4 Songs From the 1980s That Charted Twice, Years Apart

As decadently cringeworthy as the ’80s might be, they created some of the catchiest tunes of all time. Matter of fact, ’80s pop music is arguably the foundation of all contemporary pop music. That being so, many artists have pulled inspiration from the ’80s and even sampled songs from the decade. Consequently, they procured massive success on the charts.

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’80s pop music is an easy listen filled with catchy melodies and simple structures. In other words, they are the perfect songs to appear on the charts, and their track records suggest just that. With that in mind, here are four songs from the ’80s that charted twice years apart.

“Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman’s iconic hit is not a prototypical pop song. While it does consist of some pop elements, it tells a nuanced story in an eloquent way. Regardless, it is catchy, and when it was released in 1988, it peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Though, that was not the final time it graced the world’s most notable chart.

Following the release of Luke Bryan’s cover of “Fast Car” in 2023, Chapman’s original rendition re-entered the chart. Specifically, Tracy Chapman’s version of “Fast Car” peaked at No. 42 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler

Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” is one of the most successful songs of the ’80s. After it was released in 1983, the single peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent four weeks at the top. In total, it spent 29 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. However, a peculiar solar event would help this song re-enter the charts nearly 40 years after its initial release.

In 2024, the world experienced the great solar eclipse. Given the clear connection between the eclipse and Tyler’s song, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” saw a huge resurgence in its popularity. On that day and the days following, so many people streamed the song that it actually peaked at No. 79 on the Billboard Artists 100 Chart.

“Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper

Like Tyler’s single, Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” is one of the most quintessential pop songs of the ’80s. As a result, it has been reimagined, covered, and used in a plethora of different ways. Originally released in 1984, “Time After Time” peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for two weeks.

Lauper’s classic single did return to the Billboard Hot 100, but she wasn’t the one singing it. Rather, INOJ covered the song in 1998 and helped reintroduce the song to the world. The cover peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on the chart for a total of 18 weeks.

“Bad” by Michael Jackson

Of course, Michael Jackson is on this list. After all, he is certainly the most popular musician of the ’80s. In 1987, Michael Jackson released his monster hit, “Bad,” which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for two consecutive weeks. Thanks to its initial success, it seems Jackson’s team just had to re-release it a second time.

In 2012, the Jackson team and estate released the “Bad” remix titled “Bad 2012.” Following the release of the remix, it debuted and peaked at No. 80 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also graced Billboard’s Digital Songs chart and the Canadian Hot 100.

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