Now That’s What I Call a Remix

When Phoebe Bridgers first covered Wheatus’s iconic 90s anthem “Teenage Dirtbag,” a few years ago, it seemed that Bridgers had struck gold with a new formula.

Her fans went crazy, and Wheatus gained an electric new following of ready-to-rock zoomers.

“Teenage Dirtbag” was first released in 1999, and it continues to rank Wheatus’s most played songs on Spotify, with almost 400 million streams. 

In the age of apps like TikTok, discovering new music through covers, remixes, and mashups like this one is becoming more and more common.

When DJ SickKick remixed the popular Kate Bush song “Running Up That Hill” (which is having a MOMENT right now thanks to Stranger Things) he added some new beats to an old classic, and at the top of the charts again.

SickKick’s most popular TikToks have over four million views, and the key to his success seems to be in these kinds of awesome remixes. Keeping his identity concealed and using popular TikTok which he mixes with his own beats and music, he is able to capitalize on virality and channel more fans to his own content. 

Some other popular TikTok mashups include a subtle combination of Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffet and the Law and Order SVU theme song–usually used for videos with an unexpected twist or tone.

Or another super popular mashup sound, the ever-catchy “Jiggle Jiggle” sound, which originated from an interview with a British comedian, but has now exploded into a Wendy’s marketing campaign, viral dance, and endless TikTok videos. Overall, these mashups are sometimes purposeful, almost random, and ALWAYS, super catchy. 

It's difficult to predict which sounds will be popular next on TikTok, which helps to explain the constantly fluctuating top sounds being played by its users.

Songs from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s are constantly resurfacing, on an app populated mainly by people born after the year 2000.

One thing that we DO know, is everybody loves good music! 

Credit: Marcela Laskoski

Apps like TikTok present a unique opportunity for up-and-coming musicians.

If not for TikTok users, many of today’s most popular artists, like Olivia Rodrigo for instance, might not have achieved superstardom to the extent that they did.

Today there are millions of videos singing along to “Drivers' License,” crying to “Traitor,” and dancing to everything in between. This kind of consumer-generated content is one of the most powerful kinds of advertisement, and music is no different.

SongMe is another great resource for up-and-coming musicians to take advantage of.

Having the ability to post upcoming events and venues, communicate with fans, and receive compensation, all in one centralized application, might be just what you need to take your career to the next level. The SongMe app offers tons of awesome features to make sure that YOU get discovered.