The Song of the Summer is Already Here (But Should it Be)?
The easiest way to generate love online? Say it was made by a kid (or maybe a hamster).
What's Going On?
TikTok's latest viral song is so fresh that it doesn't even have a name yet. Reportedly written by a Japanese 5th grader (so 10/11ish), it was posted back in February by someone claiming to be her parent, just looking to share her music (this is me eeking it out through Google and ChatGPT translate). The kid (assuming she’s real and not just an elaborate “the other day, my 3-year-old said…”) has been teaching herself to compose music for about two years, mostly just sharing her songs with family and classmates.
Obviously, we don’t know the full story. Maybe it’s a kid with AI. Maybe there is no kid. But either way, people are paying attention: 13k videos and counting have already used the song, and even more are talking about it (all really positively).
What's Driving It?
The song of the summer is a cultural milestone – and a lucrative one. Last summer’s big hit, Looking for a Man in Finance, was never meant to be taken too seriously: it started as a hyper-aware joke that went viral because it was tailor-made for TikTok’s meme economy.
This year, a kid wrote a song (again, allegedly), and the internet loved it. No layers of irony, no intentional viral strategy (or a very clever one). And even if AI was involved, it doesn’t really change the fact that the song is received as being pure and charming.
What Does It Mean?
We’re living in a deeply cynical era where authenticity feels almost impossible to find – so kids and pets are treated as the last true sources of unfiltered sincerity, especially if it’s messy or imperfect.
Speaking of authenticity: Gen Alpha is growing up with AI fully in their creative lives – it’s just another part of how you make stuff. And regardless of whether AI went into the song, people still find it charming and sincere.
Final Takeaway
Regardless of who wrote the song (or how), it’s a reminder that TikTok’s biggest hits can still feel accidental – and that, in theory at least, anyone can still find their 15 seconds of fame.