THE BEST OF TIKTOK, WEEK OF 6/25
by J. Simpson
6/24/21
Image by Felipe Pelaquim on Unsplash
What's happening, Guardians? How's your week been? Are you enjoying your summer? Things have been a bit brutally hot here on the West Coast, but at least we're able to get out a little bit and enjoy some Pacific breeze.
We've been enjoying a lot of what we've been seeing on TikTok, too. There are a few tearjerkers this week, but more happy crying that ugly sobbing. And plenty of weirdness, too. Someone even gets to meet one of their favorite musicians in an especially adorable interaction.
Here are our picks for this week's TikTok hits!
DR. DOG - WHERE'D ALL THE TIME GO?
from 6th grade to senior year. ##graduates ##2021 ##wegraduated ##classof2021
Every year features a different anthem for looking back, looking forward. For the longest time it was Green Day's "Time Of Your Life" but there have been so, so many others. "This Used To Be My Playground" by Madonna is always good for gettin' the waterworks going. "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion was picked up for time, when teenagers briefly tried connecting with a septuagenarian.
Now it's Dr. Dog's time in the sun.
This last week, people on TikTok have been using Dr. Dog's "Where'd All The Time Go?" for their time-lapsed videos. You can watch someone's birthdays through the years, someone graduating high school in the rain, Kindergarten besties becoming college roommates. It's enough to make you a little weepy, but it's also sweet.
WILLOW - TRANSPARENT SOUL (FT. TRAVIS BARKER)
As usual, Willow proves herself adept at everything she does - which, in this case, is rocking out. Willow Smith performed her new single, "Transparent Soul," invoking the specter of her mom's band, Wicked Wisdom.
The 90s are truly alive and well.
MANESKIN - BEGGIN'
It's hard to tell exactly what Maneskin is singing on "Beggin'," falling somewhere between scat and nu-metal with its quick shuffle electroswing. This makes "Beggin'" suitable for all kinds of videos. And all kinds of videos you'll find, from a girl driving a manual transmission pickup to leg day to a chocolate picnic. There's even a ridiculously high production value parody of Loki.
One more reminder of how much talent and creativity there truly is on TikTok.
RAE SREMMURD - MY X
##stitch with @hopieschlenker heard you
Life's too short to get upset over every little thing. This week, TikTokkers have been using Rae Sremmurd's "My X" to broadcast their chill. This soundtracks everything from fart spray to throwdown dance parties, and many points in-between. Plus the beat bangs, so just let it loop while you go about your business.
DONNELL LEWIS - MISSIN' MY LOVE
Missing your love @h2woofficial
Now this is cute… lovers seem ecstatic to be together on Donnell Lewis' "Missin' My Love," with its smooth electrobounce and matching coordinated dance. Smooth, slick, sweet, "Missin' My Love" will just make you smile.
BAD BUNNY - YONAGUNI
No comparto… por eso te digo cómo hacerlo ##Talentotiktok ##SaboresTiktok ##parati ##fyp ##yoenlapeda
Music knows no boundaries, even if you can't understand what the singer's saying. Recently Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny released his newest single, "Yonaguni," which is truly a multicultural affair, with a name referencing a Japanese island and lyrics in Spanish. The videos on TikTok are equally eclectic, ranging from how to make jungle juice to Japanese reaction videos. We can all come together over new Bad Bunny music.
LIL TJAY - CALLING MY PHONE
Shout out to @liltjay for this ##fyp ##foryou ##trending ##liltjay
Sometimes you just need a slow jam. This weak it's "Calling My Phone," with its glacial beat and moody lyrics about someone blowing up your phone. Luckily, the videos aren't all doom 'n gloom - there's an angry reaction rug, a funfetti trowel, and plenty straight up style.
ANNIE DIRUSSO - NINE MONTHS
they/them
One of the fun things about TikTok is getting to duet and potentially collab with musicians you admire. This last week, worlds collided when Isabella Grace Smith was lip syncing to Annie DiRusso's "Nine Months" at a party. Amazingly, DiRusso was at the same party and photobombed their video! Apart from that, "Nine Months" is just a nice slice of body positivity. Let it be your theme song if you're in need of a quick burst of confidence!
That about does it for another week of TikTok favorites! Make sure to follow us on TikTok for more indie music goodness, including behind-the-scenes glimpses into the lives of We Are: The Guard's label artists!
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.