AceShowbiz - Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up newsletter, where we spotlight the artists, songs, and trends currently making waves in the music industry. Sometimes these moments emerge suddenly, while others build momentum over months, often propelled by viral social media clips. This week, we focus on the remarkable 700% surge in streams of Neil Sedaka’s music following the iconic singer-songwriter’s death, along with a resurgence of a decade-old hip-hop hit sampling a Malaysian artist, and a ’70s prog-pop track going viral via TikTok.

Neil Sedaka Streams Skyrocket After His Death

Neil Sedaka passed away at the age of 87 on Friday, February 27, as confirmed by a family statement posted on his official Instagram account. The legendary pop-rock artist scored three No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 throughout his extensive career and co-wrote a fourth chart-topping song. Sedaka’s influence extended from the late 1950s through the early 1980s, producing numerous hits for himself and other artists alike.

Following news of his passing, fans of Sedaka and enthusiasts of ’60s and ’70s pop music flocked to streaming platforms to honor the late artist. Data from Luminate reveals that from February 27 to March 2, Sedaka’s catalog amassed 2.4 million official on-demand streams in the U.S., marking a 708% increase compared to the previous week. Additionally, digital song sales jumped to nearly 8,000 in that period, after being nearly negligible the week before.

The most streamed songs during this surge were some of Sedaka’s signature hits: “Laughter in the Rain” saw a 505% rise to 514,000 streams, “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” increased 453% to 307,000 streams, and “Calendar Girl” climbed 519% to 212,000 streams. Meanwhile, “Love Will Keep Us Together,” co-written by Sedaka and famously performed by The Captain and Tennille, experienced a modest 15% boost to 137,000 streams. Notably, Sedaka’s original song “Love” surged 1,811% to 55,000 streams during this span.

The family’s statement described Neil Sedaka as “a true rock n’ roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed.” Sedaka was laid to rest earlier this week, leaving behind a legacy celebrated by fans old and new.

Yuna’s “Someone Out of Town” Finds New Fans Through Rap Samples

Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna has been delivering evocative R&B music for over a decade. Recently, her track “Someone Out of Town,” originally from her 2011 Decorate EP, has experienced a dramatic revival due to samples used in hip-hop songs by the late XXXTENTACION and rising rapper Toppoppgen.

Toppoppgen, a North Carolina rapper born Genesis Kaliel Roland, released his second album, Kalon, in October 2025 after signing with Columbia Records via Signal Records earlier that year. The album’s standout track “Numb” creatively flips XXXTENTACION’s 2015 single “Let’s Pretend We’re Numb,” which itself samples Yuna’s “Someone Out of Town.”

This creative lineage has introduced Yuna’s music to a new generation. The emotional depth of Toppoppgen’s lyrics echoes the sentiment found in Yuna’s original work, resonating with many fans. The “Numb” TikTok sound has been used in 32,000 posts, helping to fuel its growing popularity. According to Luminate, “Numb” has surged 71% in official on-demand U.S. streams over the past three months, jumping from 643,000 streams in late November to 1.1 million streams by late February.

As “Numb” gained traction, listeners rediscovered XXXTENTACION’s “Let’s Pretend We’re Numb,” which saw a 23% increase in official U.S. streams over the same period, rising from 316,000 to 389,000 streams. This track’s TikTok sound has appeared in over 51,000 videos.

Most significantly, Yuna’s original “Someone Out of Town” exploded in streaming activity, rising an astounding 3,820% from 65,000 weekly streams in late November 2025 to 2.57 million weekly streams by late February 2026. TikTok has played a major role in this resurgence, with the song’s official sound used in over 635,000 videos, particularly highlighting its poignant second verse.

Fifteen years after its release, Yuna’s heartfelt songwriting and captivating vocals continue to captivate listeners worldwide.

Chris Rainbow’s ’70s Prog-Pop Track Goes Viral on TikTok

A surprising viral hit has emerged from the archives of Scottish prog-pop artist Chris Rainbow, best known for his work with The Alan Parsons Project in the ’70s and ’80s. Though Rainbow never scored a major solo hit in the U.S., his 1979 song “Be Like a Woman” has gained newfound attention thanks to TikTok.

The track’s proto-chillwave vibe has made it a popular soundtrack for various TikTok trends. One notable trend involves users posting photos of numerous used glasses or candles with captions listing things they consume enthusiastically, all set to “Be Like a Woman.”

Streaming data from Luminate shows the song’s official on-demand weekly streams rose from just over 18,000 in November 2025 to 66,000 by late February, before exploding to more than 2.5 million streams in the week ending February 26, 2026. This represents a staggering 13,538% increase over three months.

This surge propelled “Be Like a Woman” onto Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs charts, debuting at No. 18 and No. 22 respectively on the February 28, 2026 charts. This marks the first time Chris Rainbow has appeared on a Billboard chart since his passing in 2015 at age 68.

Janelle Monáe & Jidenna Collaboration “Yoga” Gains TikTok Traction

Riding the wave of viral TikTok sounds, the 2015 collaboration “Yoga” by Jidenna and Janelle Monáe has become a social media sensation. The surge began after content creator and rapper Zeddy Will shared a clip featuring his signature animated dance moves alongside a snippet that hints at a forthcoming official remix. Posted on February 23, this video quickly amassed over 22 million views and 4.3 million likes.

Earlier in the month, TikTok users @/jmuppie._ and @/cmupp1e_ started a dance trend on February 8 combining “Yoga” with “Cotton Eye Joe,” which has since accumulated nearly 10 million views and over 775,000 likes. This resurgence has introduced “Yoga” to a new generation while stirring nostalgia among fans of mid-2010s music.

Zeddy Will’s unofficial remix sound is featured in nearly 30,000 TikTok posts, while the official “Yoga” sound appears in over 173,000 videos. Streaming numbers reflect this renewed interest, with the song’s on-demand U.S. streams increasing over 583% across three weeks. In the week of February 13-19, “Yoga” earned over 235,000 streams, a 67% increase over the previous week. Following Zeddy Will’s viral clip, streams jumped to over 587,000 in the February 27-March 2 period, a 141% rise from the prior week.

This viral success underscores how songs from previous years can find fresh life on social media platforms, connecting with audiences old and new alike.

Overall, this week’s trends highlight the unpredictable nature of music discovery in the digital age. From the posthumous celebration of Neil Sedaka’s extensive catalog to the revival of Yuna’s decade-old track through hip-hop reinterpretations, the viral resurgence of a ’70s prog-pop song, and the modern dance craze around Jidenna and Janelle Monáe’s “Yoga,” the music landscape continues to evolve dynamically, driven by innovative artists and the power of social media.