It all began with a whisper, and now it’s a billion plays and counting. Neon Trees’ hit “Everybody Talks” has officially joined the Spotify Billions Club, surpassing one billion streams. The band from Provo, Utah, released the song in late 2011 as the lead single from their second album, 2012’s Picture Show. It quickly became their biggest hit, building on the success of their debut single “Animal,” which reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Everybody Talks” climbed even higher, peaking at No. 6 and giving them their first Top 10 single. It was a major radio success, hitting No. 1 on the Adult Pop Airplay chart and No. 3 on the general Pop Airplay chart.
Frontman Tyler Glenn shared that the song was inspired by 1960s pop hits his father loved, including tracks by Roy Orbison and artists from Motown. Working with producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen, they gave that classic sound a modern twist, appealing to various radio formats from Adult Contemporary to Alternative Rock. On National Coming Out Day in 2020, Glenn revealed that the lyrics were about an ex-girlfriend who spread rumors about him while he was still in the closet.
The music video reflects the escapism theme of Picture Show, set at a retro drive-in theater where a zombie motorcycle gang attacks the band. It features Trixie, a character from the album, who seduces men but is revealed to be a fire-breathing vampire. Even after its chart run, “Everybody Talks” remained a pop culture staple, appearing in shows like Homeland and Hawaii Five-0, and even in the Glee series.
