TikTok Remixes: The History, The Science, and the Success
TikTok will never stop fascinating me as a platform of possibility. Where previously unknown teenagers will gain superstardom for their dance videos and later be offered their own reality shows and Netflix film deals. Where creators will go viral once for a video that took them five seconds to make, then never again. Where creatives from all backgrounds can finally find their voice. But on a platform where sound is one of the most important elements of a TikTok–a funny effect, a sound bite from another video, even the loud echo of silence–nothing fascinates me more than how music is used, shared, and remixed.
Before the TikTok remix, the concept of remixing songs was first born in the 1960s and 70s in Jamaica during the height of dance hall music, though it could be argued to stretch as far back as the 19th century. But in the genres of ska, rocksteady, and reggae, remixing as we know it today began with the work of Jamaican producers, mixers, engineers, and DJs, who popularized dropping vocal lines, repeating song hooks, and adding reverb and echo in their live music sets. It only gained popularity throughout the decades, from disco to hip-hop to pop over the rest of the 20th century into the 21st.
These traditions continue to hold true in the modern clubbing scene, with the additions of beat drops, speeding up or slowing down songs, song transitions, and featured artists. But, similar to many other industries, this decade is unlike any other in the history of music. Thanks to modern music technology and its ease of access to the everyday user through software and social media like YouTube and Instagram, remixing has become an essential part of the casual listening experience. Anyone in the world can make an “unofficial” remix at home, and in fact, many creators on TikTok and YouTube center their content just on their skills at remixing and mash-ups, hoping the sound will go viral.
That, I think, is what makes the TikTok remix different from standard remixes in the industry. Rather than remixing a song to become more club or radio-friendly, or to boost the popularity of a pop or R&B artist, or to create an entire album of remixes, remixes on TikTok are created solely to be used by other creators as a musical accompaniment and organically create trends. And depending on the song, those trends will differ.
Take, for example, one of the more current popular sounds, “Them Changes - Sped Up” by Thundercat, a song that was originally released in 2015, later appeared on his 2017 album, and didn’t gain popularity until late this year, all because a sped up version of the song went viral on TikTok. It’s clear to see why it rose to prominence, given its funky bass line, infectious drum beat, and tragi-comic lyrics. As a result, it’s become the backing track to many a dance video on TikTok, many of which have received thousands of views and likes in their own right. Compared to the original mix, the sped-up version works better for TikTok because it immediately engages the listener and is addicting to repeatedly listen to.
The same can be said about the unofficial mash-up of Olivia Rodrigo's "deja vu" with Earth, Wind, & Fire's “September,” which went viral on the app during the summer of 2021. In that case, the remix was perfectly timed, given that SOUR had just been released, and people were hungry for more content, whether from Rodrigo or other fans. Thus, taking two immensely popular songs from two different decades made each a better song, invoking new life and energy to the originals, and bringing joy to that little earworm that makes us listen to certain works of art on repeat.
Honestly, I doubt that there’s concrete scientific evidence to explain why remixes are so popular across the board or why we love them so much and find them so satisfying. The same reason we find them addicting is the same reason they go viral on TikTok, why they start entire movements and trends. That said, remixes have rules and requirements like anything else, such as: the original being a popular song on its own, the remix being superior or equal to the original, and having the potential to be accompanied by a dance move based on the beat or comedic relatable moment based on the lyrics.
Me, I love seeing the creativity, fun, and flair that music mixers put into their creations to satisfy a sonic craving perhaps we never knew we had. I’m anxiously awaiting the next popular viral remix, the potential discovery of a new song or renewed nostalgia for an old one, and the subsequent creativity that is born from the revival.