Top TikTok Songs Right Now: Winter 2022

We’ve found the top TikTok songs right now - and along with a handy list, we’re walking you through everything you need to know about the music landscape on TikTok.
Fanbytes | Trending TikTok songs | Top TikTok songs right now

In 30 seconds:

  • Viral TikTok songs provide the soundtrack to everything from dance crazes to lazy-day short-form vlogs.
  • From original to remix, selecting the right audios can help to ensure your TikTok videos reach even bigger audiences.
  • So when you’re ready to get started, we’re bringing you the top 10 TikTok songs 2022 to take your content to the next level.


How do you make a top TikTok song right now? Not every chart-topping hit manages to rise to the upper echelons of TikTok popularity. But for those that do, bigger audiences and more streams are practically guaranteed. 

Music producers will already be aware that TikTok is unrivalled in its ability to send tracks viral. From Lil Nas X to Megan Thee Stallion, TikTok’s music marketing is unmatched. But that’s not everything worth knowing about music on the platform. 

For users, the music that accompanies a video can be just as important as the visual content. That’s because using popular TikTok songs can see videos amplified via the algorithm to land on more users’ For You Pages, or function as a kind of shorthand that highlights the video punchline or links to a particular trend

Understanding trending TikTok songs is a key step in ensuring that your content remains fresh and relevant – so here’s everything you need to know about the best TikTok songs, how to use them, and why they’re so popular amongst the platform’s Gen Z users. 

Top TikTok Songs Right Now

Ready to find out what songs are trending on TikTok? We’ve consulted our industry-leading Bystesights tool to bring you the top popular TikTok songs right now 2022:

1. Escapism. Sped up - RAYE

Raye is one of the newest stars taking TikTok by storm. Her single “Escapism” rose to new heights when she released a “sped up” version as a sound on the video-sharing app. This has sparked thousands of TikTokers to post lip-syncs, with over 42.3K videos now using the sound.  

@raye u wont regret it, lots of love ♥️❤️‍🩹🎟🥹👉🏽👈🏽 #escapism #m21cb #newmusic #newtrend #singer #liveshow ♬ Escapism. Sped up (Official) - RAYE

2. Lol - Stepz & JTA

The millennial “LOL” is coming back for Gen Zers on TikTok. Stepz & JTA created this mega catchy tune that features a viral dance move where you use your fingers to form two “L”s and your mouth to form the “O” when you say “LOL”. 

@jta.official0 Loweeee itt, that’s an ick! 😮#fyp #lol #jta ♬ Lol - Stepz & JTA

3. PSYCHO - Anne-Marie & Aitch

With the chorus rocking a catchy, R&B  take off Mambo No 5, Anne-Marie & Aitch’s Psycho is fun, gritty and perfect for TikTok. The lyrics are what make this track. Users have created thousands of videos lip-syncing and dancing to the most shareable parts of the song. 

@annemarie #PSYCHO in the @bbcradio1 live lounge‼️ first time performing with @aitch12 ♬ PSYCHO - Anne-Marie & Aitch

4. Kute & Neat - Sasique

When Kim Kardashian makes content using a sound, you know it’s a hit. The single Kute & Neat by Sasique is well-known for its lyric, “you want a picture let me pose for you now”. Creators made lip-sync videos and entertaining content, posing at the song’s camera shutter sound.

@ukquotecentral You want a picture lemme pose for you now✌🏽 || #zesty #ukquotecentral #fyp #blowthisup #viral ♬ Kute & Neat - Sasique

5. Remember - Acoustic / Sped Up (with David Guetta) - Becky Hill & Speed Radio

This sped up, acoustic version of “Remember” by Becky Hill and David Guetta has lit up TikTok. Literally. TikTokers formed a new trend using phone torch lights to create an epic concert-like feel to their videos. Some have also created an additional trend where couples are holding onto one another and revealing the other under their legs to sing the lyrics.

