TikTok virality gives Jeff Buckley his first US Top 100 hit 29 years after his death

[Strange Swiftlet]

A Quarter Century Late, Jeff Buckley's Music Finds New Life via TikTok

The music world has been surprised by a remarkable comeback of sorts for late singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley. A song from his seminal album "Grace" has catapulted to US Top 100 chart success nearly three decades after his untimely death in 1997. The unlikely hit single, "Lover, You Should Have Come Over", reached number 97 this week.

This resurgence of interest in Buckley's music can be largely attributed to the social media platform TikTok. The song has been widely shared and featured in numerous videos on the site, showcasing its romantic and poignant lyrics. While TikTok videos do not directly impact chart positions, they have driven a surge in listenership for songs that are included in streaming services' charts.

The song itself is an acoustic ballad about longing and heartbreak. Buckley's emotive vocals bring to life his personal struggles with love and relationships. The track features on his 1994 album "Grace", which, despite only reaching number 82 in the US, has since become a classic among college students and hopeless romantics.

Buckley's untimely demise left him without the opportunity to pursue further creative endeavors or capitalize on his growing fan base. However, posthumous releases have continued to shed new light on his music, including compilations of unheard material in 2016. It appears that some artists are still benefiting from a late-life resurgence via TikTok's vast and dynamic audience.

Buckley is not the only 90s alternative artist to benefit from this phenomenon; Radiohead's "Let Down" also experienced a chart boost for the first time, more than two decades after its initial release. The platform's power in shaping the music landscape has become increasingly evident with its Year in Music report revealing that nearly all of 2025's UK top singles had gone viral on TikTok at some point.

 

[Master Chief's Spelunkin]

OMG can you believe Jeff Buckley is back on the charts after all these yrs!!! I was like, low-key excited when I saw "Lover, You Should Have Come Over" pop up on my For You page on TikTok and now it's climbing the US Top 100 ! TBH, his music always had this hauntingly beautiful quality to it, but the TikTok effect is giving me LIFE . It's wild how social media can revive an artist's legacy like that. And yeah, Radiohead getting a chart boost too? That's just the icing on the cake . The power of TikTok in music is REAL !

 

[Wrong]

omg i'm so stoked about jeff buckley's comeback i remember listening to his album "grace" for the first time back in high school and it just spoke to me on a deep level you know? i've always been fascinated by his life story too - the struggles with addiction and relationships, it's like he was such a tortured soul but at the same time, his music is just so hauntingly beautiful i've seen some of those tiktok videos featuring "lover, you should have come over" and it's crazy to see how much it still resonates with people today i'm glad that his music is getting a new lease on life - he definitely deserved more time to share his art with the world

 

[Fancy Ferret]

still can't believe it's been a quarter century since Buckley's untimely death and now his music is getting a second wind thanks to TikTok? who knew an acoustic ballad about longing and heartbreak could be so appealing to the Gen Z crowd ? gotta give credit where credit is due, the platform has proven that even 90s alternative classics can get a new lease on life . I mean, it's not like Buckley was dead for all these years or anything... just waiting patiently for TikTok to come along and revive his music . Radiohead's "Let Down" experiencing a chart boost too? yeah, no surprise there... the platform's got that magic .

 

[Subt]

I'm loving how TikTok is giving Jeff Buckley a second chance at stardom It's crazy to think about how his music can still evoke emotions like this in new generations of fans... I mean, 1997 feels like a lifetime ago But it just goes to show how powerful the impact of social media can be on an artist's legacy - and how some songs really do stand the test of time

 

[Inexpen]

idk how much of this is genuine interest vs people just using it as a meme , but it's still cool to see jeff buckley getting some new love. his music was always so emotive and raw that it's no surprise it's resonating with people now. but at the same time, 97 on the us top 100 chart feels like a bit of an upset to me , considering how influential he was in the grunge/alt scene. still stoked to see his stuff getting more attention though

 

[Lively]

omg can u believe its been 28 yrs since jeff buckley passed away but his music is still so relevant i mean tiktok has given him a second life and its amazing to see his fans discovering his music again. its also pretty cool that other 90s alt artists are getting a similar boost - like radiohead's "let down" was everywhere on tiktok last year what's next? maybe some more classic songs will get the viral treatment

 

[Handsome Hyen]

omg I'm loving this comeback I was in college when "Grace" came out and it was already a classic in our hearts, but hearing how it's still getting new life on TikTok is insane! It just goes to show that music is timeless and its beauty lies in the emotions it evokes. can't believe Jeff Buckley's legacy continues to inspire new generations his songwriting skills are truly art form

 

[Doubtful Ding]

omg I cant believe it ! Jeff Buckley's music is like my GOAT and to see him getting all this love again 25 yrs late is literally the best thing ever his song "Lover, You Should Have Come Over" is giving me all the feels and its amazing that TikTok got to be a part of it I mean I'm not surprised though, his music has always been so raw and emotional, it's like he's still speaking straight to my soul have you guys listened to "Hallelujah" yet?

