TikTok may no longer be an app exclusively for dancing anymore, but its influence on hit making remains.
So far, in 2023 TikTok helped transform rapper Ice Spice into the people’s princess and got us all humming, “He say that I’m good enough, grabbin’ my duh-duh-duh” in the process. But it hasn’t just been Ice Spice’s year, it’s also been a year where sped-up remixes(opens in a new tab), accelerated versions of songs that pitch up the vocals, took hold of the For You Page. Here are all the most popular and memorable songs and remixes on TikTok of 2023.
“Flowers” by Miley Cyrus
Cyrus’ ode to singlehood, “Flowers,” first grabbed the public consciousness because TikTok loves mess and drama. After the release of the song and juicy music video in early January, fans flocked to the social media platform to analyze the lyrics and imagery in order to unearth all the Easter eggs about the pop star’s ex-husband, actor Liam Hemsworth. In the five months since its release, the song became the soundtrack to 5.3 million TikToks. It helps that the song is an absolute jam.
“ceilings (Sped Up Version)” by Lizzie McAlpline
A trend materialized out of singer-songwriter Lizzie McAlpine’s slow and sorrowful song “ceilings” off of her 2022 album Five Seconds Flat. The sped-up remix machine ate up “ceilings” and spit it out as an emotionally resonant dance track. In January, TikTokkers began posting videos singing along to the portion of the remix that begins with “but it’s over” and when the song climaxes the TikTokker starts running away from the camera. The trend proliferated and peaked in March. “ceilings” videos are mostly filmed in locations that lend themselves to the drama of the trend such as on the beach or a foggy, tree-lined street. McAlpine capitalized on the trend and released her own sped up version of the song on TikTok and YouTube in February.
“Sure Thing – Sped Up” by Miguel
Miguel’s 2010 moody love song found a second life on TikTok thanks to someone posting a pitched-up, sped-up version of it. The remix’s popularity resulted in the singer releasing his own accelerated version in January, which plays in nearly 4 million TikToks.
“Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” by Pinkpantheress and Ice Spice
In a true world stop moment, British singer Pinkpantheress released a remix of her song “Boy’s a Liar” featuring the up-and-coming American rapper, Ice Spice. The track came out in February and Ice Spice and her signature orange hair became the it girl of the year overnight. The upbeat dance-pop song features in 2.1 million TikToks and counting.
“See You Again” ft. Kali Uchis by Tyler, The Creator
Tyler, The Creator’s dreamy 2017 hit off his album Flower Boy became somewhat of a personality quiz on TikTok in April. Towards the end of the song Tyler raps “OK, OK, OK” in repetition while Uchis sings “la, la, la.” TikTok determined that fundamentally you’re either an okokok person or a lalala person which are defined by the vibes Tyler and Uchis respectively convey with their voices in the snippet.
