Update: Zach Sobiech’s ‘Clouds’ Rises to No. 1 on iTunes

Editor's note: This story is from Patch editors Shawn Hogendorf and Kris Janisch, telling the story of a courageous Stillwater student who in dying lived through his music.  It's a post that bears sharing with Roseville Patch readers. 

"And it went Up, Up, Up!"   Roseville . 

That's the way Rock the Vine's Facebook post read Wednesday afternoon announcing that Zach Sobiech's single "Clouds" officially reached No. 1 on the iTunes Singles Chart.

Original: The community that has rallied behind and supported Zach Sobiech for years, is now working to get his hit song “Clouds” to No. 1 on the iTunes charts.

• Click here to help Zach’s song reach No. 1 on the iTunes charts

With just months to live, Zach turned to music—writing and performing songs as a way to say goodbye to his friends and family.

“Writing goodbye letters aren’t Zach’s style, his mother Laura has said, “so he puts his heart into song lyrics.”

Those lyrics have become an inspiration for millions across the globe.

"You don't have to find out you're dying to start living," Zach said during an interview with SoulPancake. "I want to be known as the kid who went down fighting, and didn't really lose."

Zach’s song “Clouds” went viral on youtube—collecting more than 4 million views to date—and his song has been covered by a host of popular musicians, Afton-Lakeland Elementary sixth-graders and the PS22 Chorus, just to name a few.

Woodbury resident Courtney Sitz said she wasn’t Zach Sobiech’s best friend.

“But he just made everybody feel like they were close to him,” she said. “He was a sweet kid and he was really cool.”

Sobiech, has inspired millions with his positive outlook on life, which was conveyed through his music. He died of bone cancer in his Lakeland home on Monday morning, surrounded by loved ones.

Now, classmates, friends and an entire community of supporters are trying to get his song Clouds to No. 1 on iTunes.

“It would just show a lot of respect for him,” said Sitz, who graduated from Stillwater Area High School last year and had a psychology class with Sobiech. She recalled bringing him cupcakes with a friend after he was diagnosed with cancer.

Following news of Sobiech’s death, Clouds quickly went to No. 2 on iTunes, and his YouTube video shot up to more than 4 million views.

As Metro, a website in the United Kingdom wrote today:

Downloads of the record have surged and it has already reached number 24 in the UK iTunes chart – it was not even in the top 100 on Tuesday.

Sales are even stronger in the US, where it has reached number five in the iTunes chart.

Fix Me Up, the album that Zach released with his band A Firm Handshake, is at number seven in the US iTunes chart.

The effort has mostly spread via Facebook and Twitter, Sitz said.

“It seems like the whole community has started posting about it,” she said.

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RELATED: 

Lakeland Teen Captures the Attention of Hollywood

Lakeland teenager with rare cancer saying goodbye through song: Pioneer Press

Zach Sobiech Will Perform at Benefit Concert Feb. 16 at the Varsity Theater: Stillwater Patch

A song played on heartstrings: Star Tribune

Teen songwriter with cancer is YouTube sensation: KARE 11

Zach Sobiech, Teen With Cancer, Records Touching Song to Say Goodbye: Huffington Post

Teen Fights Cancer by Strumming, Smiling: CNN

VIDEO: Zach Sobiech and Friends Sing the National Anthem: Stillwater Patch

A Song for Zach: St. Croix Catholic Says A Little Prayer For You (VIDEO)

VIDEO: "Fix Me Up" by Zach Sobiech and Sammy Brown

Stars Serenade Zach Sobiech in Appreciation of His Brave Cancer Fight (People)

Zach Sobiech: Finding peace through music

Other Media:

• Pioneer Press
• KARE 11
• WCCO
• Star Tribune
• CNN
• People.com
• The Current
• Stillwater Gazette