This week, listeners “were there” for late Friends star Matthew Perry. A fan base shocked by his death paid tribute to the actor by listening to the 90s song most associated with him: the iconic sitcom's theme song, "I'll Be There for You" by The Rembrandts.
The entire world was stunned Saturday night (Oct. 29) with the news that Perry had died at age 54. The film and television star became a pop culture icon in the 1990s and 2000s, starring in hit films such as The Whole Nine Yards and 17 Again, and television comedies such as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. But of course, Perry will always be best remembered for his role as Chandler Bing on the seminal sitcom Friends, where he appeared for an entire decade as one of the six main characters, earning him an Emmy nomination and global stardom.
The connection between Perry and Friends is so eternal that, after his death, fans flocked to streaming services to hear the song they still associate with him, the one that played during the opening credits 10 years ago.
According to some music sources, “I'll Be There for You” earned a combined total of 121K official streams in the United States between October 29 and 30, the two days after Perry's death, 188% more than the previous Sunday and Monday.
It's one of many beautiful tributes that fans have paid to the actor since his passing, and that will surely continue to reverberate as viewers of all generations seek solace in the comfort of streaming TV and/or the perfection of pop-rock. from the mid-90s.
