What makes an old song go viral on TikTok?
From Kate Bush's 'Babooshka' to Fleetwood Mac's 'Dreams', the app's gone nostalgia crazy. We asked TikTok stars, musicians and psychologists: why?
Kate Bush's 1980 weirdo-banger 'Babooshka' has filled many a TikTokker with glee. Credit: Getty
You don’t need us to tell you that TikTok now has a huge effect on the music industry. With the power to launch careers with one viral clip, we’re seeing the birth of a new star every day. But how about the revival of an old one? Last year saw TikTok revive vintage hits, from ‘70s classics such as Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’ to ‘00s deep cuts such as legendary Glasgow indie band Life Without Buildings’ ‘The Leanover’. Now ancient sea shanties are even going viral on the app, as is – perhaps more improbably still – The Wombat’s 2015 electro-pop tune ‘Greek Tragedy’.