The Last of Us sparks a Depeche Mode resurgence on TikTok

Culver City, California - The Last of Us hype has officially spread throughout social media, and TikTok users can't get enough of the new TV show's epic soundtrack.

Never Let Me Down Again by Depeche Mode was used in the first episode of The Last of Us.
Never Let Me Down Again by Depeche Mode was used in the first episode of The Last of Us.  © Collage: IMAGO / Picturelux & Screenshot/TikTok/@spector.calore

It's no secret TikTok can drive up streams of any song — new or old.

HBO Max's new show The Last of Us appears poised to usher in the next trending sound on the platform, thanks to its use of 1987's Never Let Me Down Again by Depeche Mode at the end of its premiere episode.

The track perfectly fits the foreboding note viewers are left hanging on, and the song has already become the most popular audio for fan-made edits that just may skyrocket the show's popularity.

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The association of a viral song with a TV show is powerful, and organically-generated fan content is a major asset for the promotion and popularity of a new series.

Music has long been used to amplify emotions and intensity of actors onscreen, but with the rise of TikTok, an expertly curated soundtrack can help give TV shows a head start in the viral edit game – and usher in a resurgence of past tunes.

If The Last of Us edits are any indication, we may be in for another '80s renaissance.

More TV shows have used music and TikTok edits to their advantage

In Stranger Things, Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush helps Max battle the villain, Vecna.
In Stranger Things, Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush helps Max battle the villain, Vecna.  © IMAGO / Picturelux

If you need evidence that TikTok edits make a difference in viewership, and have brought older songs back into the limelight, look no further than Netflix's Wednesday and Stranger Things.

The Addams Family spin-off received a surge in popularity following a wave of viral edits set to Lady Gaga's Bloody Mary. The first edit to use the song has over 125 million views.

Netflix capitalized on fans' association of the track with the show by featuring it in the teaser for season two, despite the song not actually appearing in Wednesday at all.

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And of course, we can't forget the phenomenon that was artist Kate Bush's resurgence over the summer. Her 1985 song Running Up That Hill hit number one on the UK charts after it was used in an unforgettable scene in Stranger Things.

In addition to the song seemingly playing at every public venue, fan edits using the song to compile the best moments from the new season quickly went viral online.

Just as is the case with Stranger Things, The Last of Us incorporates the Depeche Mode track into the first episode's plot, making it even more poignant. Ellie discovers a code that indicates special meanings behind songs from each decade. The 1980s signifies trouble – enter Depeche Mode and the ominous mood their song evokes.

Fans will have to wait until Sunday to find out what trouble is in store in The Last of Us' episode 2 – and whether more Depeche Mode tunes await.

Cover photo: Collage: IMAGO / Picturelux & Screenshot/TikTok/@spector.calore

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