Song by teen who died of cancer hits No.1 on iTunes

Seven years after his death to cancer at age 18, Zach Sobiech returns to the top of the iTunes chart with his inspirational tune 'Clouds'. Photo: Filepic

Seven years after his death to cancer at age 18, a Minnesota singer-songwriter has returned to the top of the iTunes chart with his inspirational tune Clouds.

The Star Tribune reports that Clouds by Zach Sobiech took over iTunes’ No.1 slot from Justin Bieber on Sunday, two days after the Hollywood movie of the same name based on Sobiech’s life premiered on Disney+.

The ranking is based on downloads of the song. The profits will add to the US$2mil (RM8mil) already raised for cancer research via Sobiech’s namesake foundation.

The single first climbed to the top of iTunes in 2013, shortly after the Stillwater-area teenager's death. He had been diagnosed with bone cancer four years earlier.

By that point, the YouTube video that led to the song’s ascent had been viewed 4 million times. It's up over 15 million now. The song also went to No.26 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and No. 3 on the rock singles chart.

The movie is an adaptation of the memoir Fly a Little Higher by Zach’s mother, Laura Sobiech. – AP