If you got sick of 1994 in 2014, you weren’t alone. If an album from that year didn’t get a 20th anniversary reissue, it got a 20th anniversary thinkpiece. Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Green Day, the Afghan Whigs—they all got trotted out for reappraisals. For most of these artists, Rock Hall immortality is imminent (if not already established).
But as 1994 reared its ugly, greasy head in 2014, the unspeakable happened: Blues Traveler’s 1994 hit “Run-Around” returned.
Yes, in case you hadn't noticed, the song—which peaked at No. 4 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart nearly 20 years ago—was suddenly everywhere this year. There were the videos where a John Popper-reminiscent character would interrupt a serious, real-life moment by playing the song's harmonica solo. All of 2014's most iconic moments of elated celebration—in sports, reality television competitions, elections, natural birth videos on YouTube etc.—have been re-soundtracked by the song at this point.
But why? Everybody had a theory for why it was suddenly so resonant with the Internet at large. It was a campy, ironic signpost for indecisiveness or political doubletalk. Some people argue that, like "Harlem Shake" before it, it doesn't mean anything.
And like any viral sensation, pinpointing its origins is an impossible task. You’d have to wade through the thousands of videos and Vines featuring the song to see who was "first". A rumor was spread that John Popper himself, hiding behind a Reddit pseudonym, was responsible. Conspiracy theories abound, few answers are found.
But while it’s unclear who got the ball rolling, the song’s re-entry into the cultural canon is undeniable. Acoustic covers, remixes, mash-ups, elaborate choreographed dances, petitions for Blues Traveler to play the Super Bowl halftime show—it all happened so fast. Harmonicas and hats with floppy brims began selling out everywhere. For a solid week in July, #RunAround trended on Twitter worldwide. Tumblr dashboards and Vine feeds everywhere were plagued by the song's smooth, familiar chorus.
And then, at the height of the song’s meteoric rise back to prominence, it re-entered the Billboard Hot 100, nearly dethroning the reign of “Rude”.
Does this mean Blues Traveler are ready for a resurgence? Unlikely. Months have passed, and its omnipresence has diminished. The meme is certainly on the downswing of the “viral status” bell curve. Observe:
As 2015 approaches, the joke isn’t funny anymore (and if we're being honest, was it ever?) Once again, it seems to be the end of the line for “Run-Around”. The internet’s viral cycle, like the 1990s’ pop chart cycle, is fleeting and unforgiving. Perhaps in a couple years, you’ll hear it at a wedding and say, “Oh yeah, that thing, reminds me of 2014”.