David Bowie earns his first hit on Billboard’s Hot Alternative Songs chart a decade after his death as “Heroes,” spurred by Stranger Things, debuts inside the top 10. NEW YORK – JUNE 05: Musician David Bowie speaks onstage while accepting the Webby Lifetime Achievement award at the 11th Annual Webby Awards at Chipriani Wall Street on June 5, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
2007 Getty Images
Many of the songs featured in the fifth and final season of Netflix’s massive sci-fi series Stranger Things have enjoyed increases in both sales and streams since the program wrapped in late December. Stranger Things has been a major driver when it comes to turning decades-old cuts into commercial successes ever since it debuted years ago, and the last installment of episodes is packed with well-worn smashes from some of the greatest musicians of all time.
David Bowie is counted among the stars who benefit from a sync, and this week his beloved tune “Heroes” becomes a huge hit in America, returning to multiple rosters and even debuting on one list it has never appeared on in the past.
David Bowie’s “Heroes” Earns the Star His First Alternative Hit
Bowie’s “Heroes,” one of his most celebrated singles, launches on the Hot Alternative Songs chart, which lists the most consumed tracks in the genre throughout the United States. “Heroes” opens at No. 9 as it kicks off its time just inside the top 10. Bowie scores his first placement on the Hot Alternative Songs ranking, immediately landing a quick top 10 showing.
David Bowie Outpaces MGK, Djo and A$AP Rocky
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 12: Machine Gun Kelly attends the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on September 12, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Bowie scores the highest-ranking debut on the Hot Alternative Songs chart this week, and his is the only track to begin its time inside the top 10. The late rock star beats new arrivals from musicians like A$AP Rocky, MGK (formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly), and Djo – another Stranger Things-related win – among others.
David Bowie’s Single Reaches a New High Point
As “Heroes” debuts inside the top 10 on the Hot Alternative Songs chart, the same tune reaches a never-before-seen peak on the Alternative Digital Song Sales roster. On that tally, “Heroes” reappears at No. 7, landing in that position in just its third turn somewhere on the list.
“Heroes” Counted Among David Bowie’s Top Digital Bestsellers
As “Heroes” soars in at No. 7, it ties with “Changes” as Bowie’s fourth-highest-peaking hit on the Alternative Digital Song Sales chart. Only “Space Oddity,” “Under Pressure” with Queen, and “Let’s Dance,” which stalled at Nos. 2, 4, and 5 respectively, have reached loftier spaces.
David Bowie’s Hit Reappears on Multiple Billboard Charts
“Heroes” also manages to find its way back to three additional Billboard charts after both sales and streams of the cut recently exploded. Bowie narrowly misses out on hitting the top 10 on the Rock Digital Song Sales, Hot Rock Songs, and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs lists, where “Heroes” breaks back in at Nos. 12, 14, and 15, respectively. Unlike on the Alternative Digital Song Sales roster, none of those positions mark new highs for “Heroes.”
David Bowie Charts a Pair of Bestselling Songs
Bowie claims a pair of top 10 bestsellers in America this week, and he manages to earn those wins on different tallies. As “Heroes” becomes an alternative powerhouse, “Under Pressure,” his hugely successful collaboration with Queen, reappears on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart at No. 7. The same cut lifts one space to No. 22 on the Hard Rock Streaming Songs tally.
“Under Pressure” Oddly Misses One Chart
Interestingly, though “Under Pressure” is counted among the most-streamed and bestselling hard rock songs in the U.S., it does not find space on the Hot Hard Rock Songs chart. That list, like every other one published by Billboard that begins with the word “Hot,” blends sales, streams, and airplay to show the most-heard titles in the hard rock genre. It’s a bit unusual for a tune to land on both streaming and sales rankings connected to one style but not place on the general consumption ranking.
David Bowie, Diana Ross, Fleetwood Mac and Prince Return
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Diana Ross performs onstage at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 2nd Annual Gala presented by Rolex at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 15, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Academy Museum of Motion Pictures)
Getty Images for Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Bowie is one of more than half a dozen artists who either collect new hits or return to the Billboard charts with time-tested classics that were used in Stranger Things. He joins artists like Prince, The Police, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Diana Ross, Fleetwood Mac, and even Djo, the musician moniker used by Joe Keery, who stars in the program.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2026/01/17/david-bowie-earns-his-first-top-10-on-one-chart-a-decade-after-his-death/
