Why Is Everybody Singing?

The first time I watched Addison Rae’s music video for her new song ‘Obsessed’, the only thing I could think was “Why?” It’s not a horrible song, it has good production and a decent enough melody if a little repetitive. The music video looks fine, with expensive-looking props and outfits, as well as backup dancers. But even with top quality music and video production, it was underwhelming. To be honest, I can’t even remember how the song went. 

Addison isn’t the first TikTok star to release a song. Dixie D’Amelio did it too. Her debut song ‘Be Happy’ was released in June 2020. ‘Be Happy’ is about struggling with mental illness and depression, but nobody really took it seriously. The comments on the official music video are pretty much just hate, jokes, or both. One comment says, “This sounds like a poem edgy middle school me would write if my friends went somewhere without me.” Another confesses, “This is gonna sound so mean, but I searched this just for some laughter.” Several comments say things along the lines of “I hated this before, but after listening to Addison’s song, now it sounds almost good.” Tons of comments joke, “If I lived in a huge mansion like hers, I wouldn’t have any trouble being happy.” Overall, genuinely positive comments are the minority by far. 

Since then, she’s released three other songs, with a grand total of four singles to her name. She sang with Liam Payne of One Direction fame, and rapper Wiz Khalifa. Her most recent song was written by Demi Lovato. Journalism should be about authenticity, so I’m going to be completely authentic here: I hate this. My original aim was to write an unbiased piece about the music made by TikTok stars, but as I sit here to write while Dixie’s ‘One Whole Day’ plays on repeat in the background, I cannot continue as an impartial entity. What possessed Wiz Khalifa to participate in the making of this song? How did they get Liam Payne? Why did Demi write for her? How much did Dixie’s parents pay these people? 

This is the chorus of “One Whole Day”: 

For one day, one day

I was really, really, really, really sad

For one day, one whole day

I missed you really, really, really bad

And a single tear trickled down my face

While I threw your shit in the fireplace

I was really, really, really, really sad

For one day, one whole day

These lyrics are, to keep things simple, really, really, really bad. Wiz Khalifa is on that song. (Can you tell I’m still in disbelief about that?) I can’t find any other words to describe them. Maybe the songwriters couldn’t find any words either.  

I don’t hate Dixie D’Amelio — I don’t even know her. Her intentions with ‘Be Happy’ were commendable. I appreciate her vulnerability and the attempt to make a song to help others know that it’s okay not to be okay. Her music has even improved since ‘Be Happy’. She’s not irredeemably evil or a bad person; she’s just a rich kid with connections and the money to make music videos without needing any great talent or musical skill. That is what I hate. This music is made with money in mind. Perhaps there is a sliver of noble intention to send a certain message, a semblance of genuine human creativity and soul — but the music made by TikTok stars and “social media personalities” just doesn’t manage to pull the right heartstrings. 

This specific genre of music isn’t new. Songs released by famous people who aren’t famous for their musical ability aren’t unique to 2021 and TikTok. Lots of YouTubers have done it. There’s Jake Paul and his infamous ‘It’s Everyday Bro’. Danielle Bregolli, aka Bhad Bhabie, of Dr. Phil fame, has released several tracks. Loren Gray, who got popular by lip-syncing on Musical.ly, also has quite a few songs. For some reason, the progression of social media fame involves a step where you inexplicably start singing. If the masses like your TikTok dancing or YouTube videos, it’s only natural that the next thing to do is launch your music career. 

Like I mentioned earlier, this music is motivated by money. By views, exposure, and by fame. This kind of music is a bit like cookie-cutter houses; each one built exactly like the others, mass-produced, and lacking individuality. They’re cute enough houses, and they serve their purpose of providing shelter. But where’s the flavor? When I listen to Addison Rae’s song, I don’t feel much. It’s catchy enough, and it serves its purpose of providing something to listen to, but not much more than that. 

One of my theories to explain why cookie-cutter music gets made is that it’s easy, and it can reach a wide audience. Singing is pretty simple; if the singing isn’t great, you can just add stuff to it, tweak it here and there, and it’ll be acceptable. And practically everybody listens to music. Obviously, there are exceptions to these (otherwise there wouldn’t be compilations of tone-deaf X-Factor auditionees) but in general, the vocals themselves don’t have to be out of this world, Ariana Grande-level to make a good song. Besides, what are the alternatives? Maybe it’s time for social media personalities to start brushing up on their oil painting skills and marketing that instead of singing. 

I guess the bottom line is that music gets made by people who might not be the greatest music makers because music was made to be made; made for money, made for music, made for the sake of making. Jake Paul sucks at singing. Dixie’s okay at it. Loren Gray is honestly pretty decent at it. They’re all probably doing it because their management thought it would be a good move. Maybe this is just a sign that we should all make the things we want to make, even if they’ll suck. Compose the song, paint the painting, write the poem. We’re probably not all living in mansions like the D’Amelio’s or Jake Paul’s but if they can have the audacity to unleash abominations like ‘It’s Everyday Bro’ upon the world, then so should we. (As in, we should also have the courage to put out our work, even when it’s not great. Not that you should make something like ‘It’s Everyday Bro.’ Please do not do that.)