'90s Rock Classic, Written in 45 Minutes, Is Suddenly Climbing the Charts 29 Years Later
Nearly three decades after its release, Foo Fighters' "Everlong" is charting once again the Billboard Rock Charts.
The song, originally released on August 18, 1997, is currently holding the No. 1 position on the Hard Rock Streaming Songs chart, a list that ranks the ongoing success of all songs within the genre across various streaming platforms. Out of the entire hard rock genre, it seems that the Foo Fighters classic is still dominating listeners' palates, proving the song's ability to withstand the test of time and reach entirely new generations of listeners.
The track's current multi-week reign on the chart adds to its over 171 weeks of total charting time across various Billboard lists. On the Hard Rock Streaming Songs chart alone, "Everlong" has held the top spot for 80 non-consecutive weeks, marking it the most successful song in the category's history with the most total weeks spent at No. 1.
It's All in the Streams
In the digital era, streaming trumps physical media. Within the last decade, music-listening platforms have boomed, and streaming metrics have become the new way of measuring a song's success in the music industry. Not only does it provide information about whether a song is popular, but it is also able to uplift pre-2000s classics and introduce them to new audiences, further expanding their popularity and continuing to build their legacy.
On Spotify alone, one of the most popular streaming platforms today with over 751 million monthly active users worldwide, "Everlong" has accumulated over 1.72 billion streams. This is a massive feat, showcasing the track's lasting cultural impact 29 years after its initial debut.
The Construction of "Everlong"
"Everlong" was written by frontman David Grohl during a recording session for the band's second album, The Colour and the Shape, at Bear Creek Studios. The session took place in the winter of 1996 and Grohl was going through a tumultuous divorce. While messing around with drop-D tuning in the studio, he stumbled upon the iconic guitar riff that is featured at the beginning of the song.
"At the time I was breaking up with a girl I had been with for a while, so I was sort of in the middle of this intense emotional period," Grohl said in 2021 during a segment with Fox Sports Radio. "For whatever reason, the emotion or the feeling I got when I would play this succession of chords sort of touched on whatever that emotion was. So we continued recording. In the meantime, my relationship ended and I was in a very difficult place."
After a trip home during the holidays, Grohl recounted that the song evolved into something new. Fearing he would forget it, he rushed into the studio and started recording. In total, he nailed down the core foundation of the track in only 45 minutes.
"Without having it fully formed, I just kind of went in. I put down a drum track. I put down guitar and bass. And I sang it into a microphone for the first time," Grohl explained. "And it did seem to make sense. The lyric and the melody, at the time where I was emotionally, it all made sense. And I think that's what songs should be. They should be something that not only the tone or the melody or dynamic of the instrumental, but also the lyric, match in a way that represents how you feel at that moment."
Today, as evidenced by its continued chart and streaming success, "Everlong" remains a foundational pillar in hard rock. The track's undeniable influence and emotional resonance have defined its legacy as one of the greatest and most lasting works in its genre.
Related: '90s Rock Classic Is Suddenly Climbing the Charts 34 Years Later
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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 12:24 PM.