Highlights
- The film "Stand By Me" revitalized Ben E. King's iconic song, making it wildly popular again in the 1980s.
- The song experienced a surge in popularity after the film's release, re-entering the charts and captivating a new generation of listeners.
- "Stand By Me" has been featured in TV shows, movies, commercials, and public events, making it an enduring and valuable song.
Music helps make the world go round, and because of this, a single piece of music can be worth a fortune. The Beatles classic ballad, "Yesterday," is said to be worth roughly $30 million!
The song "Stand By Me" is one that has enchanted global audiences for decades, and while many are familiar with the song, few realize that the song itself is worth tens of millions of dollars. A major reason why? The film of the same name became a major hit in the 1980s.
Let's see how the film breathed new life into the song, and how the song has remained a constant presence in the media since its release.
"Stand By Me" Is Worth $30 Million, And The Film Is A Major Reason Why
A movie can take something old and repackage it for a new generation, and this is precisely what happened when the film Stand By Me helped make the song of the same name wildly popular once again in the 1980s.
One of the remarkable aspects of Stand By Me is its contribution to revitalizing Ben E. King's iconic song of the same name. The film's emotional climax features the characters walking along a railroad track as they sing "Stand By Me."
This unforgettable scene not only enhances the emotional impact of the movie but also sparked a renewed interest in the song.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, "Similar to song #9 on this list, "Stand By Me" was a huge hit in its own time then topped the charts again 20 years later when the movie by the same name was released in 1986."
Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" saw a surge in popularity after the film's release, re-entering the charts and captivating a new generation of listeners. The song, originally released in 1961, became synonymous with the film, creating a powerful synergy between visuals and music.
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The Song Was A Huge Hit For Ben E. King In The 1960s
Written by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller, the song was released as a single and later became the title track of King's album. The success was instantaneous, with a major peak on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Said King on recording the song, "At the end of a long day, they asked me: ‘We have 15 or 20 minutes left over, do you have anything you want to show us? And I showed them this little song I had called ‘Stand By me’ on the piano. The called the musicians back into the studio and he did what’s called a hell arrangement, which is something you come up with right away because you don’t have a lot of time, and of course, Jerry Lee and Mike Stoller came up with the bassline right there on the spot.”
Since becoming a classic, the song has been featured in TV shows like The Wonder Years and Friends, and has also been in countless movies.
Beyond its use in film and television, Stand By Me has become a go-to choice for commercials and public events aiming to evoke a sense of unity and togetherness. It was even included in the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.
Through the years, It has been covered and reimagined by numerous artists, a testament to its enduring appeal.
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The Song Itself Has Been Covered Countless Times, Including A Version Done By John Lennon
One of the most famous cover versions of the song is the one done by Beatles legend, John Lennon.
"The Lennon version of “Stand By Me” is not as dramatic and visually compelling as Ben E. King’s. Lennon’s rendition, however, does convey strength and faithfulness. His performance is captivating and memorable. One can hear the joy he felt in singing it. That wasn’t the case on all the oldies he recorded on Rock ‘n’ Roll. Obviously there were some he felt more deeply about. That comes through with the rocking spirit he grants “Stand By Me.” The song becomes his proclamation as well," Decaturish penned about Lennon's version.
The song has also been covered by folks like Tracy Chapman, Otis Redding, Florence and the Machine, and even John Lennon's son, Julian Lennon. In fact, the song has received at least one cover version in every decade since the 1960s, a major milestone that few songs can lay claim to.
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Thanks to the film of the same name, as well as countless cover versions, "Stand By Me" is one of the most valuable songs in the world today.
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