Late Rock Singer Earns First Chart Hit Nearly 50 Years Later

If you've been anywhere near TikTok in the last 6 months, you will almost undoubtedly have heard Chris Rainbow's "Be Like a Woman," the 1979 soft rock love song that, as of June 2026, has racked up just shy of 5 million videos using the track.

Born Christopher James Harley, Rainbow is best known as a member of the prog rock band The Alan Parsons Project from 1979 to 1990, as well as a jingle writer and occasional vocalist for the band Camel. A favorite of Beach Boys powerhouse Brian Wilson and iconic DJs Kenny Everett and Tony Blackburn, the late musician was a hidden gem of the '70s progressive rock movement - that is, until recently.

It's no wonder the song has resonated with TikTok's mainly Gen Z audience - the sunny, unmistakably '70s sound and dreamy vocal delivery by Rainbow almost feels like warm nostalgia for a memory that doesn't necessarily exist. With this in mind, it's surprising that the Scottish singer's acclaimed track didn't hit the charts for 57 years, and over a decade since Rainbow sadly passed away from complications from Parkinson's disease in 2015.

"Be Like a Woman," a song from Rainbow's third album, White Trails, entered the Billboard Hot 100 Chart back in April, debuting at number 94, with 3.4 million official U.S. streams. In Rainbow's home country of the UK, the song has remained in the Top 100 for 8 weeks, as of June 5. On Spotify, what was once a '70s deep cut has amassed over 90 million streams on Spotify.

While unfortunate that Rainbow wasn't alive to see his newfound musical appreciation, the late explosion of attention the song has received is a perfect example of the enduring, immortal power of music - one that isn't bound by time or stereotypical generational appeal.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 4:10 PM.