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These artists refused to stay down! Join us as we count down our picks for the greatest songs that helped revive artists' careers, focusing on tracks released after a long absence or following a major genre switch. Which comeback do you think was the most iconic? Let us know in the comments below!
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00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best tracks
00:12that helped revive artists' careers.
00:14For this list, we'll be focusing on songs that were released after a long absence or
00:19were the result of an entertainer switching to a new genre.
00:2830.
00:30It's My Life – Bon Jovi
00:32In the 1980s, they were on top of the world.
00:41By the end of the decade, Bon Jovi had racked up eight top ten singles.
00:46Their popularity waned throughout the 90s, signaling the end of their time on top.
00:51That all changed in 2000, when they released the anthemic It's My Life.
01:02It easily appealed to fans, as it contained beloved references to the band's classic era.
01:07However, it was its powerful message, urging people to take control of their lives, that
01:13helped to become a classic.
01:23The track quickly blew up and earned Bon Jovi a top 40 hit and a new generation of listeners.
01:29It proved that even with the ebbs and flows of the industry, they weren't going anywhere,
01:34anytime soon.
01:3929.
01:41Jumpin' Jack Flash – The Rolling Stones
01:52If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
01:55The Rolling Stones learned this when they pivoted to a more psychedelic vibe a few years into
01:59their career, which was a sharp departure from the one they debuted with.
02:03After being met with harsh criticism, they made a return to form with 1968's Jumpin' Jack Flash.
02:10The blues-inspired hard rock track was an instant success on the charts, and proved that even
02:15with all of their experimentation, they hadn't forgotten their roots.
02:27Beyond the initial impact, going back to their original sound helped sow the seeds of their
02:32legacies as rock legends.
02:35It quickly became a staple in their catalog and has remained so beloved by fans that it
02:40has made an appearance at every tour since.
02:4928.
02:50The Adults Are Talking – The Strokes
02:59With their initial releases, they easily cemented themselves as one of the best new bands of
03:04the 21st century.
03:05Despite their success in the alternative scene, The Strokes seemingly stepped back from the spotlight
03:11following their 2016 EP, Future, Present, Past.
03:15After years of radio silence, they made their comeback in 2020 with The Adults Are Talking.
03:29It was a display of their musical prowess with several different guitar riffs and impressive
03:35techniques that reminded people why they were considered one of the best.
03:39The Bop was a hit and easily soared to the top 10 on Billboard's main rock chart.
03:44It was the perfect way to introduce themselves to new listeners, while still maintaining the
03:50sound that had first earned them respect.
04:11A comeback song can revive an artist's career and elevate them to new heights.
04:16Heart experienced this with the 1985 power ballad, What About Love.
04:20It came at a perfect time, when the group was facing a decline in popularity from their initial
04:25peak and at risk of being dropped from their label entirely.
04:37It marked a turning point in their sound and rewrote their legacies in real time.
04:42It was a commercial resurgence as well and propelled them back into the top 10 for the first time
04:47in five years.
04:48Given all it's done for them, it's hard to believe the Wilson sisters once hated the iconic
04:54track.
04:55But now it's gone on to become one of their signature pieces.
05:0426.
05:06No Scrubs
05:15Downturns and comebacks happen when you least expect it.
05:18Despite seeing massive success with their initial releases, by 1995 each member of TLC had filed
05:25for bankruptcy.
05:26They were then entangled in a bitter legal battle with their label, threatening their careers
05:30entirely.
05:32Things finally turned around for them in 1999, when they dropped No Scrubs.
05:42The effortlessly witty lyrics and smooth production helped to become an instant smash hit.
05:48It charted around the world and soon afterwards set a record for most weeks at the top of the
05:53rhythmic top 40 that has yet to be beat.
05:56It was the perfect way to make their return and made it clear that the drama behind the
06:01scenes wouldn't get in the way of their success.
06:0925.
06:12Californication
06:12Red Hot Chili Peppers
06:14Despite seeing massive success throughout the 90s, the end of the decade saw them struggling
06:25to find their place within the scene.
