There’s something almost magical when an artist releases that one track that changes absolutely everything. The landscape shifts overnight. What seemed impossible just weeks before becomes reality in a heartbeat.
A breakthrough song doesn’t just put a name on the map. It completely rewrites the artist’s story, transforming them from someone hustling for scraps of attention into a cultural phenomenon. Think about how many times you’ve witnessed this arc play out, watching someone go from complete obscurity to headlining festivals within months. Let’s dive in.
Lil Nas X – Old Town Road
Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” broke the record for the longest-running No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, directly transforming him from an unknown artist into a global star. Before this track dropped in late 2018, nobody knew who this kid from Atlanta was. He was creating music in his sister’s apartment, hoping something would stick.
The song’s genre-blending approach sparked controversy. Was it country? Was it rap? The debate itself became fuel for the fire. When Billboard removed it from their country charts, the backlash only amplified the song’s reach. The remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus sealed the deal, creating an unlikely collaboration that nobody saw coming.
What makes this story particularly fascinating is how Lil Nas X used memes and social media to his advantage. He understood the internet in a way that traditional music executives didn’t. That DIY promotion strategy, combined with an undeniably catchy hook, created a perfect storm that kept the song at number one for nineteen weeks straight.
Tyla – Water
Tyla’s song “Water” was the first song by a South African soloist to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years and was awarded the inaugural Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance. The 22-year-old South African singer stunned the industry when her amapiano-infused pop track became an international sensation in 2023.
Released in early 2021, when Tyla released her debut single “Getting Late,” expectations of proper stardom quickly set in, with “Getting Late” being a submission of how much pop gloss could coexist with the booming sonics of club-ready amapiano. Still, it was “Water” that truly catapulted her into the global spotlight, with the track’s sensual lyrics and infectious rhythm becoming impossible to ignore.
The amapiano-based pop song entered the Billboard Hot 100 last year, the first for a South African solo artist since Hugh Masekala in 1968. At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2024, Tyla won the inaugural Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance with “Water”, also becoming the youngest-ever African artist to win a Grammy Award. I think what makes Tyla’s rise so compelling is how she brought a distinctly South African sound to the mainstream without compromising her artistic vision.
Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” became a commercial success, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Carpenter’s first top five single on the chart, and topped the charts in more than 20 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, and the United Kingdom. This wasn’t just another song, it was the moment everything clicked for the former Disney star.
Released in April 2024, “Espresso” proved to be absolutely everywhere by summer. Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” reigns as Billboard’s No. 1 global song of the summer for 2024, and spent all 14 weeks of the summer tracking span in the top three. The quirky lyrics and that memorable “that’s that me espresso” hook became instantly quotable, sparking countless memes and TikTok videos.
The hit single ended 2024 as the most-streamed song on both Spotify and Apple Music, with “Espresso” pulling in more than 1.6 billion streams since its release in April. Carpenter’s caffeinated breakthrough completely changed her trajectory, propelling her from someone with a loyal fanbase to an arena-filling pop star. Her Short n’ Sweet album debuted at number one shortly after, cementing her status as one of the year’s biggest success stories.
Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!
“Good Luck, Babe!” received 7 million streams in its first week, was listed in the Spotify top ten, and debuted at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Roan’s fastest song to hit 100 million streams on the platform. The Missouri native’s journey to stardom has been anything but overnight, making this breakthrough all the more satisfying.
Released in April 2024, the song marked what Roan called “the first song of the next chapter” following her 2023 debut album. Critics declared it Roan’s breakthrough hit, and were particularly enthused by Roan’s powerful vocals, observing that it was symbolic of her concurrent ascent in popularity. The track’s exploration of queer relationships and compulsory heterosexuality resonated deeply with listeners, offering representation that felt authentic and raw.
By June, the song became her first top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and by September, it reached a peak of number four, with the single’s success being a catalyst for propelling her debut album to worldwide recognition. On November 29, 2024, it became Roan’s first song to reach one billion streams on Spotify. What started as an album cast-off became the song that launched Roan into superstardom, proving that sometimes the right song finds its moment.
Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know
Belgian-Australian musician Gotye released “Somebody That I Used to Know” featuring Kimbra in 2011, and the haunting breakup ballad became inescapable. A multi-platinum record, Somebody That I Used To Know became the best selling single of 2012 and is today the most streamed one-hit wonder on Spotify. The song’s melancholic storytelling and that distinctive xylophone riff created something genuinely unique in the pop landscape.
