Gen Z swears listening to 1979 hit song brings cash and good fortune — but experts say there’s nothing ‘magic’ about it

If manifesting money were as easy as pressing play, we’d all be millionaires.

But on social media, many Gen Zers are convinced the secret to wealth isn’t hustle culture — it’s a disco beat.

Anita Ward’s 1979 disco hit “Ring My Bell” is having an unexpected second life in 2026, with thousands of users swearing the track doubles as a sonic “money magnet.”

The ubiquitous trend, kicked off by TikTok creator @GoddessInanna15, frames the song as a so-called “Matrix hack,” claiming that looping it daily can attract cash, opportunities, and good fortune.

In one viral video, the vlogger promised to reveal the “real secret sauce” behind the song, saying it works as a “manifestation and reset frequency” — not just because of “hertz,” but thanks to a mix of numerology and what she calls a “feminine receiving portal.”

Followers were encouraged to repeat coded phrases aloud as affirmations while jamming to the song, like “I am wealthy” and “cancel my debt,” to “manifest” financial success.

Cue the testimonials: believers say they’ve scored scratch-offs, surprise cash windfalls, new jobs, and more — often after making the song part of their morning routine, complete with a little dance.

User @hannahphillips.art said she booked three gigs as a working artist after doing a “dance ritual” to the song for three days with the “intention to manifest abundance.”

Another, @lady_shopper99, found her dream wedding dress in a thrift shop while listening to the track during a day out.

The internet, naturally, ate it up: over 5,000 clips using the sound have appeared in recent weeks, and streams of Ward’s hit jumped 277% over the past month, hitting 2.53 million plays in a single week, per Billboard.

Other songs are credited with the “manifestation” trend

And it’s not just one 8-minute funky track from the 70s.

Songs made at the so-called “abundance frequency” include Enya’s ethereal 2001 ballad “May It Be” and Pink Floyd’s 1975 hit “Wish You Were Here,” both favorites among woo-woo enthusiasts.

Fans credit “hertz” frequencies — like 432 Hz or the “love frequency” of 528 Hz — for their magical manifestation results.

“Ring My Bell” was officially recorded at 440 Hz, but many users share 432 Hz versions of it, made to amplify the “abundance” effect.

Some claim that its 100 BPM (beats per minute) rhythm itself boosts dopamine and energy.

Spotify playlists have embraced the trend, too, with playlists of “healing” tracks at 528 Hz or “sleep” ones at 852 Hz, all designed to manipulate mood or intention.

The science is really all in your head

Here’s the reality check: music isn’t magic — but it can mess with your brain in very real ways.

Dr. Patrick K. Porter, founder of BrainTap Technologies, told The Post: “Music activates multiple brain systems simultaneously — emotional centers, memory networks, attention pathways.”

“When rhythm, melody, and personal significance align, the brain recognizes the experience as meaningful.”

Repeated listening, he added, “strengthens neural pathways, especially when combined with emotion or intention,” reinforcing mental states like confidence or motivation — basically, like mental rehearsal or affirmations.

Conditioning plays a role, too: “When a song is consistently paired with a desired emotional state — such as confidence or success — the brain creates an ‘anchor.’”

Over time, he said, just hearing the song can automatically trigger those same positive emotions.

In other words, TikTokkers’ brains start linking that viral disco beat with feeling good, focused, or motivated.

That boost can nudge them to apply for more jobs, stick to a budget, or take other practical steps — which might later feel like the song “manifested” success, when really it just helped them take the first move.

Audio and music industry expert Nikki Camilleri of Mana agreed: “The emotional power of a song is rarely about the song itself.”

“When you hear a song during a significant moment, it gets ‘tagged’ with that emotion.”

Repeated listening strengthens its neural representation, making it easier for your brain to process, which feels good, she noted.

Over time, the track “can function as a conditioned cue,” priming your nervous system to anticipate a target state. “The song itself isn’t magic,” she stressed, but it can “become a shortcut to a target mental state.”