Oliver Tree’s breakout single Life Goes On has re-entered the Global Spotify chart at number 139, amassing 1.27 million streams following the singer’s death in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro. The 32-year-old musician, known for his distinctive bowl haircut and viral internet persona, died on Sunday, June 14, when two helicopters collided mid-air over the western suburb of Recreio dos Bandeirantes.
The song, originally released in 2021, became a massive TikTok phenomenon with over 3.7 million videos using the track on the platform. Its poignant title has taken on heartbreaking new meaning as fans stream the record to honor the alt-pop artist.
Tree was touring South America as part of The World’s First World Tour when the accident occurred. His most recent performance took place in São Paulo on June 6. He had been scheduled to perform in Lisbon on July 1, followed by shows in Glasgow, Manchester, and London later in the year.
According to Brazilian authorities, one of the helicopters crashed into the parking lot of an electric vehicle dealership after the collision, setting approximately 20 cars ablaze. All six people on board both aircraft perished. The other victims included Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim, known as Gaspi, Brazilian music producer Lucas Vignale, and the two pilots.
Tributes have flooded social media following the news. Singer Melanie Martinez, who previously dated Tree, shared an emotional statement on Instagram: “Been an absolute wreck today. It’s really hard to understand how someone who you once shared such a specific and formative time of your life with can all of a sudden be gone”.
YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI, who collaborated with Tree on the 2023 single Voices, wrote on X: “You’re a legend and will always be a legend. It still doesn’t feel real. I genuinely feel sick. I love you, bro”.
Just one day before his death, Tree posted an Instagram Reel documenting his time in Brazil, showing him playing soccer and chanting “Neymar! Neymar!” in tribute to the Brazilian soccer icon. The post has since amassed over 49 million views, becoming his most-viewed content on the platform.
Fans continue streaming his catalog, with Life Goes On leading the surge as the world processes the loss of an artist who built a career on defying expectations. The investigation into the cause of the mid-air collision remains ongoing.
