Kavinsky’s ‘Nightcall’ breaks Shazam record after Olympics closing ceremony

“Nightcall” by Kavinsky has broken the record on Shazam for having the most-searched song in one day.

“Nightcall” broke the record on Shazam after Kavinsky had played it live with singer Angèle at the Olympics closing ceremony on August 11. It currently holds over 7 million Shazams and has remained in the global Top 10 this week. It has held its spot as this week’s most-Shazamed electronic song.

According to reports, “Nightcall” gained millions of Shazams in a single day. The surge in popularity has been connected to the song being used at the closing ceremony in Paris. Kavinsky and Angèle had performed alongside Phoenix, Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend, Air, and Vannda.

French house producer Kavinsky released the synthwave song with vocals from Lovefoxxx in 2010. The track was later on the DJ’s debut album, ‘OutRun,’ in 2013. Despite releasing almost 15 years ago, it has received continuous praise as the years go by. 

Shortly after its release, “Nightcall” was in the title sequence and soundtrack of the films ‘Drive’ and ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ respectively. In the following years, artists like Childish Gambino, Lupe Fiasco, and more sampled the track. More recently, Billie Eilish said that “Nightcall” has been one of her most-listened-to songs for the last two years while being interviewed by Stephen Colbert.

Kavinsky humbly replied to the announcement with an emoji peeking through its hands. The artist has become well-known for his synth-filled, darker tracks that could fit in an 80s film. The sound carries the same tone as it did a decade ago and is a solid reminder of why he has held strong in dance music. 

Listen to the record-breaking “Nightcall” by Kavinsky on any streaming platform. Clips of the Olympic closing ceremony are on social media. 

Featured Image Instagram / Vincent Facchini

About The Author

Madison Duncan

Hi! My name is Madison and I was born and raised in Colorado, giving me immediate access to some of the best live music. I have two degrees from the University of Denver in Media Studies and Criminology and am passionate about music journalism. Some of my favorite artists are, but not limited to, Disco Lines, Tape B, Space Laces, and Whyte Fang.

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