Many singers and songwriters dream of having a viral song. However, it isn’t always about having the best song. Sometimes, tracks become popular online for reasons that even the artists themselves cannot predict. Yes, we’re talking about the worst song you’ve ever heard, which has become memes, proving that virality doesn’t follow the rules. Here are the 7 songs that went viral for the strangest reasons.
7. “Oh No” – Kreepa
Imagine a song being viral because of situations that didn’t go as planned. That’s “Oh No” for you, which is a snippet of the 1964 girl band’s music, Remember. It became one of the hottest meme songs on TikTok, as it reminds us of the disappointments and unexpected failures that turn comedic.
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6. “Renegade” – K Camp
The song behind the viral “Renegade” was originally created by an Atlanta teen named Jalaiah Harmon and reenacted by everyone without credit. The song went viral due to the dance, which sparked controversy over the lack of proper credit. It all began when huge influencers suddenly performed the dance without crediting the creator. It sparks conversations about attribution and cultural appropriation on social media.
5. “abcdefu” – GAYLE
This song was made when GAYLE made a TikTok asking her followers for songwriting inspiration. One of her fans suggested that she write a breakup song about the alphabet, which led to the creation of the “abcdefu” song. She actually documented the entire process of creating the song, which soon became a viral hit.
4. “Dreams” – Fleetwood Mac
The resurgence of this 1977 song is tied to a video posted by Doggface208, which captured the heart of America. The song is set in a sunset longboard cruise that captured the pandemic. Meanwhile, the video was about a man skateboarding while drinking cranberry juice. The best part? The trend introduced Fleetwood Mac to Gen Z.
3. “Old Town Road” – Lil Nas X
This song appealed to both hip-hop and country fans, as it charted on country charts and topped out at number one for an extended period. However, it sparked a massive debate when Billboard removed it from the country chart, as critics argued that it wasn’t country enough. The controversy actually fueled the song’s viral moment with endless memes about it.
2. “It’s Corn” – Remixed by The Gregory Brothers
When the Recess Therapy interviewed a 7-year-old Tariq, it went viral because of the kid’s passion for corn. But he didn’t become a meme until user Schmoyoho remixed his words into one catchy song. With that, the track was used in over 900,000 TikTok videos, garnering a total of 74 million views. Yup, to say the least, it was one of the biggest meme songs of 2020.
1. Rebecca Black – “Friday”
The song “Friday” was one of the biggest phenomena of the 2000s, making it one of the most viewed YouTube videos of the year. The reason? People found it really bad, with some dubbing it the worst video ever, receiving a lot of dislikes on YouTube. This came to people’s attention when comedian Michael J Nelson brought it out to the public. The song was criticized because of its lyrics and the use of auto-tune over Rebecca Black’s vocals.
