Glass Animals’ breakout single that became the longest chart run in Billboard Hot 100 history, spending 91 consecutive weeks on the chart and eventually hitting #1 in March 2022—59 weeks after debut. Released June 29, 2020 from album “Dreamland,” the hazy indie-pop track about missing someone during lockdown resonated with pandemic loneliness, gaining momentum gradually through TikTok, Minecraft YouTube videos, and pure streaming persistence.
Slow-Burn Success
Unlike typical viral hits, “Heat Waves” built momentum over 18 months. The song first charted at #100 in January 2021, slowly climbing as TikTok users soundtracked sunset drives and nostalgic montages. Minecraft YouTuber Dream’s fanbase adopted the song for speedrun videos and animations, introducing it to gaming communities. By summer 2021, it entered top 10, peaking at #1 on March 12, 2022—beating Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” for slowest climb to #1 (42 weeks).
Chart Records
Spent 91 consecutive weeks on Hot 100 before finally dropping off, breaking the record previously held by The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” (90 weeks). Topped Billboard Alternative Airplay for 5 weeks and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs for 76 weeks. Achieved 6x Platinum certification in U.S. Became Glass Animals’ first Hot 100 entry, transforming the British indie band into mainstream stars.
Cultural Phenomenon
The song’s lyrics “sometimes all I think about is you / late nights in the middle of June” became synonymous with summer nostalgia and longing. Its resurgence defied industry logic, proving that in streaming era, songs can succeed without traditional radio or label pushes. Anniversary posts celebrate it as the ultimate “slow burn” success story.
Source: Wikipedia: Heat Waves (song))