The surprising reason Aussie band Empire of the Sun’s song ‘Walking On A Dream’ just hit 1 billion streams

Australian band Empire of the Sun have joined an exclusive club after one of their songs hit an impressive milestone.

Earlier this week, the band’s hit ‘Walking On A Dream’ joined the APRA AMCOS’ 1,000,000,000 List, an award that recognises one billion streams across all platforms.

First released as a single in 2008, the song peaked at no. 10 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Additionally, it claimed the title of ‘Single of the Year’ at the 2009 ARIA Music Awards.

But the track gained a second life in the United States when it was featured in a Honda Civic commercial in 2016, and according to The Guardian at the time, the song’s Shazam tags ‘exploded.’

After a subsequent re-release for the American market in 2016, it was propelled to the 65th position on the Billboard Hot 100 and to the top spot on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart.

Earlier this week, the band’s hit ‘Walking On A Dream’ joined the APRA AMCOS’ 1,000,000,000 List, an award that recognises one billion streams across all platforms

‘It changed America to us,’ said one half of the pop-duo Nick Littlemore at the time. ‘It was very strange. The radio started playing it because people started requesting it. We’ve been very fortunate…songs don’t often come back around.’ 

In 2022, the song also served as the musical backdrop for a five-year global campaign promoting Western Australia Tourism. 

Notably, it received a nomination in the recently introduced ARIA Awards category for the best use of an Australian recording in an advertisement during the preceding year.

Released as the first single of the project in 2008, the song peaked at 10 on the ARIA Singles Chart. But the track gained a second life in the United States when it was featured in a Honda Civic commercial in 2016

‘It changed America to us,’ said one half of the pop-duo Nick Littlemore at the time. ‘It was very strange. The radio started playing it because people started requesting it. We’ve been very fortunate…songs don’t often come back around’

Nick Littlemore and Jono Sloan, co-writers of the song, were present to accept their Billions Award at APRA AMCOS’ headquarters in Sydney. Unfortunately, frontman and fellow co-writer Luke Steele was unable to attend the event

Littlemore and Jono Sloan, co-writers of the song, were present to accept their Billions Award at APRA AMCOS’ headquarters in Sydney. Unfortunately, frontman and fellow co-writer Luke Steele was unable to attend the event.

Littlemore explained that the song is an ‘evergreen record.’ 

‘It’s new for every generation. It’s the hope as a songwriter or creator in any sense that you can continually reach the kids and give them something to play back,’ he said.

Empire of the Sun boasts three full-length albums in their discography: their debut in 2008, followed by Ice on the Dune in 2013, and Two Vines in 2016. 

Speaking to Billboard in 2021, Littlemore suggested there would be more music on the way.

‘I don’t feel we have exhausted that well by any stretch. The name still has a lot of goodwill. I really hope we can come together and finish it,’ he said.

Empire of the Sun boasts three full-length albums in their discography: their debut in 2008, followed by Ice on the Dune in 2013, and Two Vines in 2016