The Walmart Kid meme increased Hank Williams streams by 2452%

The nearly 70-year-old “Lovesick Blues” is on Spotify’s Global Viral 50 chart.

April 10, 2018

I just returned from vacation, and while I was away, apparently America got a new king. 10-year-old Mason Ramsey, a.k.a. the singing Walmart Kid, who captivated the internet with a video of his a capella Walmart-shot rendition of "Lovesick Blues" by Hank Williams. Since Mason's performance went viral, the original version of "Lovesick Blues" has seen a 2452% increase in Spotify streams, according to a press release.

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The surge was calculated by comparing streams on Monday April 9 to those on Monday March 26. It's such a significant increase that the song, which is almost 70 years old, is now on Spotify's Global Viral 50 chart, joining artists like Cardi B and The Weeknd. Williams is not alive to enjoy his newfound popularity, but Mason's time on the charts is just beginning, so his next step should be a remix of a contemporary singer. I vote "El Farasante".

Last week, a different meme sent Fleetwood Mac's 1977 song "Dreams" to number 16 on the Billboard Hot Rock songs chart.

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Listen to Hank Williams perform "Lovesick Blues" below, followed by an EDM remix of Mason's version, which is also a classic.

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The Walmart Kid meme increased Hank Williams streams by 2452%