The trends, challenges, and dances that start on TikTok often spread across the web until they’re blasted into the viral stratosphere. This is true of many of TikTok’s most popular tracks as well. The songs that accompany many of the video-sharing app’s most viral trends often blow up in the aftermath of their use on TikTok, spreading like wildfire across the rest of the internet.
TikTok, which has become the go-to app for billions of users around the globe, elevated dozens of tracks to viral status last year. 2021 started off strong with a few unforgettably addictive tracks and kept the trend going throughout the year. Some of the year’s top tracks rose through the rankings thanks to TikTok’s influence and remain favorites on the app months after appearing in their first video.
Hundreds of songs went viral on TikTok throughout 2021, but here are the ones that blew up the most.
2021’s biggest TikTok songs
2021 lasted approximately five years, and in that time hundreds of different songs blew up on TikTok. Among the plethora of viral tracks, some rose to even greater heights, defining themselves amongst the year’s popular songs. On this list, we’ll break down some of the year’s biggest bops.
The first five songs on this list were at the forefront of TikTok’s global tracks, according to the site’s year on TikTok music report.
“Astronaut in the Ocean” – Masked Wolf
Masked Wolf’s catchy 2019 track defined several months’ worth of uploads on TikTok. Videos utilizing this song tend to vary widely, but often use its melodic tune to soundtrack an epic moment or smooth transition.
“Beggin” – Måneskin
Most of TikTok’s most popular songs weren’t restricted to a single trend in 2021, and Måneskin’s “Beggin” is no different. This song accompanied videos across a broad swathe of genres, from workout tips and makeup tutorials to pranks and even magic tricks.
“Adderall (Corvette Corvette)” – Popp Hunna
While Popp Hunna’s “Adderall” — colloquially referred to on the platform as simply “Corvette Corvette” — does soundtrack plenty of different TikTok videos, its vast popularity is born of its viral dance. Any song with an easy-to-learn, stylish dance accompanying it is all but guaranteed to spread on TikTok, and this 2020 song is no exception.
“SugarCrash!” – ElyOtto
ElyOtto’s speedy, memorable song pairs perfectly with TikTok’s original viral formula: lip synching videos. While “SugarCrash,” like most of the songs on this list, is used in a number of diverse videos, it is used most often in simple, close-up lip synching uploads, letting users show their skill by mouthing along to the fast-paced lyrics.
“Stay” – The Kid Laroi & Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber and The Kid Laroi crafted an absolute banger in 2020’s “Stay.” The song became a near-instant favorite on TikTok and managed to stretch its popularity past 2020 and into 2021. The song often accompanies simple dance videos as people shake their booties to its captivating tempo all across the globe.
While the next five songs didn’t manage to top TikTok’s list of most-used tracks, they defined either a specific prominent moment in 2021 or were so long-lasting that they’ll likely go on to define multiple years.
“Wellerman” – The Longest Johns
It’s hard to believe that TikTok’s sea shanty kick occurred as recently as 2021, but it’s true. The video that launched an obsession among TikTok’s user base was technically uploaded in the final days of 2020, but it didn’t turn into a massive TikTok trend until January of 2021. It also helped to launch Nathan Evan’s singing career, showcasing how bit TikTok’s reach has become.
“Oh No” – Kreepa
Even people who have never spent a day on TikTok will recognize this song. The trend born of Kreepa’s 2019 track reached far beyond TikTok and to many of the web’s other popular platforms, soundtracking fails, accidental blunders, and pretty much anything else you can think of.
“drivers license” – Olivia Rodrigo
One of the song’s that launched Olivia Rodrigo into near-immediate fame, 2021’s “driver’s license” became a TikTok favorite almost the second it was released. The song provides background music to a huge number of videos, but most often accompanies artistic reveals or emotional confessions.
“Buss It” – Erica Banks
One of TikTok’s favorite thirst traps is accompanied by this 2020 track from Erica Banks. Deviating from many of the boundary-less songs on this list, “Buss It” is almost exclusive to a specific trend, one that sees users transition from baggy, casual clothes into something sexy and tight-fitting, while also dropping down into a low crouch. Oh, and don’t forget to twerk.
“Up” – Cardi B
Another track that leans into TikTok’s passion for dances, Cardi B’s “Up” inspired a dance that creators from all over the world have tried their hands at. The dance is more complicated than many of TikTok’s favorites, but it’s utterly captivating when pulled off correctly.