10.6.2021
TikTok Treats, Week of October 4th
This Week, the TikTok Community Dances to Dembow, Obsesses Over Squid Game, and Reveals a Healthy Fear of “Teenagers”
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. Take a look at the dembow anthems, K-Pop gems, and rising rap hits that have made an impact on the platform in recent weeks:
- Coi Leray consistently shows love to the TikTok community, and the TikTok community consistently shows her love right back. Already seeing major success on the app this year with her catchy hit “No More Parties” (465.4K+ creations) and NSFW “Ocean Prime” (467.4K+ creations), a collaboration with Bfb Da Packman, the trendy rapper is making waves again with her new song “TWINNEM” (979.1K+ creations). The sound has sparked a comedic trend of duos acting out the words of the song’s organ-led hook with their “twin.” From real twins to the closest coworkers, TikTok creators are adamant in affirming that they love their best friends and have no desire for any new friends. Coi Leray has even been interacting with the sound on her own page, as she vibes to the song with her friends to show off the song’s lowkey, danceable feel.
- The community of K-Pop lovers on TikTok is large and growing, and it looks like they’ve found themselves a new star to stan. A member of world famous pop group BLACKPINK, known on TikTok for hits like “How You Like That” (11 million video creations) and “Ice Cream” w/ Selena Gomez (1.5 million creations), 리사 (LISA) is making major waves on TikTok wihth “Money,” her second-ever solo single. With over 1 million video creations since its release last month, the knowingly materialistic banger is an ideal mood booster–a new trend finds creators exaggerating the song’s ability to raise serotonin levels with a new dance and animated facial expressions. The song received another jump in popularity after its use in the Netflix show Squid Game, inspiring poses, games, and make-up tutorials based on the mega-popular Korean show.
- With its high-energy vocals and insistent percussion, Dominican dembow is one of the ascendant sub-genres of Latin music on TikTok. Following the earlier success of El Alfa’s “La Mamá de la Mamá” (over 1 million creations), the latest dembow hit to drive the community mad is “Linda” (over 200k video creations), a collaboration between Dominican Republic native Tokischa and Spanish superstar Rosalía. Driven by the song’s loping bassline and persistent handclaps, “Linda” has TikTok users attempting their best runway struts in multiple distinct trends. Some “Linda” lovers plant “besitos” on their close friends, while others finds pantomime Rosalía’s claps during a stunning transformation, while others still just wanna dance. Spurred in part by it’s TikTok success, “Linda” is gaining steam, reaching the Top 10 of Spotify’s U.S. Viral 50 chart and racking up over 20 million streams on the service.
- TikTok often plays host to a friendly clash of generations, and a new trending song is making that playful conflict more explicit. In recent weeks, TikTok creators have sparked a resurgence of My Chemical Romance’s emo classic, “Teenagers,” inspiring over 117K creations on the platform. The trend, centering on the evocative lyric, “Teenagers scare the livin’ s**t out of me,” can help elucidate age-based anxieties, soundtrack 2000s picture day photoshoot concepts, and explain the mindset of adults who are amazed by teens’ daily work routines.
- Blurring the lines between indie pop and alternative music with his song “Life Goes On,” Oliver Tree and his eccentric energy have had a hold on the TikTok community in recent weeks. While one of the “Life Goes On” sounds has already amassed over 3.5M creations on the app, another two sounds for the same song have garnered over 2.1M creations and 942.K creations respectively. The song’s energy has brought out a sense of off-the-wall creativity in the TikTok community and is soundtracking all types of art, from intricate paintings and skateboard designs to the cutest cats carving fruit into hearts. The song’s success on the app helped catapult it to a top 10 position on Spotify’s Viral 50 chart. On his own TikTok, Oliver Tree has been using the song to highlight his confessions of NBA dreams and his intense Cheetos obsession.
- There’s a niche for everyone on TikTok, and it’s no surprise that the platform’s aspiring fashionistas have found each other. The fashion-forward side of TikTok discovered “Mr. Put It On” (26K video creations), a new song by Houston rapper Guapo, inspiring a stylish trend that has swept through the app. Over a heavy bassline and dark piano chords, Guapo raps about how he looks fly in any wardrobe–that’s why they call him “Mr. Put It On.” The flex-heavy track boasts over 29k video creations on the platform, resonating with TikTok users who also feel their sense of style is worthy of earning them the same name. Creators show off unwavering confidence in their wardrobe by sharing compilations of their best outfits (examples include this one and this one). In other creations, users offer store recommendations and evaluate outfits using the duet feature.
Today, TikTok announced that it partnered with UnbeliEVAble Entertainment (founded by Eva Longoria) to announce the TikTok Latinx Creatives program, inviting over 150 creators to the inaugural TikTok Latinx Creatives creator incubator. The program kicks off on October 12 with a full day of educational programming, including a keynote presentation from globally-recognized, most-followed Latin artist on TikTok, and Colombian-born superstar, J Balvin. Throughout the 10-week program, participants will join the TikTok team — along with some of the most successful Latinx leaders across entertainment, music, business, and more — at motivational town halls, community-building forums and educational workshops. TikTok is excited to kick off TikTok Latinx Creatives and to help them on their missions to become a part of the future of Latinx entertainment.
Check out full details about the initiative on the newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/unbelievable-partners-with-tiktok-and-macro-to-announce-150-latinx-creators-in-inaugural-tiktok-latinx-creatives-program
Check TikTok’s newsroom for more noteworthy stories: newsroom.tiktok.com
For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Erin Ryan, 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:
Balvin, Doja, and Mariah Lead a Star-Studded Week on TikTok
Sam Smith, Ciara and Breakout PinkPantheress Highlight the Week on TikTok
Lizzo Starts “Rumors,” bbno$ Eats “edamame,” and More Hip-Hop TikTok Stories
#AltTikTok, Alt-J, and All-Time Rap Classics Define Music on TikTok This Week
Cats, Babies, & Vietnamese Techno Highlight the Week in TikTok Music
On TikTok: Normani, Reba, and a Gas Station Star
The Kid Laroi Meets Bieber, Drake Runs Thru The 6, and More From TikTok
BIA Meets Nicki, Stromae Slows Down, and More TikTok Trends
On TikTok: Music Trends Inspired by Kanye, Young Nudy, and…Meryl Streep?
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