Glass Animals “Heat Waves” hit #1 after 59 weeks

Heat Waves Glass Animals

Writer(s): Dave Bayley (see lyrics here) Released: June 29, 2020 First Charted: November 14, 2020 Peak: 15 US, 16 BA, 11 AC, 12 A40, 17 AA, 13 MR, 5 UK, 12 CN, 15 AU, 3 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 10.0 US, 3.0 UK, 18.29 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 1024.82 video, 3157.87 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” set some of the most significant chart records in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. It entered the chart in January 2021 at #100 and, 42 weeks later, had climbed into the top 10 – the longest any song had taken to reach those heights. On March 12, 2022, the song ascended to the pinnacle in its 59th week on the chart – a record for most weeks before hitting #1. It wasn’t finished, though. The song stuck around for more than 30 more weeks to land another landmark chart achievement – more weeks on the Hot 100 than any other song in history (surpassing The Weekend’s 90-week chart run with “Blinding Lights”). The indie rock band formed in Oxford, England, in 2010. They released their first album, Zaba, in 2014 and their sophomore effort, How to Be a Human Being, two years later. It got all the way to #20 in the US and #23 in the UK, but didn’t have any chart success when it came to the singles’ front. However, 2020’s Dreamland became the group’s first top-10 album in the UK and United States, thanks to the success of “Heat Waves.” The song is “about a man who’s failing at a romantic relationship. He doesn’t feel like he’s giving his partner the life that she deserves. It differs from the typical heartache song in that all of the angst is directed inwardly. Frontman Dave Bayley never blames or condemns his partner – only himself.” SF He explained it “is about loss and longing, and ultimately realizing you are unable to save something.” WK He also said,it “is about memories and it’s very nostalgic…Maybe that’s part of the reason this song’s hung around for so bloody long.” WK Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Glass Animals SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia First posted 10/13/2022; last updated 10/13/2024.