06:27Things were made worse when the Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Dave Navarro left, leaving
06:32a huge hole in their lineup.
06:38That all changed with the return of original member John Fruscianti and the release of the
06:44track Californication.
06:45It was an instant return to form, with scathing lyrics on Hollywood and an immediately recognizable
06:51chorus people couldn't help but sing along to.
06:59The single helped them reclaim their place at the top, where they remained for years afterward.
07:05It has since been recognized as one of their best songs across their discography.
07:10And all it takes is one listen to understand why.
07:20Number 24.
07:22Sexual Healing
07:23Marvin Gaye
07:31Even legends can fall on hard times.
07:34By the early 1980s, Marvin Gaye was dealing with intense personal strife and had left his
07:40previous label Motown on bad terms.
07:43His first release without them was crucial to reestablishing himself without them.
07:48Sexual Healing did that and more.
07:56The Sensual track was a critical and commercial success and earned him countless awards from
08:01his peers.
08:03Fans adored it as well, and it wasn't long before it had soared to number 3 in the Billboard
08:07Hot 100.
08:08It was his fastest song to do so, and he did it all without the help of his previously stifling
08:15management.
08:22It served as a comeback musically and personally, and more than proved that Gaye didn't need
08:28Motown to succeed.
08:35Number 23.
08:37Promiscuous
08:38Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland
08:45Sometimes, all you need is a rebrand to breathe new life into your career.
08:50Nelly Furtado learned this after her stripped-back sophomore album, Folklore, failed to perform
08:55at the same level of her debut.
08:57She went back to the drawing board and came back even stronger with the contemporary dance
09:01track, Promiscuous.
09:04Promiscuous
09:10The unapologetically fun and flirty song resonated with listeners and critics alike, and before
09:15long, it became her first number one hit in the United States.
09:18The accompanying album was just as successful, and both combined took her to an even higher
09:30level of fame than she'd already achieved.
09:32The comeback track saw a resurgence in 2020 after trending online, which boosted her career
09:38and proved that both it and Furtado herself were timeless.
09:48Number 22.
09:50Kokomo
09:51The Beach Boys
09:53Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I wanna take ya
09:57In the 1960s, they were trailblazers of pop music.
10:01Despite their contributions, the Beach Boys saw a decline in their popularity beginning
10:06at the end of the decade.
10:07After a series of middling commercial releases, it seemed they had been relegated to become
10:12a legacy act.
10:13That all changed in 1988 thanks to Kokomo.
10:17Off the floor of the Keys, there's a place called Kokomo.
10:25The easy listening soft rock track had a divisive reputation, but the numbers spoke for themselves.
10:33It shot to the top of the charts and gave the band their first number one in over 20 years.
10:38Though it didn't last long, it was more than enough to introduce them to a new generation
10:42of listeners.
10:43The surprise success also proved that even with age, they still knew how to craft pop
10:49perfection.
10:50Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I wanna take ya to Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama.
10:58Number 21.
11:00Don't Shut Me Down, ABBA
11:10Their iconic bops served as the soundtrack of the 1970s with classics that are still beloved
11:16today.
11:17ABBA was on top of the world and the charts, but despite their global fame, they disbanded
11:21in 1982.
11:22It seemed their legacy was confined to their back catalog, but all of that changed in 2021.
11:3640 years after their last release, they made a sudden return with the single Don't Shut
11:41Me Down.
11:42It was reminiscent of their classic sound, but with a modern twist, creating a perfect blend
11:48blend of both the 20th and 21st centuries.
11:51For the first time in decades, they found themselves topping the charts worldwide, an accomplishment
11:57which reestablished their status as hitmakers.
12:01I'm quiet up, come shut me down.
12:05You're asking out to me.
12:08Number 20.
12:09If I could turn back time.
12:11Share.
12:12If I could turn back time.
12:16If I could find a way.
12:19For over 25 years, Share had been in the public eye, and naturally her career had seen
12:25many ups and downs.
