Diana Ross has added a new milestone to her already historic résumé.
According to Forbes, the music icon appears on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart for the first time in her career, as her 1980 classic “Upside Down” debuts at No. 12.
Despite decades of chart success across multiple formats, Ross had never previously appeared on this ranking, mainly because much of her catalog predates the digital sales era that now powers the chart.
The renewed momentum behind “Upside Down” comes from a surge in digital purchases and streams following its placement in the opening episodes of Stranger Things season five.
According to Billboard, the song's streams jumped 373 percent week over week after the Netflix series returned. That spike was enough to send the track onto the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart, giving Ross a first-time appearance on a ranking that didn’t exist during much of her chart-dominating prime.
Initially released in June 1980, “Upside Down” was written and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic and served as the lead single from Ross’ eleventh studio album, Diana.
The song quickly became one of the biggest hits of her solo career, spending four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also topping the Disco and Soul charts.
Internationally, it reached No. 1 in countries including Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, and South Africa, while peaking at No. 2 in the U.K.
The single earned Ross a British Phonographic Industry silver certification and a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. More than 40 years later, it remains one of her most recognizable recordings.
Beyond its recent Stranger Things boost, “Upside Down” has also found a new audience through gaming. Last month, Grammy-winning artist and producer Thundercat released a reimagined cover of the song as part of Candy Crush Saga’s annual Music Season.
The cover anchors Candy Crush Saga’s five-week Music Season event, which blends gameplay with music-driven features. Players progress through themed challenges, unlock musical layers, and interact with a playable music video built around Thundercat’s rendition of “Upside Down.”
