TikTok stars need to stop changing platforms: Fame doesn’t equal success

Student+uses+TikTok+app

Ella Ashby

Student uses TikTok app

Ava Angle, Opinion Writer

The majority of us have heard of TikTok stars like the D’Amelio’s and the Rae’s. With millions of followers for their dance content, it gives them security to believe they can go further than just TikTok and a lot of them have. They believe that their fame will make up for their lack of talent and it doesn’t. Dixie D’Amelio, the sister of more widely known Charli D’Amelio, released a song called “Be Happy” two years ago that gained a lot of popularity for all the wrong reasons.

As one commentor said, “I love how there is no range and no vibrato. It stays in a C major throughout the whole song and repeats itself like a broken record. How magical.”

The song has a childish snap beat and a simple acoustic rhythm. She pulls it together with her mediocre lyrics and average singing skills to gain over a hundred million undeserved views.

Addison Rae also released a song called “Obsessed” last year about self-love, but it just comes across as arrogant with lyrics like, “And if I lost you I’d still have me I can’t lose.” The video’s aesthetics and choreography aren’t entertaining nor appealing.

“The choreography looks like a Zumba class,” one comment said.

The backdrop is the same with different LEDs each scene. The video has a split screen edit that is also used on the thumbnails. Excluding the visuals, her music production in general is good and sounds clean but the lyrics and softness of her voice doesn’t do it justice. The drop is boring and the lyrics don’t make sense or express the intended meaning. Addison Rae also starred in a Netflix original movie called “He’s All That”, that has a 30% on Rotten Tomatoes. Even in the movie she tries to promote her singing with a karaoke scene. Twitter blew up with criticism about her singing the song; “Teenage Dream” in the movie.

On another note, Bella Poarch is more on the successful side of the TikTok music industry. Just a few months after the release of her single “Build a B*tch,” she collabed with Sub Urban, the singer, producer and songwriter of “Cradles,” to produce “Inferno.” These two songs were hits online with good production and visuals. Their similar styles made her collaboration with Sub Urban on point. Her only issue is her aesthetics; her album cover and YouTube graphics look unprofessional and childlike. If she wants to make it a career she needs to work more on the artistic aspect of lyric videos and album covers.

Fame doesn’t equal success or guarantee skill; it only draws attention which isn’t inherently a good thing. Contrary to popular belief, your looks and popularity can’t make up for your lack of talent. Expensive backdrops and outfits won’t fix the chorus and posting songs online won’t get you streams. Just because you are good at dancing and making thirst traps doesn’t mean you will be ready to make it professional. TikTokers, please stop producing music.