TikTok Hit Songs 2025: 31 Earworm Picks

Why TikTok Songs Matter So Much

Open TikTok, and you'll inevitably hear a melody you can't get out of your head.

These "TikTok hits" aren't just catchy — they give creators a real boost. Using the right trending track makes it easier for your video to reach people already listening to that song. For a full overview of TikTok's features, check out our Complete TikTok Guide.

This article rounds up a TikTok hit song list, Taiwanese song recommendations, how to find background music, and music selection tips for creators — everything you need to increase your chances of going viral.

TikTok Hit Songs (Mandarin x International x Taiwanese)

The list below collects songs that were widely used on TikTok in the second half of 2025. Popularity shifts over time, so treat the in-app music charts as the authoritative ranking.

Mandarin Hit Songs Top 10

1. "Lone Hero" (孤勇者) – Eason Chan

• Best for: Motivational, hustle, workout content
• Popular clip: "Love you walking alone through dark alleyways..."

2. "Big Wind Blows" (大風吹) – Wang He Ye

• Best for: Dance, celebration, party content
• Popular clip: The chorus section

3. "Missing You" (好想你) – Zhu Zhu Ai

• Best for: Emotional, longing, healing content
• Popular clip: "I miss you so much, through every rainy season..."

4. "The Wind Rises" (起風了) – Mai La Jiao Ye Yong Quan

• Best for: Scenery, travel, artsy content
• Popular clip: "I was once lost in the vastness of this world..."

5. "Lydia" – F.I.R.

• Best for: Nostalgia, memories, ballads
• Popular clip: The high note in the chorus

6. "Devoted to Love" (癡心絕對) – Li Sheng Jie

• Best for: Love songs, karaoke covers
• Popular clip: "You said you no longer love me..."

7. "Rice Field" (稻香) – Jay Chou

• Best for: Positivity, motivation, healing
• Popular clip: "If you have too many complaints about this world..."

8. "Love You" (愛你) – Wang Xin Ling

• Best for: Dance, cute, sweet content
• Popular clip: "Love you, love you, I love you..."

9. "Down the Mountain" (下山) – Yao Bu Yao Mai Cai

• Best for: Comedy, contrast, creative content
• Popular clip: "We don't see eye to eye..."

10. "Water of Forgetting" (忘情水) – Andy Lau

• Best for: Nostalgia, classic covers
• Popular clip: "Give me a cup of the water of forgetting..."

International Hit Songs Top 10

1. "Cupid (Twin Ver.)" – FIFTY FIFTY

• Incredibly catchy Korean pop track
• Best for: Cute, comedic, dance content

2. "Cruel Summer" – Taylor Swift

• The ultimate summer anthem
• Best for: Travel, youth, energy content

3. "Flowers" – Miley Cyrus

• Female independence anthem
• Best for: Confidence, self-empowerment, positivity

4. "Calm Down" – Rema & Selena Gomez

• Afrobeats fusion track
• Best for: Dance, party, rhythm content

5. "Anti-Hero" – Taylor Swift

• Self-reflective anthem
• Best for: Daily life, Vlogs, emotional content

6. "As It Was" – Harry Styles

• Irresistibly catchy melody
• Best for: Artsy, daily life, travel content

7. "Believer" – Imagine Dragons

• High-energy inspirational track
• Best for: Workout, challenges, hustle content

8. "Levitating" – Dua Lipa

• Retro disco vibes
• Best for: Dance, party, fashion content

9. "STAY" – The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber

• A love song staple
• Best for: Emotional, ballad, cover content

10. "Heat Waves" – Glass Animals

• Hazy, laid-back summer feel
• Best for: Vlogs, travel, nighttime content

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Taiwanese Song Recommendations

Taiwanese-language songs are hugely popular on TikTok too!

1. "The Prodigal Son Returns" (浪子回頭) – Chagee

• Incredibly catchy chorus
• Best for: Comedy, dance, cover content

2. "Life's Song" (人生的歌) – Jane Tseng

• Deeply moving
• Best for: Emotional, life reflection content

3. "The Station" (車站) – Zhang Xiu Qing

• Classic old song
• Best for: Nostalgia, longing content

4. "Persist and You'll Win" (愛拼才會贏) – Ye Qi Tian

• Motivational anthem
• Best for: Hustle, positivity content

5. "Hometown at Dusk" (黃昏的故鄉) – Wen Xia

• Old song with new interpretations
• Best for: Homesickness, lyrical content

6. "Autumn Wind, Rainy Night" (秋風夜雨) – Jiang Hui

• Bittersweet love song
• Best for: Rainy day, emotional content

7. "Cheater of Love, I Ask You" (愛情的騙子我問你) – Chen Xiao Yun

• A classic among classics
• Best for: Comedic covers, nostalgic content

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TikTok Earworm Compilation (Special Feature)

Once you hear these, you'll never forget them.