6. Cool Kids (our sped up version) - Echosmith

With over 2.2 million videos using this song on TikTok, it’s safe to say, it’s a popular tune. TikTokers are using it to show off milestones and post empowering videos. It’s a versatile song that elevates all kinds of subjects as “cool”. 

7. Made You Look - Megan Trainor

The catchy chorus of this jam is now viral on TikTok thanks to dance trend legends, Jess Qualter and Brooke Blewitt (@brookieandjessie). This duo are responsible for the “jiggle jiggle” dance to Louis Theroux’s rap sensation, and this time they’ve created a legendary dance to Meghan Trainor’s track. It’s a banger.

8. Unholy - Sam Smith & Kim Petras

This new chart song was a hit on TikTok even before its release. Sam Smith teased his followers with snippets of it on their TikTok profile in August 2022. The original teaser video has over 37.1 million views. Since then TikTokers have made over 1.9 million videos using the sound. 

@samsmith UNHOLY IS OUT NOW ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 @Kim Petras #UNHOLY ♬ Unholy - Sam Smith & Kim Petras

9. Strut - Kyle Walker

Kyle Walker’s latest release is called “Strut,” a tech house rework of Rihanna’s iconic “Pon de Replay” and it’s getting a lot of traction on TikTok. With 179K videos using the song and counting, this is sure to be a long standing hit in the TikTok world.

@samsmith

🌞❤️‍🔥💫👅

♬ Strut - Kyle Walker

@tayamillerr

she-hulk or shrek? wait to find out

♬ Strut - Kyle Walker

10. CUFF IT - Beyoncé

The “Cuff It” Dance challenge was born in August 2022. TikToker MayceeSteele (@maycsteele) posted a “predrinking” video with dance moves to the song. In just a couple of months, it inspired 2 million videos using the sound.

@dennismik

Good vibes ONLY❤️✨

♬ CUFF IT - Beyoncé

11. All I Want for Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey

Merry Crimbo everyone, your favourite Christmas tune is here, again. With 11.2 million videos using this sound, it’s clearly the TikTok Christmas song for winter. 

@sjbleau I hope this makes you happy as it made us🥰 @tonylopez #december #christmas ♬ All I Want for Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey

12. Anti-Hero - Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift has taken the world by storm with her new album, and especially the song Antihero. TikTokers adopted it as their newest anthem. Cue funny videos of pets being “the problem” and authentic self-reading videos. The honesty and relatability of its lyrics is why it’s worked so well on the app.

@mostlythedoodle I can’t go anywhere with those puppy eyes 🥺 #dogsoftiktok #cutedogs #puppyeyes ♬ Anti-Hero - Taylor Swift

13. B.O.T.A (baddest of them all) - Eliza Rose

When you listen to B.O.T.A, you can’t help but move to the beat. And that’s why there are now 543K videos of TikTokers doing just that. From tutorials to lifestyle videos, this song is popping up everywhere on TikTok. 

@devankey Almost burned the house down 🔥😅 i b @ohwoah__ ♬ B.O.T.A. (Baddest Of Them All) - Eliza Rose & Interplanetary Criminal

14. BIZCOCHITO - ROSALIA

The Rosalia challenge has boomed on TikTok. This challenge sees users creating a video of them “judging” others around them, normally whilst chewing gum – and soundtracked by BIZCOCHITO. This stemmed from Rosalia herself, the pop star who created her own video to the song doing the same. 

15. Chill Like That - Sunday Scaries & PiCKUPLiNES

This song has sparked a new dance challenge on TikTok. There are numerous tutorial videos for the TikTok dance too and some mega influencers have used the song like Charli D’Amelio (@CharliDamelio ) and Millane (@Millane).

@millane

just some vibing in the bathroom stuff

♬ Chill Like That - Sunday Scaries & PiCKUPLiNES

16. Them Changes (Sped up) - Thundercat

The slightly dark lyrics of this tune are inspiring TikTokers everywhere, especially since halloween. The lyrics, “nobody move – there’s blood on the floor” start many of the 900K videos made with this song, and even @brookieandjessie have created a dance to go with it.

