The New Music Metric
TikTok has become the ultimate pop star factory. A few seconds of viral video can catapult a bedroom singer or indie artist straight onto global charts. From addictive hooks to danceable beats, these viral hits span genres and eras—reviving old favorites and launching new icons.
"Old Town Road" Lil Nas X
This genre-blending juggernaut shattered expectations: country twang meets trap beats, crowned by a Y‑eehaw moment. The #YeehawCricketChallenge lit TikTok on fire, and before you knew it, streams exploded. It held off major label competition and became the longest-running No. 1 in Hot 100 history—a perfect storm of meme culture, remix versions, and sheer catchiness.
Lil Nas X - Old Town Road (Official Video) ft. Billy Ray Cyrus by Lil Nas X
"Say So" Doja Cat
Lounge-y disco-pop meets slick choreography. The #SaySoDance (courtesy of TikToker Haley Sharpe) made everyone, from superfans to your mom, get up and wiggle. Smooth bassline? Check. TikTok-perfected steps? Double check. Doja’s star power only amplified from there.
TikTok Star Haley Sharpe Was Most Starstruck by Emma Chamberlain's 'Say So' Dance Challenge, ET Live
"Abcdefu" Gayle
A perfectionist’s breakup anthem, dripping in teenage sass. The viral lyric video blew up: “Please don’t come for me speaking cursive”. TikTokers embraced the vibe—lyrics dripping with irony and relatable bitterness—making it one of the most emotionally anthemic viral tunes in recent memory.
GAYLE - abcdefu (Official Music Video), GAYLE
"Jiggle Jiggle" Duke & Jones x Louis Theroux
When Louis Theroux rapped his way into meme heaven, Duke & Jones remixed him into a full-on viral party. The offbeat combination of serious doc voice meets bouncy hook had TikTok unashamedly jigglin’—the world couldn’t resist, and charts globally followed.
SEM Student Success: Duke & Jones Interview, School of Electronic Music
"Track Star" Mooski
A catchy yet emotive audio snippet—“She go from a track star…”—gave rise to love‑lifespan TikToks. From storytime format to original music mashups, the narrative hook carried the song into mainstream playlists. It’s a perfect example of TikTok’s talent for spotlighting emotive storytelling.
Mooski - Track Star (Official Video), Mooski Official
"Lottery (Renegade)" K Camp
Before Charli D’Amelio spun it into a dance sensation, this song was already simmering. The eponymous #Renegade dance blew up so hard it even sparked TikTok vs. creator disputes. The song's success rides on a viral dance that became synonymous with TikTok’s golden age.
K Camp - Lottery (Renegade) (Official Video), K Camp
"Bloody Mary" Lady Gaga
Released way back in 2011, this deep cut found new life thanks to the “Wednesday” TikTok trend. Ensemble clips—dark aesthetic, gothic vibes—aired Gaga’s voice fresh. Proof: no song is ever too old if the right moment strikes.
LADY GAGA - BLOODY MARY (Tik Tok Remix | Speed Up) Wednesday Addams | Dance Scene, GANGSTER CITY
"Laxed (Siren Beat)" Jawsh 685 & Jason Derulo
Tiny studio beat by Jawsh 685 leads to TikTok dance craze which leads to Jason Derulo singing over it culminating in a global summer anthem. That’s the magic of blended floaty melody and sleek dance moves. It lit up For You pages with its breezy energy and chart power.
Jawsh 685, Jason Derulo - Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat) (Official Video), Jawsh 685
"Stunning" Curtis Waters ft. Harm Franklin
A cheeky call-out song about someone getting hot. It arrived on TikTok with irresistible swagger—Instagram-style shorts, modeling moments, outfit raisings, sass included. The beat is loud. The attitude is louder.