12:27By the early 80s, her career reached a stopping point, which paved the way for a successful
12:31run as an actress.
12:33And then, poof!
12:341989 brought Fishnets, a new album, and the powerhouse single called If I Could Turn Back
12:40Time.
12:43I'm too strong to tell you I was sorry.
12:48Although the catchy tune never reached number one in the Billboard Hot 100, it became a staple
12:53of pop culture over the years and even earned Share a cameo on Will & Grace.
12:57If I could turn back time.
13:01If I could find a way.
13:04Of course, she had another comeback hit almost a decade later with Believe, the comeback
13:10queen.
13:11Number 19.
13:12Walk This Way.
13:14Aerosmith featuring Run DMC.
13:16Unlike the other entries on this list, this song not only served as a comeback single for
13:21Aerosmith, but it also helped them break into the mainstream a decade earlier.
13:26That is a 19-level that's always on the cover and a close to my daddy say.
13:31Originally released in 1975, it first peaked at number 10 in the US, but it would take
13:3711 years and a fiery collaboration with hip-hop stars Run DMC for this track to become an
13:42international hit.
13:52This new take on the old rocker revitalized Aerosmith's career after years of drug-related
13:58problems and a steady commercial decline.
14:00It merged Aerosmith's blues-based rock with Run DMC's hard-hitting rap, reintroduced them
14:06to younger listeners, and secured them 10 times more sales for their next album as they
14:11had for their previous one.
14:12No, that's how you do a comeback.
14:15Walk this way.
14:17Walk this way.
14:21Walk this way.
14:22Walk this way.
14:22Walk this way.
14:23Walk this way.
14:23Number 18.
14:24I'd do anything for love, but I won't do that.
14:27Meat Loaf featuring Lorraine Crosby.
14:30Once an understudy of John Belushi on Broadway, Marvin Lee Aday aka Meat Loaf released one of
14:37Rock's classic albums in 1977 with Bad Out of Hell.
14:4016 years later, the singer wasn't exactly a hot commodity of the music industry.
14:45But one monster ballad from Bad Out of Hell 2, Back Into Hell, changed everything.
14:50And some days I'm free for silence.
14:53And some days I'm free for soul.
14:56With a classic video and constant airplay, I'd do anything for love reached number one
15:02in 28 countries, including England, where it became the longest song since the Beatles'
15:07Hey Jude to top the charts.
15:09Not a bad comeback.
15:11But I never knew it better than I knew it with you so long.
15:16Number 17.
15:18Not ready to make nice.
15:19The Chicks.
15:20With two Diamond-certified albums released in the 90s, the Chicks rode into the new millennium
15:26on a sky-high tide.
15:28But when band member Natalie Maines made some critical comments in 2003 about George W.
15:33Bush, they were totally blacklisted by country radio and many fans.
15:38We're shaming the President of the United States.
15:44Fast forward three years later, the country pop stars made a resounding comeback with
15:48this song, directly addressing the controversy and doubling down on their stance.
15:53I'm not ready to make nice.
15:55I'm not ready to back down.
15:58Although the track was still largely ignored by country radio, it peaked at number four on
16:03the Hot 100, won the Grammys for Song and Record of the Year, and eventually sold more than
16:09two million copies in the U.S.
16:17Number 16.
16:19We Belong Together.
16:21Mariah Carey.
16:22If you're familiar with the 2001 film Glitter, then it won't come as a surprise to understand
16:27why Mariah Carey's career took a dip in the years after the film's release.
16:31I didn't mean it when I said I didn't love you so.
16:35I should have held on tight.
16:36I never should have let you go.
16:38Her 2002 album Charm Bracelet bombed with a capital B.
16:42But the diva recomposed herself and delivered a smash hit in 2005 with We Belong Together.
16:53The slow jam about lost love became the second longest number one ever and put a cap on the
17:00lost time known as the Glitter Era.
17:03And oh baby, baby, we belong together by your feet.
17:08Number 15.
17:09Ordinary World.
