BEST OF TIKTOK, WEEK OF 7/16
by J. Simpson
7/16/21
Image by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash
Welcome to another week of the best of TikTok! It's been a good one! Most excitingly, we've got a new intern here at We Are: The Guard, Solveig, who's been doing the good work deep diving and digging deep into the deep, fascinating world of original sounds on TikTok! We're going to be able to go even deeper into bringing you the latest, hottest trending sounds on TikTok, as a result, and we couldn't be more excited!
With no further ado, here are some of this week's top TikTok hits!
DOJA CAT - AIN'T SHIT
We haven't had a Doja Cat trend for a few weeks. It's been a bit weird, things have been a little too quiet. Worry not, however, Doja's back, and with a previously unreleased track no less, with "Ain't Shit." That's one of the best reasons for being on TikTok in the first place - world-class creators dropping original content on the network.
"Ain't Shit" is as wavy as you hope for and works as a bop all its own, with its cutesy chirpy vocals and glowing synthesizers. It's the perfect mixture of heat and chill, tailor-made for the summer.
BO BURNHAM - WELCOME TO THE INTERNET
Bo Burnham's quirky musicals continue their unlikely dominion with "Welcome To The Internet," one of the standout singles from Bo Burnham's recent Netflix single, Inside.
As is often the case with popular trends on TikTok, they can end up soundtracking some truly random things, as TikTok creators try to game the algorithm. It ends making the case for "Welcome to the Internet" with its very existence. Don't worry about coming across Harry Potter fanart, though, thank goodness…
ABBA - DANCING QUEEN
ib: @sammyraemusic love a good one breath challenge!! ##onebreath ##onebreathchallenge ##dancingqueen ##abba ##dancingqueenchallenge ##fypシ ##viral ##singing
Abba trends on TikTok every once in a while for various reasons. They're practically genetically-modified to own on TikTok with their mixture of catchiness, poppiness, cheerfulness, and style.
Usually "Dancing Queen" trends for its choreographic impulses. This week they're trending due to the "#dancingqueenonebreathchallenge" where singers belt out a whole verse of "Dancing Queen" without inhaling. It truly is an impressive display of technique, not only with its pearl-diving breath control but also the wildly fluctuating vocal range. If you can own the #dancingqueenonebreathchallenge, you might want to think about getting on The Voice.
RAE SREMMURD - NO TYPE
Good morning, I woke up at 1 :)
No one likes to feel like a stereotype or one of many. This is tackled directly by Rae Sremmurd on "No Type," who then go on to own up to the fact that they, do, in fact, have a type, just a pretty open-ended one. This week TikTokkers have been using the sound to show off what bad b*tches they are, making for a whole bunch of glow up transition videos or people showing off their weird, wonderful talents.
Bonus points for the chopped 'n screwed variants making the rounds!
FELIXGABRIELMUSIC - HERE COMES THE BOY
Reply to @kimbokak THANK U GUYS FOR ALL THE LOVE, WASNTING EXPECTING TO WAKE UP TO THIS BUT TY ##piano ##catsoftiktok ##music
One thing that's great about TikTok is it can be like having your own custom songwriting service. Original sounds on TikTok can be made for all sorts of obscure situations. In this case it's a theme song for a particularly smoothcat.
This cat could have their own cocktail nightclub revue in Vegas with a theme song like Felix Gabriel's smooth piano tinkling. Other TikTokkers have been using the sound to show off their own floofballs and furry friends.
ERWIN APPRICIATOR - ORIGINAL SOUND
this is the only thing that works for me
These chill vibes are just perfect for expressing a little bit of serenity, a little bit of excitement, a little bit of style. If you're looking for a glofi chillwave sound this week, @erwhines is it!
FROU FROU - A NEW KIND OF LOVE
welp
Love means many different things to many different people in 2021. This week people on TikTok have been using Frou Frou's "A New Kind of Love" to show off the things they love, and some of the complications that can come with that, with its throwback late 90s d 'n bass beat.
MOST ELITE VIRGO - LOSER
Be transparent with your audience! There is no shame in plastic surgery. ##beautybydrkay ##celebrityplasticsurgery ##foryoupage ##shade ##teatime
Look out everyone! This week, we’ve got a trending line from the queen Nicki Minaj. It’s hardass trap beats and shade worthy of the Amazon rainforest is making the rounds for anyone looking to talk a little trash. Plus, it's just a sick beat that makes you want to listen on endless repeat!
ANDY WAR - ORIGINAL SOUND
It’s too tempting esp the ones in khakis ##dilftok ##dads ##cashier
Songs with choreography instructions are a no-brainer for dance challenges. This week, people on TikTok have been getting more creative with this original sound from Andy War, using its "Axel F"-worthy synth stabs to synch up their eye movements when they're trying to not look at something. Eyes up here, people!
LEGOSHI IS BAE - ORIGINAL SOUND
@madi @charlidamelio @luvanthony
Sometimes you just need to brag on yourself a little bit. We all need a little confidence boost here and there. This original sound uploaded by Legoshi is Bae is this week's pick for just showing off how badass you are, no matter at what. Wearing all white is always a bold, badass move…
Plus, it just sounds good with its hard beat and smooth nearly-psychedelic synth. It's worth exploring just to let it loop for a while!
That about does it for another week of viral hits on TikTok! Make sure to follow We Are: The Guard for even more music news, trends, late
J. Simpson occupies the intersection between criticism, creativity, and academia. Based out of Portland, Or., he is the author of Forestpunk, an online journal/brand studying the traces of horror, supernatural, and the occult through music, fashion and culture. He plays in the dreamfolk band Meta-Pinnacle with his partner Lily H. Valentine, with whom he also co-founded Bitstar Productions, a visual arts collective focused on elevating Pop Culture to High Art.