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Nick Offerman Once Covered a 1970s Linda Ronstadt Classic—and It Was Amazing
Nick Offerman performed Linda Ronstadt’s 1970 song “Long, Long Time” while playing Bill in HBO’s *The Last of Us*, drawing praise for the emotionally restrained cover. The performance mattered because it introduced the song to a much wider modern audience and demonstrated how a prominent television placement can revive interest in older music.
Written by Gary White and released on Ronstadt’s album *Silk Purse*, the Grammy-nominated single reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 12 weeks on the chart. After the episode aired, Spotify streams reportedly rose by 4,900 per cent; Ronstadt said she was especially pleased that White would benefit financially, while calling the song one of her favourites. The article compares this resurgence with renewed popularity for songs featured in *Stranger Things*, including Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” and Metallica’s “Master of Puppets”.
In short
- Offerman’s TV cover revived interest in Ronstadt’s 1970 song.
- Spotify streams reportedly rose by 4,900 per cent.
- Ronstadt welcomed the renewed attention and songwriter royalties.
Explained simply
Linda Ronstadt is an American singer-songwriter. She released "Long, Long Time" in 1970, a track that achieved modest chart success when it first came out.
Actor Nick Offerman, known for his role in *Parks and Recreation*, performed Ronstadt's song whilst playing a character named Bill in HBO's adaptation of *The Last of Us*. The television broadcast introduced the song to millions of contemporary viewers.
Television placements have become a way to revive interest in older music amongst modern audiences. This phenomenon has happened before with shows like *Stranger Things*, where songs by artists including Kate Bush and Metallica saw renewed popularity after being featured in episodes.