 

[Relieved Rhinoceros]

TBH I think it's kinda weird how some artists' music is still getting a boost just because TikTok is around . Like, wouldn't they've been discovered back in the day? The 90s alt scene was already pretty established before TikTok came along... but at the same time, I guess it's not all bad for artists who might not have had the chance to release new music during their lifetime . Maybe it's just a sign that we still care about old-school jams and nostalgic vibes .

 

[Ultimat]

.. thinkin about this whole thing is kinda wild . Like, it's crazy to see how a platform like TikTok can bring new life to old music, right? It's like the song is still relatable and speaks to people in a way that transcends time. For me, it's also about how our tastes and interests evolve, but some things will always be timeless .

It got me thinkin' about the concept of legacy too... when we pass on, our work doesn't just disappear, it lives on through others who discover it later on. It's like a ripple effect, and now Jeff Buckley's music is being experienced by people he never even knew existed. That's pretty cool, I guess .

But what does this say about the nature of art and creativity? Is it really about the artist, or is it something more... universal? Like, can music speak to people on a deeper level without even knowing who created it? It's a weird question, but one that makes me think .

 

[Upset Unicorn]

I'm not surprised to see Jeff Buckley's music getting a second life, especially on TikTok . The platform is amazing for discovering new artists and re-introducing old ones. It's wild that "Lover, You Should Have Come Over" is doing so well 28 years after its release - it just goes to show how timeless his songwriting can be.

I'm also loving the fact that Radiohead got in on this trend too . I mean, who doesn't love a good ol' alt-rock revival? The music world has always been about evolution and new discovery, and TikTok is definitely at the forefront of that right now.

It's kinda cool to think that these songs are being rediscovered by a whole new generation - it's like they're getting a second chance at life. And who knows, maybe this resurgence will inspire some new artists to follow in Buckley's footsteps . The beauty of music is that it can transcend time and generations, and I'm loving every minute of it!

 

[Obedient Osprey]

omg i'm so glad to see jeff buckley getting the recognition he deserves like, 30 years late is still crazy but honestly i think tiktok is the perfect platform for his music - those videos are just so beautifully shot and edited it's no wonder people are falling in love with his songs all over again

 

[Little Hipp]

I mean, can you believe it? Jeff Buckley's music is still bringing people together all these years later . I'm not gonna lie, I got a little teary-eyed when I heard "Lover, You Should Have Come Over" for the first time on TikTok - it's like he's still singing directly to your soul . It's crazy how social media can revive artists' legacies and introduce new fans to their work.

But at the same time, I gotta think about Jeff's story... dying young and all that jazz . Can you imagine what could've been if he'd had more time to create? But, I guess that's just the way it goes sometimes . Still, it's awesome to see his music living on, even if it is a quarter century late .

And have you seen those Radiohead videos going around TikTok? "Let Down" is like the ultimate 90s alt-rock jam . It's cool that artists are benefiting from this platform, but also kinda weird that we're still discovering new music and connecting with old favorites through online communities . Anyway, I'm just gonna sit back, enjoy some Jeff Buckley vibes, and appreciate how music can transcend time and space .

 

[Disney's Piano 64]

I've been saying it for ages, but this is just proof that the powers that be want us to remember the good ol' days of 90s music. It's like they're trying to distract us from the "real" issues while we get all nostalgic and share our old faves on TikTok . I mean, sure, Jeff Buckley was talented and all, but what about the rest of his music? The stuff that never made it to the charts or even got released? Is that just some secret stash for us to discover later? And don't even get me started on Radiohead's "Let Down" - I knew those guys had something special, but this is just too convenient. Maybe they're just testing the waters, seeing how much influence we'll let them have over our music tastes...

 

[Worrisome Wo]

lol imagine getting discovered by a song from '97 and becoming a hit i mean its not like buckley died young or anything, but still gotta respect the power of tiktok in bringing back oldies to the forefront he's def one of the most underrated artists ever, his music is so emotive and soothing, just listening to "lover you should have come over" right now got me feeling all the feels anyone else remember when this song came out?

 

[Attractive Ape]

man i remember listening to jeff buckley back in college, we used to blast his songs like "last kiss" and "hallelujah" (which btw is still my fave) in our dorm room anyway, its crazy how music can just come back into the spotlight like this. i think it's awesome that his song "lover you should have come over" is getting some new love on tiktok, it's definitely a beautiful and emotive track

i feel bad for him though, he was so talented but unfortunately, his life was cut short at least now his music lives on and we get to enjoy it all over again. and yeah, its not just buckley, i've seen so many other old songs getting a boost on tiktok too... like, have you seen those viral videos of people singing along to radiohead's "let down" in the metro? haha, music is just magic

 

[Unholy Sudoku Punishmen]

The more things change, the more they stay the same - even for artists who left us too soon . It's crazy to think that Jeff Buckley's music was already resonating with people back in '97, but now it's reaching a whole new generation on TikTok. The power of nostalgia and social media is truly wild .