‘The Last of Us’ Takes No. 1 on Top TV Songs Chart With A-Ha Classic
Written by djfrosty on March 24, 2023
A-ha’s “Take on Me” gives The Last of Us its first No. 1 on Billboard’s Top TV Songs chart, powered by Tunefind, reigning on the February 2023 ranking.
Rankings for the Top TV Songs chart are based on song and show data provided by Tunefind, and ranked using a formula blending that data with sales and streaming information tracked by Luminate during the corresponding period of February 2023.
“Take on Me” was heard in the seventh episode of the HBO series’ first season, which aired Feb. 26.
It follows a pair of bows for the freshman show on the January 2023 survey: Linda Ronstadt’s “Long Long Time” at No. 5 and Depeche Mode’s “Never Let Me Down Again” (No. 7).
In February 2023, “Take on Me” earned 15.1 million official on-demand U.S. streams and 3,000 downloads, according to Luminate.
The song was a-ha’s top charter in the U.S., reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1985.
It’s one of four songs from The Last of Us to reach the February 2023 tally. Agnes Obel’s “Fuel to Fire,” from episode five (Feb. 12), leads the group, hitting No. 5 (378,000 streams, 1,000 downloads).
The highest non-The Last of Us entry is TALK’s “Run Away to Mars,” which appears at No. 2. It was heard in the seventh episode of the 19th season of ABC’s long-running Grey’s Anatomy, which premiered Feb. 23.
In February 2023, “Mars” earned 5.3 million streams and 4,000 downloads. Concurrently, it could be heard on a variety of U.S. radio formats; it peaked at No. 1 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart for three weeks beginning Jan. 28 and also reached No. 6 on Alternative Airplay.
See the full top 10, also featuring music from YOU and Shrinking, below.
Rank, Song, Artist, Show (Network)
- “Take on Me,” a-ha, The Last of Us (HBO)
- “Run Away To Mars,” TALK, Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
- “Heads Will Roll,” Yeah Yeah Yeahs, YOU (Netflix)
- “I Would Die 4 U,” Holly Humberstone, Shrinking (Apple TV+)
- “Fuel to Fire,” Agnes Obel, The Last of Us (HBO)
- “True Faith,” Lotte Kestner, The Last of Us (HBO)
- “Alone and Forsaken,” Hank Williams, The Last of Us (HBO)
- “Killer,” Valerie Broussard, YOU (Netflix)
- “I Know the End,” Phoebe Bridgers, Shrinking (Apple TV+)
- “Dangerous,” Big Data feat. Joywave, YOU (Netflix)