The World Listened: Exploring the Songs Dominating Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales Chart
- Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride | Ian Tongi and Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus
- Shake It To The Max (Fly) | Moliy, Silent Addy, Skilibeng, and Shenseea
- Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride | Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu and Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow | Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole
- Poet Artist | SHINee
- Starlight | SHINee
- He Mele Lo Lilo | Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus & Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu
- Thunder | SEVENTEEN
- Song 3 | BABYMETAL & Slaugher to Prevail
- Passo Bem Solto | ATLXS
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole – “Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World”
The Timeless Voice of Hawaii
Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole’s medley is more than a cover—it's a cultural landmark. Blending Judy Garland's classic with Louis Armstrong’s hopeful anthem, this ukulele-driven rendition has reigned on the World Digital Song Sales chart for over 370 weeks. Its quiet magic comes from IZ's authenticity, soulful delivery, and the universal peace it evokes.
This “sleeper hit” owes much of its staying power to its frequent appearances in film and TV. Every time a new generation hears it in a movie scene, the track sees another spike in digital sales. It’s a masterclass in emotional resonance and cultural endurance.
Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride – Dual Charting Versions
2002 Original by Mark Keali‘i Ho‘omalu & Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus
A Disney classic that never really left our hearts, the original version from Lilo & Stitch made a chart comeback thanks to the buzz around the 2025 live-action reboot. With 3.3 million weekly streams, it's proof that nostalgia, when rooted in authenticity, sells—again and again.
2025 Cover by Iam Tongi & Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus
Fresh from his American Idol win, Iam Tongi brought new life to this beloved tune. His rendition—released just days before his Disney Night performance—quickly gained 1.9 million streams in one week. The track honors his Pacific Islander heritage while connecting with a global audience through Disney’s reach and Tongi’s emotional delivery.
He Mele No Lilo – Mark Keali‘i Ho‘omalu & Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus
The Chanted Opening That Keeps Giving
Also from Lilo & Stitch, this chant-based track remains a fan favorite over two decades later. With 2.4 million recent streams, its continued popularity showcases the lasting impact of Hawaiian choral storytelling—and the power of a film soundtrack to create lasting musical legacies.
Moliy, Silent Addy, Shenseea & Skillibeng – “Shake It to the Max (Fly)”
The Afro-Caribbean Banger That Flew Because of TikTok
This track began as a quiet collaboration between Ghanaian-American Moliy and Jamaican producer Silent Addy. But everything changed with the remix featuring dancehall heavyweights Shenseea and Skillibeng. From TikTok teaser to chart-topper, the remix shot to number one on the World Digital chart—and peaked at #12 on the Billboard Global 200.
It’s the blueprint for modern hit-making: genre fusion, influencer features, and TikTok virality.
SHINee – “Poet | Artist” & “Starlight”
A Tribute That Shook the Fandom
SHINee’s anniversary release wasn’t just another comeback—it was a heartfelt homage to late member Jonghyun. The fact that he contributed to the new music elevated this release into a moment of remembrance and celebration. Unsurprisingly, it earned SHINee their highest-ever first-week sales.
The emotional weight, smart fan-focused marketing, and anniversary timing proved that in K-pop, storytelling and timing are everything.
SEVENTEEN – “Thunder”
Celebrating 10 Years with a Bang
SEVENTEEN’s “Thunder” dropped with their fifth studio album Happy Burstday, coinciding with their 10th anniversary. The group’s massive fanbase, tight choreography, and slick production pushed the album to over 2.5 million first-week sales, the highest of 2025 so far.
The title track captured a theme of "rebirth," solidified by symbolic visuals and aggressive promotional performances. This is how you do a decade milestone right.
BABYMETAL & Slaughter to Prevail – “Song 3”
Metal Mayhem Meets Kawaii Power
This unlikely but electrifying collaboration between Japan’s BABYMETAL and Russian deathcore group Slaughter to Prevail is shaking up genre boundaries. “Song 3” is both brutal and beautiful, drawing fans from both camps into a whirlwind of nu-metal and J-pop weirdness.
It’s an important reminder: niche doesn't mean small—especially when the internet connects passionate fanbases worldwide.
🕶️ ATLXS – “Passo Bem Solto”
The Rise of Brazilian Phonk
ATLXS is putting phonk on the map—especially in Brazil and India—thanks to his dark, lo-fi beats and strategic TikTok virality. The slowed-down versions of “Passo Bem Solto” have racked up 149.7 million streams and fueled over 2.6 million videos.
In today’s music ecosystem, micro-genres like phonk don’t need mainstream radio. They need just one thing: a trend that clicks on TikTok.
What These Songs Teach Us About the Global Chart Game
Each song in this roundup showcases a different path to success:
- Sync licensing and storytelling (IZ, Lilo & Stitch songs)
- Strategic marketing and fan events (K-pop acts)
- Global collaborations and remixes (Moliy & co.)
- TikTok and trend-savvy releases (ATLXS, Moliy)
In the streaming era, global musical success is no longer confined by geography or genre. Instead, it’s driven by emotion, identity, and engagement. The Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart is where all of this comes together—and where the world listens.
.jfif)
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