@undos

WHY IS THIS ACTUALLY TRAUMATIZING

♬ Them Changes (Sped Up) - Thundercat

17. It’s Corn - Tariq & The Gregory Brothers

The Gregory Brothers, a comedy band, took snippets of an interview with 7 year-old Tariq talking about how much he loves corn and created a catchy song. The so-called “Corn Kid” has since appeared in a television commercial for the fast food chain Chipotle. Millions of TikTokers used the song to soundtrack their own content, turning it into the viral sensation it is today. 

18. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas - Michael Bublé

Another Christmas classic on this list – Michael Buble really does signify the essence of the festive period. Shopping vids, tutorials and Christmas clips are all accompanied by this jolly jingle. 

@adrian.baias Who here can’t wait for winter? ❄️☃️🇫🇮 #finland #lapland #levi @levifoxfires ♬ It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas - Michael Bublé

19. Miss You - Oliver Tree & Robin Schulz

Oliver Tree, the American singer, record producer, and comedian has come out with another banger. 554.6K videos have used this song on TikTok and counting. There’s no specific trend here, just a great song being used to make great content. 

@olivertree

I don’t ever wanna see you and I never wanna meet you again

♬ Miss You - Oliver Tree & Robin Schulz

@sarahmagusara

You can still party at 35 right? 🤔

♬ Miss You - Oliver Tree & Robin Schulz

20. Psycho Killer - Talking Heads

In the wake of the Netflix Series – “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”, this song has gained in popularity. Creators use it to show off “psychopath” looks, post lip-sync videos or simply reference the Netflix series. 

21. Beat Goes On - The All Seeing I

British electronic music group, The All Seeing I, brought out this chilled beat and TikTok went mad for it. It’s been used for all sorts of content, from recipes and tutorials to funny skits and travel vlogs.

22. Syrup by Solomon (contains music from: “Time to Go”)

This sound has been used for many a viral video transition on TikTok. It has an easy beat that plenty of users have utilised to make quick changes within their video creation. Simple but effective. 

23. Prosecco Wukileak - Wuki

A snippet from an interview with House of the Dragon star Emma D’Arcy went viral in October 2022. Of course, somebody had to make a song out of it. That someone is “Wüki” (@wukiwukiwuki), a music producer and TikToker. With 10.1K videos and counting, this song is continuing to grow as winter progresses. 

24. BILLIE EILISH. - Armani White

Enoch Armani Tolbert, known professionally as Armani White, created this awesome tune and it’s now become one of the coolest transitions on TikTok. Creators have jumped on the trend showing off their cutest “black tops” or other outfits with a forward roll. Some have even done transitions to different people. What do they all have in common? They’re stylish

@in_the_nic_of_time Replying to @fares amina tell me this isn’t smooth 😮‍💨 #trend #dad #notviral ♬ BILLIE EILISH. - Armani White

25. Bad Habit (Sped Up) - Steve Lacy

This happy tune has been used for all kinds of videos on TikTok. Creators have used it to give a fun vibe to each video and – it works. The carefree track has racked up over 72.7K videos. 

@oliviagraceherring

Recreating Pinterest hairstyles part one ⭐️⭐️ obsessed with this spikey bun slick back look

♬ Bad Habit (Sped Up) - Steve Lacy

@francinyehlke Skincare em casal 💖 quase matei ele com o jeito que ele me pegou no final por conta da cirurgia kkkkk #skincare #franbyfr ♬ Bad Habit (Sped Up) - Steve Lacy

Top TikTok Songs Summer 2022

What were the top songs on everyone’s TikTok playlist this last summer? If you fancy a nostalgic trip back to the warmer days of Summer 2022, you’ll need these tunes as your soundtrack.

1. About Damn Time - Lizzo

Spurring a viral dance challenge, the newest track from American singer Lizzo is one of the fastest-growing sound in the UK this summer. The singer has dueted many users who’ve attempted the TikTok dance or used the song in their content – which has pushed the track’s popularity even further. 