The track topped charts in over 20 countries, winning three Grammy Awards including Record of the Year. Fans and critics praised the song’s lyrics, instruments and Gotye’s vocals, however Gotye did not rush to work on launching his blossoming career, acting almost as if he had not achieved success to begin with. His reluctance to capitalize on fame made him an unusual case study in the music industry.
Choosing his musical integrity over fame and fortune, Gotye turned down lucrative deals to further capitalize off his song but netted himself $10 million, affording him the freedom to work at a pace that he is most comfortable. Here’s the thing: not every breakout artist wants what comes with massive success. Sometimes one perfect song is enough.
A-ha – Take On Me
Norwegian synth-pop band A-ha released “Take On Me” in 1985, complete with one of the most iconic music videos ever created. The pencil-sketch animation combined with the song’s soaring vocals and infectious melody made it unforgettable. Co-writing the song, Morten Harket lent his stunning falsetto vocals to Take On Me, and with a memorable music video to boot, the song made A-Ha a staple of the MTV era, with Harket capitalising to turn A-Ha into one of the most profitable live groups of all time.
“I have no doubt that the video made the song a hit,” said keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, adding “The song has a super catchy riff, but it is a song that you have to hear a few times, and I don’t think it would’ve been given the time of day without the enormous impact of the video”. The visual storytelling elevated the track beyond just another pop song.
At one time the group even held the world record for the largest selling concert with 198,000 tickets sold. There is a certain timelessness about Take On Me that has allowed it to remain popular with many different generations of audiences, with A-Ha and Morten Harket using the success to continue to remain popular and profitable. Honestly, that song never gets old no matter how many times you hear it.
PSY – Gangnam Style
PSY’s “Gangnam Style” became the first YouTube video to reach 1 billion views, and soon after its release, the music video was garnering 5 million views a day on YouTube. The South Korean artist’s satirical take on Seoul’s Gangnam District created a global phenomenon that transcended language barriers in ways few songs ever have.
#1 in over 30 countries, “Gangnam Style” went 10x Platinum in Australia and 5x Platinum in the US, and had a huge hand in helping the entire K-Pop genre gain popularity in the US. The horse-riding dance became a worldwide craze, performed everywhere from street corners to political rallies. It was genuinely bizarre and wonderful watching the entire planet learn the same silly dance.
PSY himself had stated that the success of Gangnam Style was a double edged sword, living both a “dream and a nightmare,” grateful for the fame and fortune but worried about his chances of ever eclipsing Gangnam Style. That’s the curse of the perfect viral moment – how do you possibly follow up something that dominated the cultural conversation so completely? Let’s be real, that’s a pretty good problem to have.
Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby
In 1990, American rapper Vanilla Ice made history with his monster hit “Ice, Ice Baby,” breaking the barrier as the first hip-hop artist to ever top the Billboard Hot 100, with the song’s singable lyrics and main bass line sampled from Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” helming much of its success. The track became a cultural lightning rod, simultaneously celebrating and mocking white participation in hip-hop culture.
“Ice Ice Baby” clinching the #1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 marks the first time a hip-hop single did so, and it also climbed to #1 in six other countries including the UK and Australia, with three Platinum certifications and outselling its A-side cover of “Play That Funky Music”. The controversy around sampling “Under Pressure” initially without credit only added to the song’s notoriety.
“Ice Ice Baby” gave Vanilla Ice global success that shot him to stardom, but future releases would barely reflect the same level of greatness, making him a quintessential one-hit wonder. The backlash was swift and brutal, turning him into a punchline almost as quickly as he’d risen to fame. That rise and fall remains one of the most dramatic in music history.
Tracy Chapman – Fast Car
Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” wasn’t just a breakout hit when it was released in 1988. It was a storytelling masterclass that established her as one of the most important voices in folk music. The song’s narrative about poverty, hope, and escape resonated across demographics, proving that authentic songwriting transcends genre boundaries. Chapman’s hushed vocal delivery made every word feel intimate and urgent.
The track peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Chapman three Grammy Awards. It became an anthem for anyone who’d ever dreamed of something better, of leaving their circumstances behind for a chance at a different life. The acoustic guitar work was deceptively simple, allowing the lyrics to remain front and center.
Luke Combs’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” ranked fourth on SoundExchange’s 2024 top tracks, proving the song’s enduring power nearly four decades later. When Combs performed it at the Grammys with Chapman herself, the moment went viral all over again. That’s what a truly great breakout song does – it becomes timeless, living beyond its original moment to touch new generations.
Did you expect that? Which breakout hit changed the game for you personally? These songs prove that sometimes all it takes is three minutes of pure magic to transform an artist’s entire trajectory. From bedroom producers to global superstars, the journey is never predictable.
