TikTok has been overwhelmingly influential on the music charts over the last year. Whether it's driving songs like Old Town Road to #1 or turning deep album cuts into a viral sensation, as with Roddy Ricch's The Box, TikTok has forever changed how music is made, consumed and enjoyed.
Though, you may have noticed by now that what is and isn't popular on TikTok isn't exactly linear. Just because Lady Gaga released Chromatica, doesn't mean that Rain On Me will trend on that app. Similarly, just because a song is from 2007 doesn't mean it won't find its way into the videos of the platform's most popular creators.
Thanks to an endless music library to soundtrack videos to, users are looking back into the past for songs that will make them the progenitor of the next viral dance, meme, or joke.
Here are 10 songs that TikTok won't let you forget:
Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
One could have never expected a result like this after a seemingly simple video of TikTok user 420doggface208 skating to Fleetwood Mac's Dreams while drinking cranberry juice went ultra viral. However the video's wholesomeness spawned thousands of memes and millions of views, including Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood themselves jumping on the trend, and has seen the classic 1977 track rise right up the ranks of the charts to the top ten around the world. Even the album it hails from, Rumours, has risen to the top ten, all as a result of the video's virality. You can't plan this stuff - but you absolutely have TikTok to thank for it.
@420doggface208 Morning vibe ##420souljahz ##ec ##feelinggood ##h2o ##cloud9 ##happyhippie ##worldpeace ##king ##peaceup ##merch ##tacos ##waterislife ##high ##morning ##710 ##cloud9
Robbie Tronco - Walk4Me (1995)
Robbie Tronco's Walk4Me is a ballroom classic. Even though these TikTokers may not know the song's origins, they are serving attitude all the same. The sound has been used to show off looks and joke about hiding personality traits, but this pregnancy announcement is something else.
@juicypoptartz too real
WERK TERK! ##terkin ##terk ##disney ##disneyworld ##wdw ##waltdisneyworld ##animalkingdom ##walk4me ##drag ##dragqueen ##gay
Lily Allen - Smile (2006)
Lily Allen has made some of the saltiest pop songs we've ever heard. Which is what makes the emergence of Smile on TikTok pretty unsurprising. Thanks to Zack, (@zackjot) who makes some of the most joyous and silly dance content on the app, Smile is back.
@zockjat Me watching all these racists getting exposed ##smilechallenge ??? ##fyp ##smile ##lilyallen ##y2k ##dance ##harlemshake
Estelle - American Boy (2008)
It's impossible to count how many versions of American Boy exist on TikTok but spend just 10 minutes scrolling through the app and you're bound to hear it. Though, this mashup of American Boy with Frank Ocean's Chanel is likely its most popular iteration, having been used in over 3 million videos.
@addisonre @wilkingsisters @allisonholkerboss
Kesha - Cannibal (2010)
In February this year, an entire decade following the original release of Kesha's Cannibal, Briana Hantsch (@ya.girl.bri.bri97) uploaded a choreographed dance to the misandrist anthem. Today, the song has amassed 8.3 million videos, with popular content producers like Charli D'Amelio and Addison Rae joining in on the trend.
@charlidamelio @ya.girl.bri.bri97
Waka Flocka Flame - No Hands (2010)
There must be something about 2010 that has all these TikTokers digging into the archives. Recently, a dance to Waka Flocka's 2010 hit, No Hands which involved a lot of complicated hand movements took over TikTok.
@hollyh omg i think this is the closest i’ve ever been to the hand thing ????
Trey Songz feat. Nicki Minaj - Bottoms Up (2010)
This has nothing to do with Trey Songz and is all about Nicki Minaj's iconic verse on Bottoms Up. And a lot like Nicki's rapping style, the choreography is at double speed, so this one isn't for the faint hearted.
Jason Derulo - Ridin' Solo (2010)
If you don't already know that Jason Derulo is the new king of TikTok, then you have some catching up to do. So it comes as no surprise that his super catchy 2010 hit, Ridin' Solo is making waves on the app. If you're not convinced, check out this video of Derulo and Addison Rae. Otherwise, TikTokers are just cashing in on the eternal mood of the song, and we're not mad at it.
@spencewuah OKAY BUT THAT TRANSITION?!?! ##fyp
Britney Spears - Criminal (2011)
Britney Spears is all over TikTok, whether you're looking at the #FreeBritney movement, or a dance set to Toxic or even Oops! I Did It Again. But it's her 2011 song Criminal that ended up being the soundtrack for the ubiquitous - and somewhat questionable - #MugshotChallenge where users prettied themselves to pose for hypothetical mug shots.
Bhad Bhabie - Geek'd (2018)
Bhad Bhabie's 2018 hit, Geek'd featuring Lil Baby has garnered over 1 million videos on TikTok. Thanks to Addison Rae whose video racked up over 6 million views, the high-energy dance has proliferated the app.
@zane @mariah_amato @addisonre