Curtis Waters - Stunnin' ft. Harm Franklin (Official Video), Curtis Waters
"Made You Look" Meghan Trainor
Meghan’s comeback single rode a fashion‑centred TikTok trend—#MadeYouLookGlowUp—spotlighting glow-ups, makeup transformations, and cheeky ritual. It’s a nostalgia-meets-modern grower with a bold brass section.
Meghan Trainor - Made You Look (Again), Meghan Trainor
"Cupid (Twin Version)" Fifty Fifty
K‑pop girl‑group charm meets duet remix. Double the voice, double the hook, double the replayability. TikTok leaned in for the cute choreography, cross-posts, and lip-sync love-fest magic. The twin remix gave it that viral edge.
[COLOR DANCE] FIFTY FIFTY - Cupid (Twin Ver.) | 4K Performance video | #FIFTYFIFTY #Performance, DGG
"Supalonely" Beabadoobee ft. Gus Dapperton
Melancholic indie pop meets quirky dance breaks. The #SupalonelyChallenge featured wistful dance by lonely hearts across the globe. TikTokers bonded over the vibe’s bittersweet charm—lifting it into meta‑relatability.
BENEE - Supalonely ft. Gus Dapperton, BENEE
"Ginseng Strip 2002" Yung Lean
This cloud-rap oddity from 2013 dug its way back via aesthetic edits, goth‑chic visuals, and moody montage TikToks. Its late-blooming success shows the platform isn’t just about new music—it’s a time machine with unexpected music revivals.
Yung Lean ♦ Ginseng Strip 2002 ♦, Yung Lean
"Somebody That I Used To Know" Gotye (Remix)
Yes, 2011’s breakup anthem crashed back into 2024 TikTok feeds. Users flipped the narrative with irony-filled duets, mashups, and emotional reenactments. Again: age is just a number when a feeling hits.
Gotye & Kimbra - Somebody That I Used To Know (Live You Oughta Know), Kimbra Fans Forever
"Anxiety" Doeschii
This one is relatable, raw, and TikTok-perfect for mood-vibes. Bits of the chorus became mini soundtracks for confession videos—“When anxiety hits, do you…” TikTok helped normalize mental‑health talk while pushing this song to wider ears. Boldly emotional, without losing its groove.
Doechii - Anxiety (Official Video), Doechii
"Not Like Us" Kendrick Lamar
Dropped months earlier on his album, the real boost came from Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance in early 2025. TikTok stitched halftime clips, dance edits, and lip-syncs—fueling a spike in streams and chart climbs. Live TV + TikTok = virality cocktail.
Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us, Kendrick Lamar
"Taste" Sabrina Carpenter
With a subtle flirty hook and dreamy pop sound, this one found its rhythm through #TasteAesthetic videos—coffee cafes, pastel life, slow-mo outfit changes. Its vibe is a mood: soft, breezy, and charmingly viral.
Sabrina Carpenter - Taste (Official Video), Sabrina Carpenter
"Birds Of A Feather" Billie Eilish
Eilish’s signature whisper-crooning paired with tactile dance routines found love on TikTok. Artful videos, abstract visuals, and Eilish’s aesthetic universe made it a perfect storm of fast visual edits and slow, enveloping vocals.
Billie Eilish - BIRDS OF A FEATHER (Official Music Video), Billie Eilish
"Pink Pony Club" Chappell Roan
Released years ago, this gem exploded in March 2025 thanks to drag‑inspired looks, evening scenes, and confident fashion transitions on TikTok. It hit No. 1 in the UK nearly five years after release—TikTok’s delayed‑release power in action.
Chappell Roan - Pink Pony Club (Official Music Video), Chappell Roan
"Pretty Little Baby" Connie Francis
“Pretty Little Baby” by Connie Francis found new life on TikTok through dreamy vintage edits and nostalgic transformation videos. Users paired its soft, romantic vocals with black-and-white filters and retro aesthetics, creating a wistful, old-Hollywood vibe. The song’s timeless emotion resonated across generations. Decades later, TikTok turned this classic into a quiet viral sensation.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
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