous Brothers

The Righteous Brothers' 1965 version of "Unchained Melody" soared to number one in several countries after its inclusion in the famous pottery scene of the 1990 film Ghost. Bill Medley confirmed its popularity surged due to such film placements.

Stuck In The Middle With You — Stealers Wheel

Music supervisors are tasked with finding the "right music in movies... to add emotional and vibrant effects to the story." This track exemplifies how a carefully chosen song can define a scene and embed itself into a new generation's memory.

Thanks for joining us on OffStereo. It's a reminder that truly resonant music, no matter its age, is always just one listen away from finding a new audience and its moment in the sun.