1.5.2023

TikTok Treats, Week of January 2nd

A 2008 Timbaland Jam Inspires Two Viral Dances, NewJeans Continue Their Journey to Becoming K-Pop’s Next Big Thing, an Ultra-Smooth Harry Styles Cover, and More TikTok Music Stories

The News:

Each week, the TikTok Treats newsletter gives a snapshot of the state of music on TikTok, touching on trending hits, emerging artists, superstar moves, ascendant memes, and much more. Check out this week’s trends and moments below: :

Many TikTok creators are kicking off the new year the same way they ended the previous one – showing off their fun, infectious dance moves. Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and Nelly Furtado’s 2007 pop hit “Give It To Me” (617K+ video creations) inspired two different dance trends sweeping through the platform, courtesy of creators @maxevasi0n and @shenell_sx. While the first dance is referred to as the #ferbdance or #ferbing, due to its similarities to how the character Ferb awkwardly danced on the Disney Channel series Phineas and Ferb, the latter dance is for creators (like star singer Khalid) who want to tap into some smooth moves. Creators are doing the #ferbdance in their Santa hats and to celebrate finishing their finals, as other creators hit the smoother dance with their friends and tend to their garden.
Since breaking sales records with their self-titled debut EP, K-Pop group NewJeans is entering the new year with even more refreshingly nostalgic music, 90s and Y2K-inspired fashion, and brilliant choreography. Their new East Coast club-infused single, “Ditto,” and its cinematic two-part music video has the TikTok K-Pop community in a frenzy, racking up over 219k video creations as creators fawn over the music and videos, creatively channel the group’s retro aesthetic, and dance in the rain using the video’s choreography. Since arriving late last month, “Ditto” has earned the #16 spot on Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart, and reached #26 on the Global 200 chart. The group quickly followed up “Ditto” with the R&B-flavored “OMG,” which has over 11k video creations since its January 3rd release.
As millions of TikTok creators went home for the holidays, many took the opportunity to include their families in their videos. Perhaps the most notable trend used a sped-up remix of Skee-Lo’s seminal classic “I Wish” to portray daughters and moms in a new light. Backed by the buoyant instrumental and the legendary lines “I wish I was a little bit taller/I wish I was a baller,” daughters encouraged their mothers to dress like them and strut their stuff like it it’s 1995 (the year “I Wish” came out). With over 165k creations to date, the trend has inspired videos starring mothers, brothers, and fathers, and some who eschew stylish outfits for comfy sweats. The trend caught the attention of Yung Gravy, who took credit for planting the seed for the trend earlier in 2022.
Born in Jerusalem and raised in Gaza, 22-year-old artist Saint Levant is turning heads across the globe with his breakout single, “Very Few Friends” (over 39k video creations). The track began trending last month as the self-proclaimed “Lover Boy Levant” impressed listeners with his multi-lingual raps, smoothly transitioning from English, French, and Arabic in his sensual style. Inviting listeners to embrace Middle Eastern culture with his blend of Franco-Arabic rap, Arabic trap, and early 2000s R&B, creators are using the seductive sound of “Very Few Friends” to show off their favorite eats, flaunt their best formal wear, and share fashion tips for blending traditional and contemporary styles.
Capping off another year on TikTok, rising country star Ashley Cooke’s sentimental song “it’s been a year” (38K+ video creations) soundtracks creators’ reflections on their experiences in 2022. TikTok continues to be a safe space for creators to express their emotions, as creators used the trend to reveal the things that made their year good or difficult. While some creators excitedly crushed their goals with a heap of family support, other creators reveled in finding their biological family. Ashley Cooke engaged with her growing fanbase by doing her own version of the trend, sharing a plethora of personal footage from her year. It truly was a milestone year for Ashley, as she signed a record deal, saw the track reach #1 on iTunes All Genres, announced going on tour with Brett Young, and more. The song’s success on the platform propelled it to the top 10 on Spotify’s Viral 50 chart.
Harry Styles’ “As It Was” was one of the biggest hits on TikTok in 2022, with over 2.5 million creations and several weeks spent atop the Billboard Hot 100. Pop group PREP has fomented another wave of “As It Was” mania with their cover version, which takes a smoother and groovier approach to the wistful subject matter. The cover started to take off on the platform thanks to a gentle hip-shaking dance created by @Perri.Kiely, which creators (including Kevin Bacon) have been attempting in grassy fields, at Target, or in an empty plane cabin. With over 348k video creations on the platform to date, PREP’s “As It Was” has inspired more than just dance music–it’s perfect for setting a vibe, providing a luscious soundtrack for daily diaries of English teachers in Japan and for cooking a delicious-looking wonton soup. PREP has been making the most of their TikTok success, sharing live clips of the cover song, breaking down the “anatomy of the groove,” and welcoming fans to their weekly record club.