@jaedengomezz it’s about damn time 💥 dc: me @lizzo ♬ About Damn Time - Lizzo

2. As It Was - Harry Styles

Ex-One Directioner Harry Styles dropped his latest single, As It Was lately, and safe to say, it’s a bop. It includes a poignant line, ‘you know it’s not the same as it was’, which triggers nostalgia and feelings about being vulnerable. TikTokers are using it to soundtrack a trend showing clips of themselves from 2022, 2021, 2020 and back, to show themselves as a completely different person before the pandemic.

3. Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) - Kate Bush

After featuring in an episode of the hit Netflix drama Stranger Things, Kate Bush’s music has not only taken TikTok by storm, but also re-entered the UK charts. Not bad for a song originally released in 1985. 

@davidsuh

Just imagine me in a two piece (for educational purposes ONLY) 📚🍑

♬ Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) - Kate Bush

4. Flashing Lights - Kanye West

Kanye West has produced some of the most popular TikTok songs in the past – and we do mean the past. This hip hop track was originally released in 2007, but now a clip of the track is being used by TikTokers asking “why can’t life always be this easy?”

@kanyewestlover6969

Flashing Lights - Kanye West

♬ original sound - nick

@lorengray

u !!! don’t !!! need !!! them !!!!

♬ Flashing Lights - Kanye West

5. MEAN! - Madeline the Person

Used by TikTokers to respond to hate comments or judgements, Madeline the Person’s lyrics strike a chord with many content creators on the platform, across a whole range of communities and niches. It’s that ease of TikTok application – and its catchy tune – that makes this a viral hit on the platform.

@madelinetheperson

No one on my zoom meetings today knew I was only wearing carebear boxers

♬ MEAN! - Madeline The Person

@bellapoarch

Nothing like u and I never will be

♬ MEAN! - Madeline The Person

6. Low Down - venbee & DanFable

This original sound from TikTok users venbee.music and Dan Fable hit a million streams in only five days – and has even been used by celebs like Sam Smith. 

@venbee.music

here’s another serotonin boost your reaction has made my life!!!

♬ Low Down - venbee & Dan Fable

@danfable I’m speechless tbh, thank u all so much 💙 @venbee.music #newmusic #lowdown ♬ Low Down - venbee & Dan Fable

7. Go (Higher & Faster) - Cat Burns

With sassy lyrics and a catchy tune, this new song has been attracting attention from users responding to the song’s central message… or just appreciating the gentle vibes. 

@catburnss what is happening😭😭 the wonderful @Sam Smith ♬ go (feat. Sam Smith) - Cat Burns

8. Reggae & Calypso - Russ Millions x Buni x YV

The popularity of this sound probably has a lot to do with YouTube star Harry from the Sidemen (@W2S) declaring it his top track on Spotify. If you search the sound, you’ll find plenty of football-related content to browse – and impressive dances and trick shots, too. 

9. 10 Things I Hate About You - Leah Kate

The list in the lyrics of this song make it the perfect vehicle for the memes and snappy transitions that TikTok users love to feature in their videos – and you’ll find many of the videos under this sound using snappy jump cuts in time with the countdown. 

@leahkatemusic 10 things I hate about u live from the @Madison Beer tour in Barcelona 😭 #lifesupport #madisonbeer #europe #tour ♬ 10 Things I Hate About You - Leah Kate

10. Don’t Stop - Olamide

The song behind a TikTok dance trend, most of the videos using this track feature TikTok users bopping along to the beat and trying the dance moves themselves – and hyping each other up in the comments, of course. 

@im_christabel My mum said she wanted to join the trend, how’d she do😩❤️#fypシ ♬ Don't Stop - Olamide

Why are these the top TikTok songs right now?

Although they do feature on this list, songs don’t have to be new releases to rise to TikTok fame. In fact, some of the biggest TikTok songs have been much older

Take Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams, for example. Or Boney M’s Rasputin, which ruled the TikTok airwaves in early 2021. Thanks to a feature in Series 4 of Stranger Things, Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill became the biggest ‘80s hit to trend on the social media site this summer. 