Ultra-Catchy Chorus Series

• "Big Wind Blows" – the "big wind blows" chorus
• "Lone Hero" – "love you walking alone through dark alleyways"
• "Love You" – "love you love you I love you"
• "Cupid" – "I'm feeling lonely..."

Melody Earworm Series

• "Learn to Meow" (學貓叫) – "let's all learn to meow together"
• "Under the Sea" (海底) – the instrumental version is incredibly sticky
• "Guest" (嘉賓) – the piano intro
• "The Wind Rises" – the entire song is an earworm

Viral Remix Series

• "Down the Mountain" – countless comedic remixes
• "The Prodigal Son Returns" – addictive Taiwanese earworm
• "Your Answer" (你的答案) – motivational remix versions

How to Find TikTok Background Music: 4 Methods

Heard a song you love — how do you track it down? If you want to save a video along with its music, check out our TikTok Video Download Tutorial.

Method 1: Find It Directly on the Video

Steps:

1. Tap the spinning disc icon in the bottom right of the video
2. You'll land on that song's page
3. Here you can see:
   • The song title
   • The artist
   • Other videos using the same track

Why it's great:

• Fastest and most direct
• You can also see how others are using the song

Method 2: Search Inside the App

Steps:

1. Tap the "+" button (record button) at the bottom
2. Tap "Music"
3. You can:
   • Search by song title or artist
   • Browse trending music
   • Explore categories (pop, electronic, ballads, etc.)

Best for:

• When you know the title but can't find the video
• Discovering new music

Method 3: Use a Music Recognition App

If you don't know the song name:

Recommended apps:

• Shazam (most recommended)
• SoundHound
• Google Assistant (Android)
• Siri (iPhone)

How to use:

1. Open Shazam
2. Play the TikTok video
3. Let Shazam listen
4. It will display the song title upon recognition

Success rates:

• Popular songs: 90%+
• Instrumentals or obscure tracks: lower

Method 4: Ask in the Comments

If none of the above work:

1. Leave a comment asking "What's the song name?"
2. A helpful user or even the creator will usually reply
3. Check if someone has already asked first

Tip:

• Look before asking — it may already be answered
• Be polite when asking

Music Selection Tips for Creators

The right track makes it easier for your video to reach people already listening to that song, which is a big part of what makes a video work.

Tip 1: Use Trending Music (Boost Exposure)

Why it works:

• The algorithm favors videos that use trending songs
• Users search for trending music and find your video

How to choose:

• Check the "Popular" rankings in the Music section
• Pick songs with high usage counts (500K+)

Watch out:

• Avoid songs that are completely oversaturated (too much competition)
• Look for songs that are just starting to trend (you can ride the early wave)

Tip 2: Match Music to Content

Pairing guide:

What to avoid:

• Sad music under a funny video (unless the contrast is intentional)
• Loud, distracting music in a knowledge-based video (viewers will leave)

Tip 3: Sync Your Editing to the Music

Beat matching:

• Time scene transitions to match the rhythm
• Cut to the most impactful moment during the drop
• Adds visual punch

Examples:

• Drum beat → scene cut
• Chorus high note → climax shot
• Bridge → slow motion

Tip 4: Avoid Copyright Issues

Use TikTok's built-in music library:

• Safest option
• Videos won't be taken down

If you use external music:

• Confirm it's royalty-free
• Or obtain a proper license

Royalty-free music resources:

• YouTube Audio Library
• Epidemic Sound (paid)
• Artlist (paid)

Tip 5: Test Different Music

A/B testing:

• Use the same content with different music
• See which performs better
• Discover what your audience responds to

Metrics to track:

• Completion rate
• Engagement rate
• Share count

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The Relationship Between Music and Traffic

Using a song from the trending charts opens up a discovery route that randomly chosen tracks don't get: people browsing or searching that sound can land on your video. How much extra viewing that actually delivers is not something TikTok publishes, and it varies by niche and by account.