17:11Duran Duran.
17:12I turned on the lights, the TV, and the radio.
17:18Bursting onto the scene as part of the so-called second British invasion of the early 80s,
17:23this synth-pop band was thrust into the mainstream primarily through a dominance of their innovative
17:29music videos on MTV.
17:31However, as the 90s rolled around, so did other exciting genres and Duran Duran's popularity wane.
17:38That is, until this warm rock ballad was released.
17:41Well now Brian's gone out the window, cross the rooftops, run away.
17:48Initially leaked by their record label to a radio station, the track was instantly liked
17:54by listeners and released ahead of time.
17:56Eventually peaking at number three and six in the US and UK respectively.
18:01And winning an Ivor Novello Award for songwriting.
18:04Sometimes it takes an ordinary song to give you that extraordinary boost.
18:09Love to survive, everyone.
18:17Number 14.
18:19Get Lucky.
18:20Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers.
18:24We've come too far to give up who we are.
18:30Eight years after releasing the album Human After All, Daft Punk enlisted Pharrell Williams
18:35and Nile Rodgers for one of the most successful songs of all time.
18:39Get Lucky was the standout track off the Grammy award-winning album Random Access Memories
18:44and reached the top ten in 32 countries.
18:55Almost immediately, Get Lucky became a classic cover song and source for hilarious parodies.
19:00But the track's funky groove never gets old.
19:03To cap off Daft Punk's phenomenal comeback, the Russian Interior Ministry Choir performed
19:08Get Lucky at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
19:12We're up all night to the sun.
19:14We're up all night to get sun.
19:17We're up all night for good fun.
19:19We're up all night to get lucky.
19:21Number 13.
19:22Frozen.
19:23Madonna.
19:24The queen of reinvention herself.
19:26Though she would later go on to fill dance clubs around the world with Hung Up,
19:31it was the 1998 Electronica smash hit that reminded the world why Madonna is a force to be reckoned with.
19:39Love is a bird, she needs to fly.
19:43After taking a break from music to birth her daughter and star in the film adaptation of Evita,
19:48Madge infused her newly found spirituality into her music, delivering this stunning operatic
19:54ballad about a cold and emotionless lover.
20:05It gave the queen of pop her first UK number one single in eight years and peaked at number
20:10two in the US.
20:12It may have been a new musical direction for the pop star, but this was Madonna at her truest
20:25self.
20:26Number 12.
20:27My songs know what you did in the dark.
20:30Light Em Up.
20:31Fall Out Boy.
20:32These pop rock superstars were a staple in the emo movement of the 2000s, churning out
20:38two platinum albums and receiving a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.
20:41However, in 2009, the band decided to go on a much needed break to decompress after their
20:47fourth record, making a sudden return with this track four years later.
20:51My songs know what you did in the dark.
20:58So light em up, up, up.
20:59Recorded in relative secrecy, Fall Out Boy swapped their signature emo pop for a darker,
21:05more radio-friendly sound in hopes of reinventing their image from scratch.
21:09So light em up, up, up.
21:11Light em up, up, up.
21:13Light em up, up.
21:14Light em up, up.
21:14I'm on fire.
21:15Whether this was successful or not is up for debate, but this song dominated alternative
21:20radio, spending 12 consecutive weeks in the top 20 of the Hot 100 and becoming the go-to
21:26anthem at several sporting events.
21:34Number 11.
21:36Can't get you out of my head.
21:37Kylie Minogue.
21:41I just can't get you out of my head.
21:45As a former Australian soap star turned chart-topping performer, Kylie Minogue knows how to make an
21:51entrance.
21:52But what happens when the door slams shut?
21:54By the late 90s, Minogue's musical productions became commercially challenged.
21:58However, she managed to reinvent herself Madonna-style and released a highly addictive single called
22:04Can't Get You Out of My Head.
22:06I just can't get you out of my head.
22:09I just can't get you out of my head.
22:09Boy, it's more than I beg to think about.
