Radiohead’s “Let Down” climbs to new peaks on both of Billboard’s global charts thanks to viral TikTok use and a sync in FX’s The Bear. Radiohead (Photo by KMazur/WireImage)
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Radiohead hasn’t released a new studio album in more than nine years, and the band has mostly gone quiet. The members of the rock outfit have largely been focused on side projects and no new music is expected from the act, but recently, something unexpected happened. One of the group’s tunes began to pick up steam, and it’s become a certified, late-in-career hit for the alternative favorites – one which has been reaching new peaks on a number of Billboard charts for weeks now.
“Let Down” Climbs on the Billboard Global Charts
“Let Down” is in the midst of a viral moment, and this week, it climbs on both of Billboard’s global tallies. The track improves from No. 173 to No. 155 on the Billboard Global 200 and lifts from No. 200 — the very bottom of the ranking — to No. 186 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. list.
Both of those positions now stand as new peaks for the OK Computer track, which is charting for the first time ever, more than two decades after it was released.
Streaming Activity Pushes “Let Down” Higher
The Radiohead cut debuted on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. just last week, so its upward movement isn’t a surprise. On the Billboard Global 200, “Let Down” is in its seventh week, and streaming activity and sales from multiple countries help it rise – but it seems that plays on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and others are largely to thank for the tune’s success.
TikTok and The Bear Drive the Revival
The “Let Down” resurgence began on TikTok, where creators have adopted the emotional slow-burn in a wave of content. A recent sync in the FX hit series The Bear aided in the cut’s momentum.
“Creep” Also Enjoys a Global Boost
At the same time that “Let Down” is growing, Radiohead’s biggest single is also on the move. “Creep” jumps from No. 48 to No. 43 on the Billboard Global 200. The tune doesn’t hit a new high on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S., but it recently passed 100 total weeks on both of the rankings. The alternative song has peaked as high as No. 52 outside the U.S.
“Let Down” Drops on the U.S. Charts
Despite its current traction globally, “Let Down” is starting to trend downward in America. The tune is still present on four U.S.-focused Billboard rankings, but it is sliding on all of them this frame — a sign that its revival is playing out more abroad than at home at the moment.
“Let Down” Marked a Surprise Return for Radiohead
Originally released in 1997, “Let Down” was never pushed as a single, but it’s long been a fan favorite from OK Computer, which is widely considered to be one of the band’s most important releases. Now, a quarter-century later, it’s earning its first real run on the charts, showing that anything is possible in the streaming era.