The Enduring Power of Lord Huron’s “The Night We Met”: A Decade-Long Sleeper Hit

In the dynamic world of music, where trends shift and new artists emerge constantly, a decade-old track by the indie folk band Lord Huron has achieved a level of success rarely seen. “The Night We Met,” originally released in 2015 as the final song on their second album, Strange Trails, has unexpectedly become one of music’s most remarkable sleeper hits. Its enduring popularity is so profound that it has surpassed the plays of current hits by global superstars like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Dua Lipa on major charts.

According to the official Billboard Global end-of-year singles chart for 2024, “The Night We Met” ranked 35th, placing it above Dua Lipa’s “Houdini” (37th) and Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” (41st). Similarly, in the UK, the song secured the 60th position on the Official Chart Company’s end-of-year rundown, while Charli XCX’s “Guess” — her biggest hit that year — landed at 73rd.

The song’s ascent is further underscored by its staggering performance on streaming and social media platforms. “The Night We Met” has achieved a monumental three billion streams on Spotify. In 2024 alone, it garnered nearly one billion streams, marking a remarkable 57% increase from the previous year, according to music data tracker Chartmetric. The track’s emotional resonance has also fueled its virality on TikTok, where videos featuring the song have amassed another three billion views.

Lord Huron frontman Ben Schneider expressed his astonishment at the song’s widespread popularity, describing it as “unbelievable.” He noted that while the song was always special to him and his wife, who encouraged its inclusion on the album, it didn’t achieve immediate mainstream success. “Years went by and it wasn’t like it was a hit or anything,” Schneider recalled. “And then things just started to happen with it.”

The initial catalyst for the song’s resurgence was its inclusion in the soundtrack of the popular Netflix teen drama 13 Reasons Why in 2017. Initially hesitant, Schneider was persuaded by his wife to allow the song to be featured. Upon their return from a months-long trip to France, they discovered the song’s growing impact. “I figured it’d be a quick spike and then fade away, but it’s had this weird and pretty unheard of long tail,” Schneider observed. “Rather than falling off into nothing, it fell off and then slowly ramped back up. And it just seems to keep going.”

A duet version with Phoebe Bridgers was released in 2018 for another scene in 13 Reasons Why, further solidifying the song’s presence. However, much of its sustained popularity can be attributed to its viral nature on TikTok.

The song’s lyrical theme—a “wistful reflection of a relationship, maybe with a sense of regret of where it’s ended up and where it started”—resonates deeply with listeners. Its versatile emotional core allows it to fit a wide range of contexts, from melancholic reflections to significant life events. For instance, Molly-Mae Hague famously used it to soundtrack her pregnancy announcement video in 2022, showcasing the song’s adaptability.

“I think everyone can relate to that sort of story and can insert their own biography into it,” Schneider reflected. “It’s a vessel that fits a lot of people’s personal stories. That’s maybe why it’s had such a lasting and slow-burning effect on people.”

Schneider noted that “The Night We Met’s” success arrived at an opportune moment for Lord Huron. The band had already cultivated a dedicated fanbase and established its identity, preventing the song from defining them solely as a one-hit wonder. “Even though it far outstrips our other songs in terms of streaming and everything, we have enough going on otherwise to not feel like we’re known only for that one singular moment, which is great.”

Lord Huron’s journey began in 2010 as a solo project by Schneider, eventually evolving into a full band. They have released four critically acclaimed albums characterized by yearning, soulful, and haunting Americana. Their latest offering, The Cosmic Selector Vol 1, due out soon, delves into themes of parallel universes and the “what ifs” of life, inspired by a vintage jukebox that serves as a narrative device.

“I guess the past few years, as I’ve been getting a bit older, I’ve just been thinking about all the ways my own life could have gone, or could still go, or might have been,” Schneider shared. “Not with any sense of regret, but more with a sense of wonder at the sheer randomness of it all, and how different things could have been if very little things had gone another way.”

Schneider hopes that the widespread appeal of “The Night We Met” will introduce new listeners to Lord Huron’s broader catalog. “I want to keep trying to move forward and making new stuff,” he said. “And hopefully something that we make will have the same kind of impact that song has had. And I think over time, stuff we have already made will, I hope.” This enduring anthem serves as a testament to the power of resonant songwriting and the unpredictable trajectory of music in the digital age.