Happy Gilmore 2 sparks a streaming surge for classic rock, with Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Tuesday’s Gone” jumping 44% in U.S. plays following the film’s Netflix debut. (MANDATORY CREDIT Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images) Lynyrd Skynyrd at press conference, January 1977, Tokyo, Japan. Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Steve Gaines, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson, Artimus Pyle. (Photo by Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images)
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More than two decades after it first hit theaters, Happy Gilmore is back, only the second installment in what has now become a franchise isn’t on the big screen. Happy Gilmore 2 arrived on Netflix on July 25. The film quickly became a top 10 success on the platform, and the movie is so popular that even a few music syncs have helped a handful of classic rock acts surge on streaming sites.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Scores a Streaming Surge
Of all the musical acts featured in Happy Gilmore 2, the one that stands out thanks to an impressive streaming boost is Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band’s 1973 cut “Tuesday’s Gone” returns in the new film, which some fans of the original may have expected, as it was featured in Happy Gilmore.
The rock group’s ballad jumped 44% in terms of total on-demand streams in the United States during the movie’s opening weekend, according to Billboard. The track soared from 525,000 streams to 756,000 between July 25 and 28, according to numbers shared with the music magazine by Luminate.
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Deep Cut Finds a New Audience
Though it never charted upon its initial release, “Tuesday’s Gone” has become a fan favorite among those who love Lynyrd Skynyrd. Originally featured on the band’s debut album Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd, the song stands apart from the outfit’s better-known, uptempo tracks like “Sweet Home Alabama” and “What’s Your Name?” Though the tune doesn’t appear on any Billboard lists this frame, a growth of more than 40% on streaming outlets is impressive for a decades-old cut.
Foreigner and Tom Petty Also Gain Ground
Lynyrd Skynyrd might be leading the way, but the rockers aren’t the only ones benefiting thanks to being included in Happy Gilmore 2. The Replacements’ track “Swingin’ Party” experienced the biggest percentage gain, more than doubling its plays from 15,000 to 38,000 streams.
Foreigner’s “Juke Box Hero” enjoyed an 18% bump in streaming during the same window, while Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ “The Waiting” rose by 15%.