How “The Last of Us” Resurrected Linda Ronstadt’s “Long Long Time,” Increasing Spotify Streams by 4,900%

Following last night’s episode of the HBO series “The Last of Us,” Linda Ronstadt’s “Long Long Time” has shot up the streaming rankings. According to Spotify, the 1970s song’s streaming figures increased by 4900% after the program aired.

Sequences with survivors Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett) as well as later situations with Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie featured “Long, Long Time” heavily and you can hear it in those scenes (Bella Ramsey).

The song is essential to Bill and Frank’s relationship. Frank finds a Linda Ronstadt songbook while seated at a piano in the scenario. Frank discovers a book of her songs already open when he sits down at the keyboard.

Bill enters to take over and sing the song’s opening verses, “Love will abide, take things in stride,” before he begins to play. It sounds like fantastic advice, but I have no one to support me.

At the very conclusion of the show, the actual sync is played

Executive producer and director Craig Mazin selected the song, but only after his friend Seth Rudetsky made the suggestion. Mazin was seeking for a song that would help the two protagonists bond.

According to Mazin, who was speaking with Variety, “I felt that song needed to strike certain things about desire and aching and constantly unrequited love.”

“For the life of me, I couldn’t locate the proper tune. I tried and tried before sending a text to my brilliant friend Seth Rudetsky, the Sirius XM on Broadway broadcaster. I said, “Here’s everything I need,” and he replied, “Linda Ronstadt, “Long, Long Time,” two seconds later.” I thought, “There it is.” That’s all!

The song is a part of Ronstadt’s “Silk Purse” album and was written by Gary White. The song peaked at No. 25 and spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 list. Ronstadt received a nomination for a Grammy in 1971 for Best Contemporary Female Vocal Performance.