Glass Animals 'Heat Waves' Dominates Hot 100 Top 2022 Song Despite Being A Sleeper Hit

Billboard Hot 100 Year End Charts are finally out, and "Heat Waves" emerged victorious!

The song, many considered to be a "sleeper hit," debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 charts last January 2021. However, it wasn't until March 2022, more than a year after, that it soared to the No. 1 place.

For context, a sleeper hit is an entertainment product that was initially unsuccessful but gained massive success later on. A lot of factors could contribute to why it would be considered a "sleeper hit." Some would say lack of promotion or poor launch could constitute its lackluster debut. However, as time goes by, either by a breakthrough or special intrusion to catapult it, then it slowly creeps up to become a massive hit.

In this case, Glass Waves' "Heat Waves" is a perfect example of it. Since its debut, it had completed a record-breaking 59-week uphill climb before it reached the summit, dethroning the historic Disney song "We Don't Talk About Bruno" along the way as it reigned for five consecutive weeks atop.

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Its dramatic and slow climb to the Top 10 has broken many records previously set by Carrie Underwood, and Gabby Barett, among many others. However, it was during its stay in the Top 10 that "Heat Waves" made it relevant.

The track has stayed at the No. 1 spot for five weeks and a total of 91 weeks on the entire Billboard Hot 100 history to date.

"The song is about nostalgia and the past and remembering and missing people. I think through the last couple years, and still now, people have been missing their loved ones, and not everyone's been able to just go visit their parents, or their best friend. It's been quite difficult ... that's my hunch as to why people have gravitated towards this song," Glass Animals vocalist Dave Baley told Billboard about the song.

Per Billboard, "Heat Waves" becomes the first year-end Hot 100 No. 1 song by a group since 2009 when The Black Eyed Peas scored it for "Boom Boom Pow." Aside from this feat, Glass Waves, a British band, becomes the first in decades to have accomplished the feat, as the last one was in 1983, for Police's "Every Breath You Take."

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