1993 Alternative Rock Classic Is Suddenly Resurfacing on Charts 33 Years Later

The '90s were undoubtedly a peak era for music (coming from a Millennial, of course), and thanks to social media, many songs have enjoyed a massive resurgence based on trending audio used for video clips. 4 Non Blondes' alternative rock anthem "What's Up?" is one of those timeless tracks experiencing another heyday decades later.

Thirty-three years after its release, the powerful tune is resurfacing on trending charts online, a second wave of success likely attributed to a recent awards show nomination.

"More than 30 years after its release, 'What's Up?' by 4 Non Blondes is trending thanks to an American Music Award nomination for Best Throwback Song," social media management platform Buffer reported on June 4. "That iconic chorus still hits, which probably explains why it keeps making its way back onto our feeds."

The track became a landmark alternative rock song that achieved massive success, peaking at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1993, and spending 19 weeks total on the chart. Internationally, it hit No. 1 in at least 12 countries, including Germany, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Iceland, and Ireland.

At the time of writing, the smash hit had reached over 1.4 billion streams on Spotify.

The song was included alongside 12 other tracks currently trending years after their release, including 1991's "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over" byLenny Kravitz, "The One That Got Away" byKaty Perry (2010), 2005's "Hey There Delilah" by the Plain White T's, and more.

The band was formed in 1989 in San Francisco, comprising founding members, frontwoman Linda Perry, Christa Hillhouse, Shaunna Hall, and Wanda Day. The lineup, however, was switched up fairly quickly: Before the release of their 1992 debut album, Bigger, Better, Faster, More!, Hall and Day exited the group and were replaced by Roger Rocha (guitar) and Dawn Richardson (drums)-the quad that would ultimately become the group's most recognizable ensemble.

Related: 1978 Soft Rock Classic, the Band's Only No. 1 Hit, Remains a Beloved Anthem 48 Years Later

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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 3:38 PM.