In a remarkable testament to the enduring power of music and the influence of social media, the late singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley has achieved his first-ever entry on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, nearly three decades after his tragic passing. His poignant ballad Lover, You Should Have Come Over has debuted at No 97 this week, propelled by a viral surge on the popular platform TikTok.
The TikTok Effect on Music Discovery
The resurgence of Buckley's music is largely attributed to TikTok, where a new generation of listeners has discovered his emotionally charged and romantic songwriting. Users across the platform have been pairing the track with their own videos, creating a wave of engagement that has translated into significant streaming numbers. While TikTok views themselves do not directly contribute to chart positions, these viral trends effectively drive audiences to music services like Spotify and Apple Music, where streams are counted towards the official charts.
A Song of Heartache and Longing
Lover, You Should Have Come Over is an acoustic ballad that captures the raw emotion of a fractured relationship. In the song, Buckley laments a lost love, pleading for forgiveness and reconciliation with lyrics that resonate deeply with listeners. One particularly moving line illustrates his heartfelt despair: "All my blood for the sweetness of her laughter ... she's the tear that hangs inside my soul for ever." This emotional depth has clearly struck a chord with today's audiences, many of whom are encountering his work for the first time.
The Legacy of Grace and Unfulfilled Promise
The track is featured on Grace, Buckley's only studio album, which was released in 1994. Initially, the album achieved modest commercial success, peaking at No 82 in the US. However, it quickly became a cult classic, cherished by college students and hopeless romantics alike for its spiritual intensity and vocal prowess. Over time, Grace has earned platinum certification, solidifying its status as a landmark record in alternative music.
Tragically, Buckley never had the opportunity to build on this early promise. In 1997, he accidentally drowned while swimming in the Mississippi River, cutting short a career that held immense potential. Posthumous releases have since offered glimpses into his unfinished work, including the 1998 compilation Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk, which contained sketches for a second album, and the 2016 collection You and I, featuring cover versions of songs by artists like Bob Dylan, the Smiths, and Led Zeppelin.
A Broader Trend of Nostalgic Revivals
Buckley is not the only artist from the 1990s alternative scene to experience a belated chart breakthrough thanks to TikTok. For instance, Radiohead's song Let Down, from their 1997 album OK Computer, charted for the first time in 2025, demonstrating how social media can breathe new life into older tracks. According to TikTok's Year in Music report from December, viral moments on the platform played a crucial role in the success of mainstream hits, with eight of the ten US No 1 singles in 2025 and all thirteen UK No 1 singles having gone viral on TikTok at some point.
This phenomenon highlights the shifting dynamics of music consumption in the digital age, where platforms like TikTok serve as powerful engines for discovery and nostalgia, connecting timeless artistry with contemporary audiences in unexpected ways.
