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I think it's pretty likely that Queen will eventually pass Elvis. Two things could potentially speed it up. If the new Highlander movie is successful, and if there is a Bohemian Rhapsody sequel using the same actors.
While they are not quite streaming the numbers they were a few years ago, they are still posting some very impressive figures, not just for a legacy act but any act, even a contemporary one.
Including all versions of a track on Spotify, Queen currently have
3 over 2B:
Bohemian Rhapsody --- 2,744,542,684
Don't Stop Me Now --- 2,283,447,341
Another One Bites The Dust --- 2,015,815,360
7 over 1B;
Under Pressure --- 1,747,453,280
We Will Rock You --- 1,452,990,372
I Want To Break Free --- 1,249,721,868
Crazy Little Thing Called Love --- 1,001,652,537
10 over 900M:
Somebody To Love --- 960,523,532
Killer Queen --- 913,309,418
We Are the Champions --- 907,768,829
12 over 500M
Radio Ga Ga --- 795,282,317
Love Of My Life --- 608,449,887
30 over 100M
Fat Bottomed Girls --- 475,052,861
The Show Must Go On  --- 446,430,311
You're My Best Friend   --- 373,396,393
Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy --- 360,691,515
A Kind Of Magic --- 300,284,252
I Want It All 262,883,715
Hammer To Fall --- 256,178,234
Thank God It's Christmas --- 255,954,970
Who Wants To Live Forever --- 234,077,756
Keep Yourself Alive --- 163,356,395
Bicycle Race --- 161,020,490
Now I’m Here --- 127,862,232
Seven Seas Of Rhye --- 115,920,382
Save Me --- 114,518,516
Too Much Love Will Kill You --- 113,610,971
Friends Will Be Friends --- 110,839,776
Cool Cat --- 102,740,274
Ay-Oh --- 100,240,198
35 over 90M
I Was Born To Love You --- 98,534,659
One Vision --- 96,792,062
Innuendo --- 95,928,996
These Are The Days Of Our Lives --- 94,017,700
Play The Game --- 93,630,544
I remember Rhapsody having a stiff competition from Don't Stop Believing and Wonderwall. Is this still the case?
Well no
Wonderwall - 2,128,010,349
Don't Stop Believing - 2,113,441,559
So that puts them both beneath Don't Stop Me Now, not to talk of Bo Rhap. All of them are incredibly successful legacy tunes though.
Well, yes and no. BR (2.746B) is still over 600m ahead of Wonderwall (2.136B) and Don't Stop Believing (2.139B), but so far this year, both have been catching it. BR has streamed 270M so far, in 2024, WW 282M and DSB an impressive 374M.
Looking at the year to date streams, for the Top 10 most streamed, Pre 2000 tracks, according to Thomas figures. from the beginning of this year and posted elsewhere, it is apparent though, that BRs popularity has waned a bit, with every other track out streaming it, bar Carey, for obvious reasons, so far in 2024. Other tracks from lower down in Thomas's ranking, have also significantly out streamed it.
