Linda Ronstadt’s 1970 hit Long Long Time has rocketed up the Spotify streaming charts after appearing on Sunday’s heartbreaking third episode of The Last Of Us.
The classic tune was played three times during the devastating episode that portrayed the tragic love story between Bill and Frank as they met under the guise of the apocalypse.
The episode was acclaimed by fans and critics alike, with many stars praising Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett for their performances in the “achingly beautiful” love story that culminates in their deaths.
Huge success! Linda Ronstadt’s 1970 hit Long Long Time has rocketed up the Spotify streaming charts after appearing on Sunday’s heartbreaking third episode of The Last Of Us
According to Spotify, streams for Linda’s song “Long, Long Time” increased 4900% in the US after the episode’s release on HBO Max.
The track appeared three times in the moving episode, including the moment both Bill and Frank performed the song on the piano before sharing their first kiss.
In the touching scene, Frank asks Bill about the girl he’s referring to in the song, to which the isolated doomsday prepper replies, “There is no girl.”
Iconic: Released in 1970, the song peaked at number 25 on the Billboard 100 chart and featured prominently in the third installment of the apocalyptic drama
Touching: The classic tune was played three times during the devastating episode that portrayed the tragic love story between Bill and Frank
Emotional: The episode was acclaimed by fans and critics alike, with many praising stars Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett for their performances
Huge success! According to Spotify, streams for Linda’s song “Long, Long Time” increased 4900% in the US after the episode’s release on HBO Max
Frank then leans in to kiss Bill before asking him to take a shower, and the two sleep together and form a relationship before spending 20 years together.
In devastating scenes, Frank, who suffers from a degenerative disease, begs Bill to help him end his life and the two marry before sharing one last meal.
As Bill fills Frank’s wineglass with a lethal dose of pills, he reveals he took the same amount too, and the two retire to bed before dying in each other’s arms.
Touching: The track appeared three times in the moving episode, including the moment both Bill and Frank performed the song on the piano before sharing their first kiss
Tears in his eyes: In the touching scene, Frank asks Bill about the girl he’s referring to in the song, to which the isolated doomsday prepper replies, “There is no girl”
Love Story: Frank then leans in to kiss Bill before asking him to take a shower and the two sleep together and form a relationship before spending 20 years together
The full version of Linda’s song then reappears at the end of the episode after Ellie and Joel discover that Bill has died upon arriving at his empty house.
Ellie finds a cassette tape in Bill’s truck, and as she and Joel continue their journey, the song plays while viewers see the window to Bill and Frank’s bedroom, eluding their recent deaths.
Creator Craig Mazin previously spoke about his decision to pick the song after his friend Seth Rudetsky suggested it, stating he wanted a song that two characters could connect through.
In Love: In devastating scenes, Frank, who is suffering from a degenerative disease, begs Bill to help him end his life and the couple marry before having one last meal together
Praised: When Bill fills Frank’s wine glass with a lethal dose of pills, he reveals he took the same amount too, and the two retire to bed before dying in each other’s arms
He told Variety, “I knew this song had to hit certain things about longing and pain and endless unrequited love.
“I couldn’t find the right song for my life. I tried and tried, and then I texted my friend Seth Rudetsky, who is the host of Sirius XM on Broadway and a scholar.
“I told him, ‘Here’s everything I need,’ and two seconds later, ‘Linda Ronstadt, Long, Long Time.’ I thought, there it is. That’s it!’
Long Long Time spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 25, and in 1971 Linda received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Female Vocal Performance.
This song! The full version of Linda’s song then reappears at the end of the episode after Ellie finds a cassette in Bill’s car
The moving episode was a marked change of tone for the apocalyptic drama based on the game of the same name, offering a full look into Bill’s past and his relationship with Frank.
The zombie outbreak leads to secret doomsday prepper Bill taking in traveler Frank, with the two falling in love and staying together for life – with fans praising Bill’s romantic line, “I’m old.” I am happy. And you were my target.’
Viewers took to social media to praise the show for portraying gay romance through a positive lens, writing, “The Last of Us created one of the most beautiful depictions of love and commitment and aging together, at I can’t stop it was perfection’.
High Praise: Viewers took to social media to praise the show for portraying gay romance through a positive lens
Nick has also been praised by fans for his performance in the gay romance, with some saying he is the only straight actor allowed to play a gay role.
But Nick’s performance changed many opinions, convincing viewers that he’s the “exception to the rule.”
Next week’s episode preview gets a first look at Melanie Lynskey’s character, Kathleen, as Joel and Ellie continue west in their new truck.
HBO announced last week — as it renewed The Last of Us — that the series’ premiere episode surpassed 22 million viewers through on-demand formats, five times the viewership of the linear broadcast.
Episode 2 of The Last of Us drew 5.7 million viewers Sunday night in the United States across HBO Max and linear TV shows, based on Nielsen and first-party data, adding more than 1 million new viewers since the series premiere.
This 22% increase marks the largest second-week viewership growth for any HBO original drama series in the history of the network.
The Last of Us was also a hit on social media, with the series #1 on Twitter during its series debut both in the US and worldwide.
To date, the first season’s teasers and trailers have been viewed more than 100 million times worldwide.
Additionally, the first episode of the series’ companion podcast reached #1 on the Apple Podcast US charts across all genres within 48 hours of its release.
The Last Of Us will be released on HBO Max in the US and will air on Sky Atlantic in the UK.
Praised: Nick was also praised by fans for his performance in the gay romance, with some saying he is the only straight actor to get a chance to play a gay role