Aside from their sudden return to popularity, what do these tracks have in common? They all play into nostalgia. TikTok users are known for being particularly fond of any content that encourages the experience of those nostalgic feelings – a huge 83% of Gen Zers state that they enjoy seeing nostalgic content on social media

Other popular TikTok songs are hits because they’re amusing, or their lyrics are particularly suited to a trend or challenge. Take, for example, the songs Castaways from Nickelodeon show The Backyardigans. The catchy kids song with the repeating lyrics ‘into the thick of it’ quickly became TikTok shorthand for jumping into an adventure – whether that be a misjudged hike, or trawling through hate comments. In fact, its popularity as a backing track soon had it debuting as number 1 on Spotify US’s Viral 50 Chart. 

Recently, we’ve also seen the birth of the TikTok Sound Meme. A new type of social currency that tickles funny bones and gets people thinking “I have to share this”, TikTok sound memes are different from viral TikTok songs. They often involve spoken sounds and generate “brainfeel”, making them irresistibly watchable. To find out more about what they are and how you can use them, take a look at our article, TikTok Sound Memes: How Brands Can Tap The New Social Currency.

And TikTokers don’t just celebrate the big hits. They also often latch onto original songs, just like as happened with Punkinloveee’s Freakshow, a track which has since been streamed over 62 million times on Spotify

If nothing else, the range of songs shows that the top TikTok songs right now are versatile. They tap into Gen Z’s interests: whether it be silly entertainment, or old-school nostalgia.

Viral TikTok music: the top hits

Want to be an expert on the best songs on TikTok? There are a few viral sounds you need to be aware of. Any user who has been active on the app will be aware of these viral tracks, many of which became practically synonymous with the platform. 

So, in no particular order, here’s a walk through some of the most popular TikTok artists and trends:

Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X initially rose to fame largely thanks to a viral TikTok trend, which saw users using his Old Town Road mashup song as the track behind the “yee yee trend”. His track Montero (Call Me by Your Name ) garnered over 2 million videos and 12 billion views. He’s gone on to win Grammys (plural) – proof of the platform’s ability to launch careers. 

Olivia Rodrigo

Another artist with TikTok to thank for launching her career, Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album ‘Sour’ broke the global Spotify record for the biggest opening week for an album by a female artist. Undoubtedly thanks to TikTok’s love of all three of the album’s singles (Drivers License, Good 4 U, and Deja Vu), which each charted in the top 3 on the Official Billboard Top 100. 

Doja Cat

Along with Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B, Doja Cat is a reigning queen of TikTok audios. Active on the platform herself, the American singer’s song Say So rose to fame after TikTok influencer Haley Sharpe created a viral dance for the track. Other Doja Cat tracks that TikTokers love include Kiss me more, Woman and Motive featuring Ariana Grande.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is often trending on TikTok, and her track Nothing New went viral after the release of her album ‘Red (Taylor’s Version) as users took her lyrics about being 17 as a trend to show pictures of themselves at that age, and talk about how much they’d grown. Of course, this plays right into Gen Zers’ nostalgia, and also their focus on mental health.

Justin Bieber

At one point, the Canadian’s song ‘Peaches’ appeared across everyone’s FYP: behind recipe videos, vlogs, challenges… Whatever the video, Justin Bieber’s voice seemed to universally fit the bill. 

Saweetie

At one point in 2021, you couldn’t scroll TikTok without encountering Saweetie’s “let’s go” sound clip from her song Best Friend, combined with users turning around and walking away, soundtracked by a simple tapping beat. TikTokers used the song to poke fun at themselves being sassy. There were multiple versions of the sound clip on TikTok, with this one alone garnering over 330 million views.

Charli XCX

Charli XCX is a regular hit-maker, on and off TikTok. In fact, the latter is even credited with “resurrecting her song from the dead”, as TikTokers discovered her 2017 single Unlock It and used it to soundtrack a viral TikTok dance.

