(March 12, 2026) In one of the most surprising music stories of the new year – combining the subplots of the power of social media and the power of a classic, great song – the disco classic “Ring My Bell” by Anita Ward has made an unexpected return to the spotlight decades after its original run. The 1979 smash is back climbing to the upper echelon of the Dance Digital Song Sales chart in Billboard Magazine thanks to a viral social media trend on TikTok that has introduced the song to a new generation of listeners.
But the renewed chart story isn’t about streaming numbers. Instead, the buzz has translated into a surprising burst of digital sales, pushing the classic track back onto charts based on actual purchases (how novel!).
However it happened, it is a welcome return for the 69 year old Ward and her biggest hit. Back in 1979, Ward’s record label owner, Frederick Knight, delivered her a disco song previously intended for Stacy Lattisaw. With hesitation, Ward agreed to record the song, which used a double-entendre about “ringing her bell.”
“Ring My Bell” featured Ward’s distinctive soprano voice amidst a relatively straightforward dance arrangement. The song struck a nerve and seemed perfect for the peak disco period that was 1979. It shot straight to #1 on the pop and R&B charts and seemed to portend great things for Ward. Unfortunately, Ward’s quickly released second album, Sweet Surrender, failed to capitalize on the moment and only landed a minor hit with “Don’t Drop My Love.”
An auto accident and record company problems slowed down whatever momentum Ward had after her signature hit. It would be a decade before she returned with Wherever There’s Love, and the album and single “Be My Baby” failed to dent the charts. Ward focused on her family after that, though she has returned from time to time with new music, including the fun 2016 dance cut “Another Bad Mistake.”
Now, yet another generation is appreciating the divinely campy song which epitomized the days of bell bottoms and mirror balls, and that’s not all bad.
By Chris Rizik
