Connie Francis, the pop legend known for her chart-topping hits of the 1950s and 60s, passed away Wednesday at 87 — but not before witnessing a surprising resurgence of her music. Her 1960 hit “Pretty Little Baby” gained new life with more than two million videos featuring the song on the platform.
Francis even joined TikTok herself in June to thank fans for the renewed love.
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“To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is captivating new generations and audiences is truly overwhelming to me,” she said in a video posted to her official account.
Announcement of her passing
On Thursday morning, longtime friend and Concetta Records president Ron Roberts announced her death in a Facebook post.
“It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that I inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night. I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news,” he wrote. “More details will follow later.”
Francis had previously shared on July 2 that she was hospitalized due to extreme pain. She was moved to the ICU that same day. Her final public message came on July 4, when she wrote,
“Today I am feeling much better after a good night,” and wished her followers a happy Fourth of July.
A trailblazing legacy
Francis made history in 1960 as the first woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 with her hit “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool.” But it was “Pretty Little Baby” that introduced her to Gen Z — a fanbase born decades after the song’s original release.
Her resurgence is part of a larger trend in which music legends are being rediscovered on platforms like TikTok, often with the help of TV and film soundtracks.
Fleetwood Mac and the TikTok effect
One of the most notable examples occurred in 2020, when Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 song “Dreams” experienced a resurgence in popularity. A viral video featuring TikTok user Nathan Apodaca skateboarding while sipping cranberry juice helped introduce the song to millions.
Warner Music Group announced that “Dreams” was streamed more than 230 million times in just two weeks. It also re-entered the Billboard Hot 100.
Fleetwood Mac members Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood joined TikTok shortly after. Fleetwood even surprised Apodaca during a BBC interview to personally thank him.
“I just wanna say, outside of Fleetwood Mac, we owe you. It’s such a great story, and it’s so needed. In days that are really challenging… it makes people smile, and I’m so happy to be part of it,” Fleetwood said.
Old hits revived by new media
More recently, Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s 2001 hit “Murder on the Dancefloor” saw a massive spike in popularity after being featured in the 2023 thriller “Saltburn.”
TikTok exploded with hundreds of thousands of videos using the song, including sped-up versions and orchestral renditions. According to Bustle, the track re-entered the charts and peaked at No. 2 on the Official UK Singles Chart.
Another standout example is Kate Bush’s 1985 track “Running Up That Hill.” The song surged back into the spotlight in 2022 after being featured in Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” topping charts globally and introducing Bush’s ethereal sound to Gen Z.
Nearly 40 years after its release, it re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and returned to the UK Top 10. In what’s become a rarity in the music industry, Bush owns the rights to her song in its entirety. This led one industry analyst to estimate that the recording artist had made more than $2 million from the renewed popularity and use of her song in recent years.
The Shangri-Las’ 1964 track finds life in meme culture
Beyond nostalgia, social media has also brought older songs into meme culture.
The Shangri-Las’ hit “Remember (Walking in the Sand)” became a viral staple thanks to the iconic “Oh no… oh no… oh no no no no no” remix. The sped-up snippet has often been used in dramatic fails and comedic TikTok videos since 2020.
Trends like this one introduce songs to millions, proving once again that deep cuts from the past can find unexpected fame on today’s feeds.
New platforms, lasting impact
From Connie Francis to Fleetwood Mac and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, these viral moments demonstrate how timeless music continues to resonate, especially when rediscovered by a new generation.
For legacy artists, it’s a chance to receive their flowers again — this time from audiences who weren’t even born when their songs first topped the charts.