From Music Fan to Creator

Maybe you started out just loving TikTok songs.

But if you're now thinking, "Why is this song so popular?" or "What kind of video could I make with this?" — you already have a creator's mindset.

Music Selection = The Traffic Code

Choose the right music, and you're already halfway to a successful video.

But beyond music, you also need:

• Great content
• Clear video quality
• Smooth editing
• Real, early engagement

The biggest challenge for newcomers: posting a video and getting no views. Even with the right music and great content, the algorithm only shows a new video to a small test audience at first. If that first batch of viewers doesn't engage, the video sinks.

What you can control is the engagement in the first 30 minutes after posting: share the video to your Stories or group chats, drop an easy-to-answer question in the comments, and reply to every comment within the first hour. The algorithm is reading how that small test audience reacts, not how many followers you already have — which is why a small account with strong early engagement still gets pushed out.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I download TikTok songs?

A: Yes, but be aware of copyright restrictions.

Legal methods:

• Stream on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music
• Purchase digital copies
• Use royalty-free music

Not recommended:

• Using download tools to rip audio files (may infringe copyright)

Q2: Does using trending music guarantee going viral?

A: Not guaranteed, but it increases your odds.

Music is just a boost:

• Content quality is still the determining factor
• Trending music gives your video one more chance to be seen
• But if the content isn't good, no one will watch anyway

Q3: Can I create my own music?

A: Yes, and it might make you stand out.

Advantages:

• Completely original — no overlap with others
• Could become a new trending track

Disadvantages:

• No initial search traffic
• Requires music creation skills

Q4: Can TikTok music be used commercially?

A: It depends.

Using it within TikTok:

• Yes (the platform has already obtained licenses)

Downloading and using elsewhere:

• May violate copyright
• You'll need to obtain separate licensing

Q5: Why are Taiwanese-language songs so popular on TikTok?

A: Several reasons:

1. Nostalgia trend: Young people find them refreshingly novel
2. Strong rhythm: Great for dancing and comedy
3. Emotional depth: Easy to resonate with
4. Fun contrast: Young people singing old-school tracks

Q6: How can I tell if a song is about to go viral?

A: Watch for these signals:

Signs a song might blow up:

• Catchy, easy to remember
• Chorus is singable
• Works for many content types
• Usage count is growing rapidly

How to gauge:

• Track the growth speed of "usage count"
• Watch whether major creators start adopting it

Q7: Can I use the same song for multiple videos?

A: Yes, but there are trade-offs.

Advantages:

• Creates a signature style
• Makes you memorable to fans

Disadvantages:

• May seem unoriginal
• Reduces freshness

Recommendation:

• Use it as a signature (e.g., a consistent intro/outro)
• But keep your content varied

Q8: Where can I find playlists?

A: Multiple sources.

Within TikTok:

• Trending music charts
• Music category pages

External platforms (for TikTok international users):

• Spotify: Search "TikTok hits" or "TikTok Viral"
• YouTube: Fan-curated TikTok song compilations
• Apple Music: Also has TikTok-curated playlists

(A note for users of Douyin, the mainland China version: Spotify's official availability list includes Taiwan but not China.)

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How to Use Trending Music to Boost Video Exposure: Strategy Summary

Music is one of TikTok's most important success factors.

Quick summary:

Trending music:

• Mandarin: Lone Hero, Big Wind Blows, Missing You
• International: Cupid, Cruel Summer, Flowers
• Taiwanese: The Prodigal Son Returns, Persist and You'll Win

How to find music:

• Tap the disc icon on the video
• Search in-app
• Use Shazam to identify
• Ask in the comments

Music selection tips:

• Choose trending music (boost exposure)
• Match to your content (boost completion rate)
• Sync to the beat (beat matching)
• Avoid copyright issues

Music, content, and early engagement all have to line up before a video gets pushed out

Want more TikTok creator tips, editing tutorials, and algorithm insights? Check out the Complete TikTok Guide for everything you need to know, or visit our TikTok Web Version Guide to manage your content from a desktop. For more practical tutorials, visit our blog.

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This guide covers the how-to side of TikTok growth. If what you need is a faster start on the numbers, Lion Fans offers TikTok follower and engagement services — see plans and pricing.

References

1. Spotify "TikTok Hits" playlist
2. YouTube "TikTok Viral Songs" compilations