Yesterday, TikTok announced an immersive concert experience featuring GRAMMY Award-winning & multi-platinum selling DJ-Producer Calvin Harris. Premiering Friday, January 13th at 3pm ET/12pm PT in partnership with Wave, TikTok presents The Calvin Harris Experience, a concert which will take fans on a musical journey through Calvin’s virtual universe, featuring audio reactive visuals in a nature inspired luminous world. Performing as a virtual avatar, fans can expect to hear Calvin’s setlist packed with an arsenal of exhilarating dance music, including his chart-topping worldwide hits. The TikTok LIVE will be broadcast from Calvin Harris’s TikTok account @calvinharris.

Check TikTok’s newsroom for more noteworthy stories: newsroom.tiktok.com

For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Annjie Houston, Destiny Riley, T’Keyah Hayes, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok

The Background:

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Their mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy.

TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Links:

TikTok’s Newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us

Check out previous editions of TikTok Treats, a weekly newsletter about the most interesting music happenings on TikTok:

Blink 182, Lil Yachty, Cardi & GloRilla, and More from Music On TikTok
Taylor Track Reveals, Sam Smith + Kim Petras, and More From Music on TikTok
Omar Apollo, The Throne, and More TikTok Trends to Watch This Week
BLACKPINK, Steve Lacy, and The Smashing Pumpkins Lead a Busy Week of Music on TikTok
On TikTok: ‘Yonce, Yeat, Lizzo, SZA and More
Britney & Elton, Snoop Dogg & Ice Spice Lead This Week’s TikTok Trends
Latin Pop, Celebrity Nemeses, and More From TikTok Music
Teenage Dirtbags and Super Freaks Take Over on TikTok
On TikTok: Beyoncé Strikes Back, Rosalía Returns, and More
“BILLIE EILISH,” Oklahoma Smokeshows, and K. Michelle Heat Up on TikTok
Rising Stars, Latin Pop Queens, and More From Music on TikTok
Step 1: Beyoncé, Ryan Tedder, Steve Lacy, & More on TikTok
Metallica, Flo Milli, Avril Lavigne, and More From Music on TikTok
Drake Feels No Ways, Doja Channels Elvis, and More from Music on TikTok
Gorillaz, John Legend, JOJI, and More TikTok Treats
ABBA and Radiohead Trend, Tate McRae Drops a New Video, and More from Music on TikTok
Highway to the Nostalgia Zone: the ‘80s Are Back on TikTok
Harry, Kendrick, and Kate Bush Highlight a Busy Week of Music on TikTok
This Newsletter Doesn’t Jiggle Jiggle, It Reports on the Biggest Music Moments on TikTok
On TikTok: Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, and Suki Waterhouse Make Waves
Justin Gets “Honest,” PSY Returns, and More TikTok Stories
Moon Knight, Skillibeng, and More From a Leveled Up Week For Music on TikTok
On TikTok: Lizzo Returns, Ambitious Creators Show Off Their Skills, and More
A Harry Styles Hit, a Daddy Yankee Renaissance, and More TikTok Music Stories
Durk, Jack, Demi, and Fergie Inspire TikTok Music Trends
Pharrell, Coi & Nicki, and 80s Country Lead the Way on TikTok
Only On TikTok: Kevin Gates, Patsy Cline, and Pixar Make Music Trends
French Pop Meme-Making, Russ Remixes, and More TikTok Stories
All The Pheelz: Afrobeats, Batman, and More TikTok Music Stories
Mariah Carey, Euphoria, Cat Burns, & More on TikTok

Dre’s Halftime, Phoebe’s “Motion Sickness,” and More from Music on TikTok
Becky & Karol G, Madonna, and Nelly Furtado Highlight the Week in Music on TikTok
Major Bags, ’70s Gems, Space Jam DVDs, and More TikTok Music Stories
Here Come the TikTok-Steppers: Charlie Puth, Ini Kamoze, Mason Ramsey & More
Act Like You Know: Time Machines, The Ting Tings, & More on TikTok
“Pushin P,” Papa Roach, “Pompeii” and More Music Trends from TikTok
We Need to Talk About “Bruno,” And Other TikTok Music Trends
TikTok Rings In The New Year with Bad Bunny, Drill Remixes, and R&B Hits
TikTok’s 2021 Music Report: Key Takeaways
TikTok Reveals Top Songs of 2021, Incl. Doja Cat, Coi Leray and More

For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Annjie Houston, Destiny Riley, T’Keyah Hayes, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok

The Background:

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Their mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy.

TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Links:

TikTok’s Newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us

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TikTok Welcomes 2023 with Timbaland Jams, K-Pop Bangers, and Multilingual Raps

1.5.2023

TikTok Treats, Week of January 2nd

A 2008 Timbaland Jam Inspires Two Viral Dances, NewJeans Continue Their Journey to Becoming K-Pop’s Next Big Thing, an Ultra-Smooth Harry Styles Cover, and More TikTok Music Stories

The News:

The Background:

Links:

The Background:

Links: