Music

These Viral TikTok Songs Completely Ruled 2021

It was an A+ year in music.

by Brandy Robidoux
Steve Jennings/WireImage/Getty Images

One of the best parts of TikTok is discovering catchy music, and there was plenty of it on the app in 2021. I mean, who didn’t hit “add to playlist” after repeatedly hearing hits by Paramore, Taylor Swift, and Doja Cat? Here, the most viral TikTok songs of the past year.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc/Getty Images
GAYLE — "ABCDEFU”

Rising singer GAYLE saw viral success following the release of her angsty (and empowering) smash, "ABCDEFU.” As of early December, the song was No. 1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart.

Luke Rogers
Taylor Swift — “All Too Well (10-Minute Version)(Taylor’s Version)”

There’s one lyric in particular that TikTokers loved from the 10-minute version of “All Too Well.” Swifties recreated their most miserable dating situations with the words, “That made me want to die.”

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Doja Cat — “Cyber Sex”

Doja’s sexy single took over TikTok in a big way in 2021, and it was nearly impossible to scroll through the app without hearing this song, or one of her many viral tracks.

Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Taylor Swift — “Nothing New”

Swift’s “Nothing New” is a rather serious song, but TikTok users transformed it into a popular comedy sound. Her lyric, “I’ve had too much to drink tonight,” was the soundtrack to many silly, drunken fan videos.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
SALES — “Pope Is A Rockstar”

Fans used the lyrics “go little rockstar” to champion friends (and themselves) in inspirational videos. But funnily enough, fans got the lyrics wrong. The real lyrics say “pope is a rockstar,” but it ultimately worked out in SALES’ favor.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
K. Flay — "High Enough"

K. Flay’s infectious track was used in a TikTok edit more than 35,500 times in 2021.

Rick Kern/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Peach PRC — “Josh”

Australia native Peach PRC penned the breakup bop of the year with “Josh,” which spoke to more than 15,000 fans who used the song in their TikTok videos.

Brendon Thorne/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Willis Love — “Chocolate Barbie”

Love’s “Chocolate Barbie” track took off in full force towards the end of 2021, and you’ll likely hear it in every video with the head bobbing dance trend.

Princess Nokia — “I Like Him”

“I Like Him” first made its rounds on TikTok in 2020, but the song’s success carried into 2021 and is still frequently used.

Scott Legato/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Paramore — “I’m Into You”

Every once in a while, a throwback track makes its way onto TikTok. That’s exactly what happened when Paramore’s 2013 track went viral in 2021.

Christie Goodwin/Redferns/Getty Images