JAN 1st 2024 --- TRACK --- TODAY --- SINCE Jan 1st
1,879,000,000 --- Take on Me (4) --- 2,318,483,752 --- 439,483,752
1,812,000,000 --- Every Breath You Take (7) --- 2,247,315,489 --- 435,315,489
1,766,000,000 --- Don't Stop Believin' (8) --- 2,139,802,720 --- 373,802,720
1,956,000,000 --- Don't Stop Me Now (2) --- 2,284,755,996 --- 328,755,996
1,873,000,000 --- Smells Like Teen Spirit (5) --- 2,188,222,802 --- 315,222,802
1,722,000,000 --- Sweet Child O' Mine (10) --- 2,029,077,822 --- 307,077,822
1,732,000,000 --- Another One Bites The Dust (9) --- 2,016,896,413 --- 284,896,413
1,855,000,000 --- Wonderwall (6) --- 2,136,916,852 --- 281,916,852
2,476,000,000 --- Bohemian Rhapsody (1) --- 2,745,548,723 --- 269,548,723
1,918,000,000 --- All I Want for Christmas (3) --- 1,974,517,466 --- 56,517,466
1,485,000,000 --- Iris (20) --- 1,949,814,266 --- 464,814,266
1,333,000,000 --- Have You Ever Seen The Rain (27) --- 1,762,875,252 --- 429,875,252
1,459,000,000 --- Everybody Wants To Rule The World (21) --- 1,845,177,259 --- 386,177,259
1,531,000,000 --- Creep (16) --- 1,910,368,811 --- 379,368,811
The huge popularity of Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls, has always bemused me, especially in the UK. On the UK Rock and Metal Singles chart, since May 2009, it has been at #1 for 172wks. The only other track, even relatively close, is Bohemian Rhapsody, with 109wks. It first hit that chart in 2003, but was off and on over the years. Then, in Jan 2009, it recharted at #20 and has never left the chart since! 825 consecutive weeks. So far this year, it's been at #1 for 28wks.
While BR has dipped in popularity, Queen is the only act on that list with multiple entries (as much as 3!). The fact that ABTT and DSMN has outstreamed it so far in 2024 is also a good sign that gives more consistency to their catalog. I think it's a similar case to MJ where both acts have way to many hits to fit in 1 playlist that their streams are more spread out among various songs rather than a select few songs.
On a side note, I expected more from Wonderwall considering the massive splash Oasis made with their reunion announcement this year, but it seems like the hype has died down a bit recently as well.
It's honestly quite fascinating to see past groups from various genres getting huge resurgence in streams (even if temporarily) this year, from Oasis to Linkin Park to even NSYNC!
The splash Oasis made following their reunion announcement was also more spread out among their catalog, but Wonderwall might catch up some of the competition in the last months of the year. The hype is only 1 and a half month old now.
Wonderwall hasn't been streaming that well against the other top pre 2000 tracks, for the past few years. It was actually the most streamed Pre 2000 track, prior to the Bohemian Rhpasody film, it's now 7th.
With regards to the furore around the reunion, I don't think that will have a huge impact, as it's mainly the UK, that has experienced a surge. WWs daily streams, while good at the moment, are still lower than over 10 other pre 2000 tracks.
Yes, you're right. The reunion is mainly big on the British Isles, where most of their fans live. Their streaming surge reflects that, as it's their whole catalog that grew. Still, WW grows the most in absolute numbers and it has gained some lost ground the last 1 1/2 month, probably mainly in the US, where WW is the biggest of one of the few Oasis-songs people know. I can easily see it pass AOBTT's 2024 streams soon and maybe some other pre-2000 songs as well.
Nice updates Martin.
Somebody to Love is actually over 1B too. There's a 46.3M version on Georg Michael's Ladies and Gentlemen collection taken from the Freddie Mercury tribute concert. Same recording as on Queen's platinum collection (and GH3), but tracked separately. Originally released on the Five Live EP in 1993.
It's not as if their tracks needed any extra help, from others but there you go, even more amazing, 8 tracks over 1B!
Am I right in thinking AC/DC, although currently with none above 2B, will be the next legacy act to have 2 2B+ tracks and possiblly the next with 3 and 4 2B+ tracks.
I haven't updated the list in a long time, but I'm almost certain you're right.
AC/DC have 3 songs above 1.67B and 4 songs above 1.33B.
8 tracks over 1B is astonishing, and that figure is gonna be 10 tracks soon enough (incl. Killer Queen & WATC).
Furthermore, those 10 giant tracks are from 8 different albums!!! Not relying on a Rumours/Appetite type of release, but delivering mega hits year after year.
Queen1 at no 10 in uk charts, will the sales for this got to Queens first album total or will it be classed a new album? The original being called Queen?
