7.8.2021
TikTok Treats, Week of July 5th
Kanye Inspires a Heavenly Trend, Comethazine Sparks Aggression, and Cody Fry Soundtracks Sweet Moments with Orchestral Splendor
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. From symphonic ballads to ominous rap, the TikTok community’s choice in music for viral trends is vast and consistently diverse. Check out some sounds and recent trends the TikTok community is engaging with below:
- When Young Nudy and Pi’erre Bourne come together, they create music for a trap wonderland. Creators on TikTok have been captivated by the smoothly gliding synth lead and booming 808s on the duo’s 2017 standout “Hell Shell.” A slowed version of the track has amassed over 1.1M video creations, inspiring a fun, simple dance for two. The trend consists of two or more people facing in opposite directions as they connect hands in the air and rock side to side to the beat. While some TikTok creators hit the low-key dance with their teammates at softball games, others hit it at the airport, or even at Disney parks with their families.
- Rap icon Kanye West’s 2016 album The Life of Pablo has stood the test of time, with multiple songs from the acclaimed album, such as “Wolves” (115k creations), now seeing second lives on TikTok. This past week, “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1” (58K+ creations) has provided the soundtrack to hilarious skits. Creators pretend they’ve passed and, as their families mourn their loss, they find themselves asking celebrities about the mysteries surrounding their passing. Examples range from Princess Diana, to Tupac, and Marilyn Monroe.
- Comethazine’s brazen bars and fiery snarl are making their rounds on TikTok once again, this time with his 2019 banger “SOLVED THE PROBLEM,” where he menacingly raps about anyone who dares to step on his fresh, white Air Force 1’s. The song has been sweeping through the app (132k video creations) for the past month thanks to multiple trends of creators describing ways they feel disrespected or showing a POV of someone talking smack in preparation for a fight. Recently, creators have been lip syncing the track and embodying Comethazine’s aggressive tone in their movements, even while showing off their glam makeup looks.
- The 2008 musical rom-com Mamma Mia provided a soundtrack for TikTok’s feel-good stories on the app this week. Over 89.4K creators have used Mamma Mia star Meryl Streep’s cover of the beloved Swedish pop group ABBA’s “Slipping Through My Fingers” track to share heartwarming videos of moments they’ve shared with their pets, their parents, or their significant others. A few creators have even flipped the nostalgia evoked by the song to recall hilarious memories, like this soldier pranking his commander with a T-Rex costume.
- Cody Fry was definitely surprised when his cinematic 2017 “I Hear A Symphony” (48.4K+ creations) song reached #2 on Spotify’s US Viral 50 chart earlier this year. The song was pushed into the spotlight by the TikTok community, as they used the symphonic ballad to soundtrack nearly 50k creations on the platform. The sound has sparked plenty of wholesome content, ranging from catching an elderly couple’s sweet moment on a beach, to an emotional animation about self love, and the first meeting of a long distance couple.
This Friday, TikTok recruits Dillon Francis for the latest session of Headstream, a TikTok LIVE series that takes fans on a creative journey inside the minds of their favorite artists. Airing more than ten sessions since its debut in April, Headstream has welcomed guests like Demi Lovato, Blake Shelton, P!nk, and Lil Tjay. The unique program proves that TikTok’s short-form video ingenuity extends into the world of livestreaming, and offers users a fresh perspective on high-profile artists. Dillon Francis’s Headstream airs on July 9th at 4pm PT/7pm ET.
Check TikTok’s newsroom for more noteworthy stories: newsroom.tiktok.com
For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Andrea Higgins, Erin Ryan, 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:
Avril Lavigne, Bo Burnham, and Gucci Mane Lead The Week in TikTok Trends
TikTok Summer Madness: Lorde Leads a Pack of New Trending Songs
Swae Lee, WILLOW, Mitski & More Inspire Trends on TikTok
Only On TikTok: Lil Durk & City Girls Trend Alongside…The Backyardigans?
On TikTok: BTS Army Takes Over, Carti Demands Silence, and Fans Anticipate F9
Olivia Rodrigo Catches Fire, Miguel Helps Users Catch Feelings, and More TikTok Stories
Saweetie, Calvin Harris, and Bella Poarch Highlight The Week in TikTok
Another One? DJ Khaled, Lizzo, and More Make the Week in TikTok
Doja Cat, Little Simz, and El Alfa Inspire TikTok Trends
Britney Spears, Chloe Bailey, and Diplo Make Waves on TikTok
Dua Lipa, Drake, and Bell Biv DeVoe Make Waves on TikTok
DMX Gets His Flowers, Silk Sonic Reaches #1, and More TikTok Stories
TikTok Unveils Music-Powered Filters, Lil Nas X Debuts At #1, and More TikTok Stories
Bieber Tops The Charts, Young Thug Premieres New Music, and More TikTok Stories
Demi Lovato Kicks Off TikTok’s New Livestream Series Headstream
Rock Music Thrives on TikTok, Just Ask Yungblud, Beach Bunny, and More
Shania Hops On Board, Kid Cudi Tosses and Turns, and More TikTok Stories
On TikTok: Kali Uchis and Coi Leray Hit the Charts as Bobby Shmurda Comes Home
Rihanna, Brent Faiyaz, and Giveon Lead TikTok’s R&B Moment
T-Pain, Hyperpop, and Anti-Valentine’s Anthems Take TikTok By Storm
Cardi Goes Up, Uzi Goes Down (to Sleep), and More TikTok Stories
Black History Month Kicks Off, Mark Ronson Duets, and More Music Stories From TikTok
Cardi Goes Up, Uzi Goes Down (to Sleep), and More TikTok Stories
Dave Grohl, Migos, Miley, and More Happenings on TikTok
This Week on TikTok: Olivia Rodrigo Hits #1 as Memes & Mashups Flourish
New Year, New TikTok Trends: Alicia Keys, Remembering MF DOOM & More
Paul McCartney, Holiday Celebrations, and New Year’s Eve Live on TikTok
TikTok Releases First U.S. Music Report: Here Are Some Key Insights
How TikTok’s Top 10 Songs of 2020 Impacted the Industry