22:13With an eye-popping music video and unforgettable chorus, Kylie Minogue's comeback resulted in one of the best-selling singles
22:20of all time.
22:21It's soul in the title.
22:30Number 10.
22:31Suspicious Minds.
22:33Elvis Presley.
22:34Elvis Presley.
22:35Following massive success and two years of military service, Elvis transitioned to movies and soundtrack albums in the early to
22:42mid-60s.
22:43This period resulted in a steady decline in commercial returns and a personal dissatisfaction by the King with his music.
22:50Why can't you see what you're doing to me?
22:55All that changed when he took the original version of this song, written and first recorded by songwriter Mark James,
23:02and put his signature spin on it, elevating it from relative obscurity to a huge hit.
23:13Detailing a yearn for an ex-lover, this groovy rock and roll track hit No. 1 in the U.S.,
23:19his first in seven years,
23:20and revived his success on the Billboard charts.
23:29A testament to Elvis' Midas touch, it remains one of his signature songs to date.
23:34Number 9.
23:36Womanizer.
23:37Britney Spears.
23:38If there ever was anyone who needed a comeback following a turbulent period, it was Britney, after the events of
23:452007 and early 2008.
23:48From shaving her head, to losing custody of her children, to being hospitalized, then getting placed under conservatorship.
23:54The Princess of Pop had quite a rough year or so.
23:57Look at you, getting more than just a re-up. Baby, you got all the puppets hit the strings up.
24:04She was somehow able to put all of that aside to deliver this global smash hit.
24:09Womanizer, woman, womanizer, you're a womanizer. Oh, womanizer, oh, you're a womanizer, baby.
24:15Topping the charts in the U.S. and several other countries, Womanizer was her first number one single in nearly
24:21a decade,
24:22and showed a more fun and hashtag free Britney.
24:25The critically acclaimed track went on to secure a Grammy nomination in 2010, her first nomination in five years.
24:36Number 8.
24:38Thunderstruck.
24:38ACDC.
24:47Formed in 1973, Australian rock band ACDC melted faces for years until the untimely death of lead singer Bond Scott
24:55in 1980.
24:56Even then, the musicians continued on with replacement Brian Johnson, immediately releasing the earth-shattering Back in Black,
25:04but had slight commercial difficulty through the decade.
25:07But ACDC once again shocked the world in 1990 with a thrashing new album and energetic single called Thunderstruck.
25:16Thunderstruck.
25:19Thunderstruck.
25:20Thunderstruck.
25:20The opening riffs are now unmistakable and have inspired some of the best guitar performances the world has ever seen.
25:27Behold the power of Angus Young.
25:37Number 7.
25:38Still DRE.
25:40Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg.
25:42Cause when I frequent the spots that I'm known to rock,
25:45you hear the bass from the truck when I'm on the block.
25:47This Compton-born rapper released one of the definitive West Coast rap albums with 1992's The Chronic,
25:54but left everybody without a dope beat to step to for years after.
25:58But just after the dawn of a new millennium, Dr. Dre teamed up with his old pal Snoop Dogg and
26:03released Still DRE,
26:05the lead single of his sophomore effort.
26:07Still taking my time to perfect a beat.
26:10And I've still got love for the street.
26:12Truly a pop culture event, Dre took us on a ride with a relentless beat and reintroduced himself as one
26:17of the surviving kings of hip-hop.
26:19It's still DRE.
26:21Hit my boys off with jobs.
26:23No more living hard.
26:24Barbecues every day.
26:25Driving fancy cars.
26:27Number 6.
26:28American Idiot.
26:29Green Day.
26:30Riding on a high of three multi-platinum albums in the 90s, these punk rock stars released their fourth studio
26:37album,
26:37Warning, to disappointing sales and a mixed reception.
26:41They, however, made a brash return to the music scene four years later with this protest song about misinformation and
26:48media propaganda.
26:49Don't wanna be an American Idiot.
26:55The song reintroduced Green Day to the younger generation and was instrumental in the number one debut of its parent
27:02album of the same title on the Billboard 200,
27:05their first career number one album.
