Two versions of Journey‘s “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” reach Billboard‘s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and Hot Rock Songs charts (dated July 16), after the 1983 single scored an appearance in the fourth season of Netflix’s Stranger Things.
The edition recorded for the show’s new season, credited as “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) (Bryce Miller/Alloy Tracks Remix),” starts at Nos. 9 and 13 on Hot Rock Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, respectively, while the 1983 original enters at Nos. 11 and 15 on the lists. (Catalog songs are eligible to appear on Billboard‘s multimetric charts if ranking in the top half and with a meaningful reason for their revivals.)
In the July 1-7 tracking week, the new version of “Separate Ways” accumulated 3.5 million official U.S. streams, a boost of 441%, according to Luminate. The classic recording, meanwhile, was streamed even more (perhaps, not surprisingly, given its built-in head start on listeners’ established playlists): 3.8 million times, up 64%.
The remix racked up 8,200 in download sales in the same period (up 2,023%), far outpacing the original: 2,600, reflecting a vault of 580%.
The original does not feature in Stranger Things; instead, the Bryce Miller and Alloy Tracks remix soundtracks the fourth season’s trailer and appears in the penultimate episode of the season, whose final episodes premiered July 1.
Journey’s original “Separate Ways” soared to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983. It’s one of six top 10s for the band, which reached a No. 2 best with “Open Arms” in 1982.
Two other classics with syncs in the fourth season of Stranger Things are currently on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and Hot Rock Songs charts. Kate Bush‘s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” originally from 1985, remains atop both rankings for a fifth week each, while, as previously reported, Metallica‘s “Master of Puppets,” from 1986, debuts at Nos. 4 and 6 on Hot Rock Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, respectively.
Journey’s newest album, Freedom, was released July 8.