Jack Harlow

Jack Harlow regularly gets a lot of love on TikTok, with his track First Class becoming the latest to go viral. The song’s seductive hook, which first-class treatment courtesy of a sample from Fergie’s 2006 hit “Glamorous,” has spurred many viral TikTok videos featuring the track to show off users’ glamorous lifestyles.

Busta Rhymes

A viral challenge reintroduced a generation of listeners to Busta Rhymes’ 2006 hit ‘Touch It’, which seemed like the perfect soundtrack to test how deeply users could arch their backs to the beat.

Erica Banks

Texas rapper Erica Banks track Buss It was credited with creating the “first viral TikTok trend of 2021” , as TikTokers used the song to attempt the “Buss it challenge” – showcasing their “glow-ups” and video-editing skills.

Carrie Underwood

Perhaps a surprising addition to this list, the popularity of Carrie Underwood’s Church Bells functions as proof that TikTokers aren’t as hung up on genre as you might expect, given their collective youth. The song was used as a way to launch a celebration of country music – and celebrate users did. 

Bruno Mars (ish).

Bruno Mars’ song Talking to the Moon went viral on TikTok recently, but not for the reason you’d expect. TikTok user Sickickmusic (@sickickmusic) created a remix of the track, which has so far garnered over 200 M views. The reason? It sparked a trend where TikTokers switch the ‘inverted’ filter on and off rapidly, matching the beat. Random — but effective.

Viral TikTok Songs: What can we learn from them?

Of course, this list only shows the fastest-growing TikTok songs across the app generally amongst UK users – but while TikTok has a massive user base (over 9 million monthly active users in the UK, and 1 billion monthly active users overall!) – most of those users operate within specific, far more niche communities

So while these top TikTok songs are encountered by most users, there are even more trending songs within each specific content community. 

That’s why it’s so important to ensure that you’re active on TikTok within the communities you intend to attract to your brand. Not only will this bring you a greater understanding of the kind of content these users want to see – which gets the most comments, likes, and other engagement from users – but also what kind of soundtrack is popular

By aligning your brand’s content with these trends, you’re far more likely to see your posts picked up and spread by the TikTok algorithm amongst the community of users you’re most interested in

Of course, that’s not always simple for brands. While some of TikTok’s trending audios are easy for brands to use, licensing laws can sometimes provide a stumbling block when it comes to branded content creation. Luckily, TikTok found a way forward with this through their “commercial sounds” option. Find out how to use it and make TikToks with the right songs for your brand in our article, TikTok Commercial Sounds: What Brands Need to Know.

But while it can mean that some trends are off-limits for brands, knowing what they are, and why they’re popular, can help you to create better, more engaging content for your audience regardless.

TikTok songs: Charting with Gen Z

The TikTok ecosystem is ever-changing. The top songs of today will be different tomorrow, and there’s always the chance that a new huge trend will sweep through and take over the TikTok airwaves in a moment’s notice. 

That said, staying up to date on the popular TikTok songs of any one time allows brands to keep their content relevant, and highlight to TikTok’s majority Gen Z user base that they’re active and involved in the online communities they’re advertising to. 

One way of understanding how certain songs work for your campaigns is through real-time data and social listening. Unfortunately that’s not always easy to access. That’s why we created Bytesights, our in-house data and insights tool, to spot new trending songs – and take learnings that inform our own original catchy TikTok songs- as well as keep tabs on how our clients’ campaigns are doing every second of every day. All of this helps us build the best content strategies – and ensure they’re working.

Want to stay up to date on what’s hot and what’s not? Our TikTok trends newsletter spills all the beans on trends that are going viral (including song challenges). Sign up to get your weekly fix, here. 

Want to make sure that you keep on top of the viral trends? Why not get in touch to find out more about how we can help make sure your next TikTok campaign is a top 10 hit with Gen Z.


There’s always more to learn about the best ways to use TikTok so you can boost your content and reach bigger, more engaged audiences of Gen Z: 


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