Deceased musician makes debut on Billboard Hot 100 chart
Jeff Buckley, a renowned rock singer from the ’90s, has made a surprising appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, almost three decades after his passing. The song responsible for this unexpected feat is “Love, You Should’ve Come Over,” from Buckley’s 1994 album “Grace,” released prior to his tragic death in May 1997. To the delight of many fans, the track debuted at No. 97 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of January 31.
The surge in popularity of “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” can be attributed to its impressive 3.8 million streams in the United States during the week of January 16-22. Billboard pointed out that the song gained significant traction on TikTok, where users embraced it to create emotional and introspective content. It is worth noting that despite never being released as a single, the song began to gain momentum in 2025 with the release of the documentary “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley.”
Following its initial surge in popularity, “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” made occasional appearances on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart in April, before later re-entering in July and maintaining its position, even reaching a peak at No. 12. This significant achievement not only pushed the song onto the Billboard Hot 100 but also contributed to the resurgence of Buckley’s album “Grace” on the Billboard 200 chart. The album reached No. 82 in December and now sits at No. 156. “Grace” included the renowned track “Hallelujah,” a cover of Leonard Cohen’s classic, which earned Buckley critical acclaim. Rolling Stone recognized Buckley’s version of “Hallelujah” as one of the 500 greatest songs of all time, while “Grace” itself was lauded as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Despite Buckley’s untimely passing, his legacy lives on through his music. Tragically, Buckley lost his life in 1997 while swimming in the Wolf River, a tributary of the Mississippi, leaving behind an unfinished second album. Posthumously, his work was released as a compilation album titled “Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk.” Buckley’s impact on the music industry was further solidified in 2014 when his version of “Hallelujah” was recognized and inducted into the American Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.
The documentary “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley” offered fans a glimpse into the life and career of this iconic artist. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2025, the documentary received widespread acclaim, eventually becoming available for streaming on HBO Max in December of the same year. Buckley’s enduring influence and the timeless quality of his music serve as a testament to his lasting impact on the industry and his fans.