5.25.2023

TikTok Treats, Week of May 22nd

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.

WIth their ability to pack a lifetime’s worth of emotion into a few short bars or an orchestral flourish, film composers are a director’s best friend. Amateur directors on TikTok have adopted certain pieces from film scores as an audio shorthand for certain trends, whether they’re meant to evoke the film in question or just a similar feeling.

The most notable use of film music in recent weeks comes from Alexander Desplat, a go-to composer for many filmmakers, including oft-imitated auteur Wes Anderson. Desplat’s “Obituary,” from the soundtrack to Anderson’s 2021 film The French Dispatch, became the soundtrack to TikTok’s ubiquitous “Wes Anderson trend.” Using Desplat’s bouncy pizzicato strings and engaging harpsichord melody, TikTok creators lovingly recreate Anderson’s signature style–symmetrical framing, rich color schemes, title cards, fourth-wall breaking looks into the camera–turning a picturesque vacation, a lunch break, or a lifetime of love into a scene straight out of one of his films. “Obituary” has inspired nearly 165k creations, including a memorable video by Tony Hawk, and the #wesanderson tag has over 1.3 billion views.

Desplat’s “Obituary” is far from the only bit of film scoring to inspire TikTok trends in recent weeks. Composer and producer Jon Brion’s score for Greta Gerwig’s 2017 film Lady Bird has spiked in recent weeks. Inspired by the title character’s vibrant and singular personality, the dulcet tones of “Thanksgiving In Sacramento” (29k) is the primary soundtrack to a trend in which TikTok creators discover which flower or fruit (or bread or plant or instrument…) best fits their personality and the personality of their significant other. Though creators are divided on whether their respective elements share an aesthetic, Brion’s gentle woodwinds tie each distinct flavor into a cohesive whole.

Finally, a creepy song from The Hunger Games series accompanies a recent trend using one of TikTok’s artistic AI filters. Last week, a creator named @adorkablejaja used “The Hanging Tree,” composed by the late James Newton Horner and softly sung by Jennifer Lawrence, to soundtrack her use of the filter, claiming that it could reveal a creator’s “godly parent” with just one scan of their face. In just one week, the song has generated over 103k creations from creators looking for divine artistic inspiration, many of whom simply stitched Jaja’s original video (which has since racked up over 223k views). Creators have discovered their similarity to Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, or that they might have been mermaids in a past life.

TikTok has proven its ability to elevate soundtrack songs, like Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” into the stratosphere. These recent trends indicate that TikTok, and its endlessly creative community, can provide a similar bump to scores or less traditional pieces of film music.

Check out more recent trends and tidbits from the world of music on TikTok:

  • Is Rihanna signaling that she’s going to be more active on TikTok? The generational superstar joined the platform in late 2022, posting an adorable video of her son. The video generated nearly 35 million views, but RiRi had been quiet since. Until Wednesday, when the hitmaker and entrepreneur shared a mysterious video, focused firmly on her feet, soundtracked by underground rapper RXK Nephew’s song “I Love My Girlfriend.” Whether this is a start of a TikTok barrage, or Rihanna just wanted to show off her favorite song, Rihanna’s latest video proves TikTok’ss status as the place where artists can be their most authentic selves.
  • Following her viral hits “Big Energy” and “It’s Givin,” rap star and TikTok favorite Latto is making waves on the platform once again with her song “Put It On Da Floor” (76K+ creations) sparking fun, comedic trends on the platform. Inspired by Latto and her friends, one trend finds creators and their friends challenging each other to see who can run the fastest, soundtracked by the start of the song’s invigorating second verse. Another trend using “Put It On Da Floor” finds creators hitting up their local Walmart to act out the lyrics of the second verse, dancing in different sections and aisles of the store that coordinate with the lyrics. Latto eagerly hopped on the second trend, putting her own spin on it with help from her friends.
  • Creators in the TikTok community pride themselves on their raw, honest authenticity, and Tone-Loc’s 1989 hit “Wild Thing” has become the perfect soundtrack for their hot takes. Garnering over 135K+ total creations, the song finds creators sharing true-to-life commentary using TikTok’s text-on-screen feature. Over the thumping beats of the song’s instrumental, creators reveal their toxic traits, offer reasons why one should date older women, and express how their intuition prevents them from being hurt by betrayal. In other “Wild Thing” creations, mothers discover what type of mothers they are using TikTok’s “What Type of Mom Are You” filter.
  • Florida rhymer Nardo Wick’s deadpan delivery and id-driven lyricism have made him a favorite in the TikTok community. Two years after first breaking through with “Who Want Smoke?” (135k videos), and one year after making waves with the haunting “Dah Dah DahDah” (168k videos), Nardo is trending once again with his song “Shh.” With over 55k creations, “Shh” is the perfect song for creators who don’t feel like speaking. The song from Nardo’s 2021 album Who Is Nardo Wick? inspired a trend in which creators attempt to creatively interpret the songs lyrics using hand signals and other images. Many creators have used the song to ascribe emotions to their new babies, expressive pets, and more, or just have their kids perform the trend themselves.

Visit 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.

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:
TikTok Trends Assemble: Fresh x Reckless, Taylor Swift & Much More
Madonna, Brent Faiyaz, Destroy Lonely & More from Music on TikTok
On TikTok: De La, Bieber, Tank & The Bangas, and More
On TikTok: The “Buddy Holly” Lick, Dogg Transformations, and More
RiRi Returns, Superstar Pride Shines, and TikTok Trends That Prove
On TikTok: Skrillex & Fred Again.., Philly Club, and New Trends From Rising Artists
Grammy Winners, Mariah’s “Wrap,” “Mrs. Right,” and more
Celine Brings It All Back, Tech N9ne Celebrates the Chiefs, Plus More TikTok Music Stories
Pink Floyd’s New Great Gig, PARTYNEXTDOOR’s Sped Up Makeover, & More on TikTok
Miley and Shakira Get Petty, Miguel’s “Sure Thing” Revival, and More TikTok Music Stories
TikTok Welcomes 2023 with Timbaland Jams, K-Pop Bangers, and Multilingual Raps 
Music on TikTok: 21 Savage, Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse, and Ice Spice Headline a Star-Studded Week of Trends
SZA’s ‘SOS’ Signal, Coi and Busta Mash Up, Plus More TikTok Trends to Close Out 2022
Metro & The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Baile Funk and More TikTok Trends to Warm Up The Winter
2022 For You: TikTok’s Top Songs, Artists, and Music Stories of 2022
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
BLACKPINK, Steve Lacy, and The Smashing Pumpkins Lead a Busy Week of Music on TikTok
On TikTok: ‘Yonce, Yeat, Lizzo, SZA and More
TikTok’s 2021 Music Report: Key Takeaways
TikTok Reveals Top Songs of 2021, Incl. Doja Cat, Coi Leray and More

Total
0
Shares
Like 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
END