27:08Welcome to a new kind of tension, all across the alien nation.
27:13American Idiot received four Grammy nominations and remains one of the most popular political songs to date.
27:20Don't be like dreams of tomorrow.
27:23We're not the ones that make us fall off.
27:26Boy, that's enough to work here.
27:28Number 5.
27:29Maria.
27:30Blondie.
27:31In 1982, new wave hitmakers Blondie decided to call it quits after their sixth album, Underperformed.
27:38Around the same time, guitarist Chris Stein was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
27:42Over the next 15 years, some of the band members, including frontwoman Debbie Harry, would go on to establish solo
27:49careers to little success.
27:51After reforming in 1997, Blondie released this poppy rock song as their first material in 17 years.
28:04Written by keyboardist Jimmy Destry about his teenage desires, this track debuted at number one in the UK,
28:11giving them their first chart topper in 19 years, and reached the top 20 in several other countries.
28:23With Maria, Blondie returned to the charts looking, feeling, and sounding better than ever.
28:35Number 4.
28:37Smooth.
28:38Santana featuring Rob Thomas.
28:46In 1992, Santana's album Milagro peaked at 102 on the charts.
28:51But seven years later, they reached number one with this scorching collaboration with Matchbox 20's Rob Thomas.
28:59Released one week into summer, the opening lyrics set the stage for a complete conquest of radio airplay.
29:05And it's just like the ocean under the moon.
29:09It's the same as the emotion that I give from you.
29:13Smooth ultimately spent 12 weeks at number one and gave Carlos Santana his biggest hit since Black Magic Woman.
29:20While many rock legends his age disappeared years prior, the supernatural shaman continued to shine in smooth fashion.
29:34Number 3.
29:35Tears in Heaven.
29:36Eric Clapton.
29:42As one of the most brilliant guitarists of all time, Eric Clapton enjoyed tremendous success early in his career, but
29:49fell on hard times during the mid-80s.
29:51After releasing the well-received 1989 album Journeyman, the musician had to cope with the tragic death of his young
29:58son.
29:58As a result, Clapton composed the heartbreaking Tears in Heaven, which allowed him to confront his pain in the best
30:05way he knew how.
30:06Time can break your heart, have you better than please?
30:12The song won three Grammy Awards, but Clapton later decided to close out a dark chapter in his life and
30:19remove Tears in Heaven from live performance set lists.
30:22Get my soul in heaven.
30:28Number 2.
30:29Hurt.
30:30Johnny Cash.
30:32I hurt myself today.
30:36After an almost 50 years in the music industry, Johnny Cash shocked the world by covering Nine Inch Nails' 1995
30:43single, Hurt.
30:44With arguably one of the most powerful music videos of all time, Johnny Cash offered a stripped-down approach as
30:51clips of his extraordinary career accompanied the track.
30:54What have I become?
31:00My sweetest friend.
31:03Just months after filming, both Johnny Cash and his wife would pass away.
31:07But this unforgettable comeback song reminded listeners of all they accomplished over the years.
31:13I would keep myself.
31:18I would find a way.
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31:39Number 1.
31:40What's love got to do with it?
31:42Tina Turner.
31:43The king may have already made an appearance, but no comeback list is complete without the queen of rock and
31:49roll herself.
31:50After leaving a rocky marriage plagued by years of pain, Tina Turner worked tirelessly to get her career back on
31:57track, but struggled to achieve much success as a solo artist.
32:01You must understand the touch of your hand makes my voice react.
32:08With the release of this synth-driven pop track in 1984, she shot back into the spotlight, topping the Billboard
32:15Hot 100 and winning three Grammys, including song and record of the year.
32:19Oh, what's love got to do with it?
32:25At the age of 44, it made Turner the oldest female solo artist at the time to land a number
32:30one single in the US.
32:32Sorry, LL Cool J, but you can definitely call this a comeback.
32:46Which artist do you think has made the most iconic comeback song?
32:50Let us know in the comments below.
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