TikTok is Music for the End of the World

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BY MIRANDA FEINBERG

In these crazy, unprecedented times, it seems as though every part of life is changing, warping to fit the oft-discussed “new normal.” Definitely not the greatest, but perhaps the best, of these changes is the ever-rising popularity of TikTok. The video-sharing social media app has blossomed, exploded even, amidst the teenage boredom of a global quarantine. Allowing for videos that showcase creativity and talent, spread memes, start trends, create pseudo-celebrities, and so much more, the app is inextricably changing pop culture. TikTok is by no means the first app of this nature— it’s often compared to the now discontinued Vine. What sets it apart from other apps and social media functions, though, is its relationship with music and audio. One of the more unique features of TikTok is its users’ ability to search for and save audios. While apps like Vine bartered in video only, TikTok doubles its content by allowing video and audio to be separated and used again in different contexts. This allows for a larger, more deep-rooted focus on music itself. Videos and trends, from all the various niches within the app, all are reliant on music in a very impressive and compelling way. The catalogue of music uploaded to TikTok is immense. This in and of itself is important; the sheer volume and diversity of uploaded music ensures that those songs that become popular on the app mirror this diversity. Songs from practically every genre and source have, at some point, reached some level of popularity. Music from tv shows, movies, even anime, find notoriety right alongside pop chart toppers and popular indie-pop music. Furthermore, songs from past decades, forgotten eras, songs that were barely ever popular to begin with, are finding their way, somewhat, into the internet-mainstream through TikTok. Music finds context on the app, and the trends associated with each different song help give them a second life. It’s kind of insane how many different types of trends have popped up over the course of this quarantine, all of which center around music. Challenges where users sing along to hard-to-perform songs (see All I Wanted by Paramore), videos where songs are used to set up a confession or punchline (see I Got Bitches by Slugga Black), and videos used to show off outfit transitions (see Guinea Pig by Jesse Rutherford) all popularized songs within the TikTok mainstream. Of course, no trend has done this as much, or as successfully, as dances (I don’t think a single social media user is unable to recognize Doja Cat’s Say So.) Even within the world of TikTok dance videos, the range of music is astounding. Meme dances, like the twerk-heavy routine to the somber theme from Twilight, and odd niche dances to songs like Miku by Anamanguchi (ft. Hatsune Miku) spread just as easily as the fun airy routines to popular songs like the trio of Megan TheeStallion bangers: WAP by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, Body and Savage.

The reliance on music as a source of inspiration for entertainment is so integral to pop culture

Now, this isn’t to say that each and every one of these songs became hits on media charts or were suddenly played on the radio, but the reliance on music as a source of inspiration for entertainment is so integral to pop culture nd online media. More and more songs are being referred to as TikTok songs, and this re-introduction and re-branding of sorts is super important to how quarantined teens connected to music as a collective. Music is also constantly being altered and shared on TikTok. Mash-ups, covers, and even songs mashed up with movie quotes or popular sayings, spread like wildfire alongside the established music in the app’s library. This blend of mundane audio with music is a good indicator of music’s importance to the videos on the app; music is, at this point, almost necessary for a video to amass views and likes, and no trending video is without some music. This can be seen in regard to these mashups, but also as a general rule. Videos, whether they are jokes, memes, routines, tutorials, vlogs, or edits, all rely on the music. Music is a currency on the app, and helps to shape our modern pop culture. Music creates a sense of comradery amongst TikTok creators through the use of duetting, a feature that allows users to add on and contribute to another’s video. There are often duets of songs where one person sings and another joins, or one person plays the accompaniment for another person to sing over. There have been chains of duets where crowds of people are able to layer on to each other and create bigger and wider collaborations. These instances of collaboration and creation have even helped upstart musicians gain notice and acclaim. Paul Russel (@paulrusselmusic), for one, gained popularity and attention following his series “If I had a verse on __” wherein he’d rap along to the music of popular songs. TikTok has helped rising musical theater actors gain a following, even, in some cases, aiding in winning various awards for upcoming artists (such as @nick_t_daily winning Playbill’s Search for a Star Contest.) TikTok also provides a place for upstart musicians to debut their music. Rachael Jenkins’s (@rachiichachii) Phoebe Bridgers-esque songs were shared on TikTok, leading to her being discovered and given a record deal. Penelope Scott (@ worsethanithot)’s songs Sweet Hibiscus Tea and Rät, and Frances Forever (@ frances.4ever)’s Space Girl are two other examples of the reach and impact music has on TikTok musicians and, in turn, the impact that TikTok has on those musicians. The original music that young people are creating on their own everyday is given the platform needed to kickstart careers. The ever-evolving content on the app is so overwhelming, and it exposes its users to such an array of content and creatives. The platform that TikTok exists on is such an interesting community, connecting users around the world through creativity just as much as through social channels. The volume of content made is immense, but the key to the app and the reason why so many flock to it is the concept of community that is started. Trends are made, videos are recreated and recreated again, and the music accompanying each video connects the videos as much as it connects the users.