Most songs nominated in major categories at the 2022 Grammys have gone viral on TikTok

Advertisement
Most songs nominated in major categories at the 2022 Grammys have gone viral on TikTok
Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, and Olivia Rodrigo were each nominated for Grammy awards for songs that went viral on TikTok.Evan Agostini/Invision/AP; Liv JMEnternational for BRIT Awards/Getty Images
  • Most of the songs nominated in major categories at the 2022 Grammys were also TikTok hits.
  • They included songs like "Kiss Me More," "Montero (Call Me By Your Name," and "Drivers License."
Advertisement

On Tuesday, the Recording Academy announced the nominees for the 2022 Grammys, and most of the songs that were nominated in major categories — and a smattering of those nominated in smaller categories — inspired trends or went viral on TikTok in some way.

The fact that so many of the major category nominees were TikTok-famousis a testament to how much the app is becoming a reflection of pop culture.

7 out of the nine nominees for Song of the Year, and seven out of the 10 nominees for Record of the Year, were hits on TikTok as well. Those nominees included tracks like Lil Nas X's "Montero (Call me By Your Name)" (2.2 million videos on TikTok), "Drivers License" by Olivia Rodrigo (1.4 million videos), and Silk Sonic's "Leave The Door Open" (101,500 videos).

While many of the nominees sparked distinct trends, others became popular more generally on the app. Doja Cat and SZA's "Kiss Me More," one of the best songs on Doja Cat's album "Planet Her" (also nominated), was one of TikTok's biggest hits of 2021. The song was used in over 2.5 million videos and spawned multiple trends, including one where TikTokers performed a limp wrist gesture in time with a ding during SZA's verse to signal that they were queer.

@cm_melintv

Since y’all are so curious

♬ Kiss Me More (feat. SZA) - Doja Cat

Other tracks like Cardi B's "Up," nominated for Best Rap Performance, were the subject of viral dance challenges. Choreographed by Mya Johnson and her friend Chris Cotter, the "Up" dance challenge became one of the most easily recognized choreographies of 2021 on TikTok. "Up" itself was used in 2.3 million videos.

Advertisement

@theemyanicole

had to do our dance again @cchrvs #upwmyaxchris

♬ Up - Cardi B

TikTok's influence was still evident even outside of the Song and Record of the Year categories.. Saweetie and Doja Cat's "Best Friend," which was used in 1.3 million videos on TikTok, was nominated for Best Rap Song. Cody Fry's sweeping orchestral arrangement of The Beatles' song "Eleanor Rigby," which has been used in 264,800 videos on TikTok, earned a nomination for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals.

Other TikTok-famous hits that received nods include Billie Eilish's "Happier Than Ever," Justin Bieber, Daniel Caesar, and Giveon's "Peaches," Megan Thee Stallion's "Thot Shit," Giveon's "Heartbreak Anniversary," and Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow's "Industry Baby."

This isn't a sudden shift — since TikTok merged with Musical.ly and launched in the United States in 2018, it's become an essential promotional tool for artists and labels, Insider previously reported. The app's power became clear in 2019, when it helped catapult songs like Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" or Lizzo's "Truth Hurts" up the Billboard Charts. Many of the songs nominated in major categories at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, which took place in March, were TikTok-famous as well.

Read more stories from Insider's Digital Culture desk.

{{}}