TikTok's Global Artist of the Year: How KATSEYE and Connie Francis Became a Perfect Storm of Virality
In a year that will be etched in music history, TikTok's latest crown jewel is none other than KATSEYE, a 20-year-old global phenomenon born from six members across four continents. With over 15 million followers on the platform, they've achieved what many thought impossible: genuine global reach.
KATSEYE's meteoric rise to fame can be attributed to their infectious pop sound and captivating choreography, which has been adopted by everyone from K-pop sensation LE SSERAFIM to Grammy-nominated Camila Cabello. But it's not just the new generation that's taken notice – 63-year-old songstress Connie Francis also became an unlikely TikTok sensation.
Francis, a legendary artist who rose to fame in the 1960s, had recorded a sweet pop tune called "Pretty Little Baby" back in 1962. Fast-forward to this year, and her classic track emerged as one of TikTok's most unexpected viral phenomena. The song was driving over 600,000 daily creations, with users pairing it with wholesome pet videos, family moments, and tender relationship clips.
The unlikely success of "Pretty Little Baby" sparked a global conversation, with celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Timothée Chalamet, Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande, Shaq, and Jimmy Fallon joining in on the trend. The result? A 63-year-old song hit number one on TikTok's Top 50 chart and became Francis's most-streamed song ever.
Francis herself joined TikTok to thank fans, marveling at how her classic track was now captivating new generations of audiences. "To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is captivating new generations of audiences is truly overwhelming for me," she wrote in her first post.
The duality of KATSEYE and Connie Francis's success on TikTok defines the platform's power to build new stars while introducing older music to new fans. The year also saw eight out of ten Billboard number one hits have viral TikTok moments first, including tracks from Alex Warren, Sabrina Carpenter, Jess Glynne, and Black Eyed Peas.
TikTok has proven once again that the algorithm doesn't care about your release date – only if you connect with users. And for KATSEYE and Connie Francis, that connection is undeniable.
In a year that will be etched in music history, TikTok's latest crown jewel is none other than KATSEYE, a 20-year-old global phenomenon born from six members across four continents. With over 15 million followers on the platform, they've achieved what many thought impossible: genuine global reach.
KATSEYE's meteoric rise to fame can be attributed to their infectious pop sound and captivating choreography, which has been adopted by everyone from K-pop sensation LE SSERAFIM to Grammy-nominated Camila Cabello. But it's not just the new generation that's taken notice – 63-year-old songstress Connie Francis also became an unlikely TikTok sensation.
Francis, a legendary artist who rose to fame in the 1960s, had recorded a sweet pop tune called "Pretty Little Baby" back in 1962. Fast-forward to this year, and her classic track emerged as one of TikTok's most unexpected viral phenomena. The song was driving over 600,000 daily creations, with users pairing it with wholesome pet videos, family moments, and tender relationship clips.
The unlikely success of "Pretty Little Baby" sparked a global conversation, with celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Timothée Chalamet, Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande, Shaq, and Jimmy Fallon joining in on the trend. The result? A 63-year-old song hit number one on TikTok's Top 50 chart and became Francis's most-streamed song ever.
Francis herself joined TikTok to thank fans, marveling at how her classic track was now captivating new generations of audiences. "To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is captivating new generations of audiences is truly overwhelming for me," she wrote in her first post.
The duality of KATSEYE and Connie Francis's success on TikTok defines the platform's power to build new stars while introducing older music to new fans. The year also saw eight out of ten Billboard number one hits have viral TikTok moments first, including tracks from Alex Warren, Sabrina Carpenter, Jess Glynne, and Black Eyed Peas.
TikTok has proven once again that the algorithm doesn't care about your release date – only if you connect with users. And for KATSEYE and Connie Francis, that connection is undeniable.
! TikTok's got a magic trick to make anyone go viral! it's crazy how Connie Francis, 63 and still slaying, became an overnight sensation on the platform 
. I mean who wouldn't love her sweet pop tune "Pretty Little Baby" paired with adorable pet videos and family moments? 
KATSEYE is def one talented artist but I gotta say, I'm loving how TikTok's making room for older music to reach new fans too 
. The algorithm's got its own way of doing things and honestly, it's kinda awesome 
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i mean who wouldn't want to be a viral sensation at 20 or even 63? 
it just goes to show that great music knows no age boundaries 
. And it's not just an old artist, KATSEYE's global phenomenon status is proof that TikTok can launch new stars into the stratosphere in no time 
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The song's been driving 600k daily creations & reaching a whole new audience... it's wild to see how a 63-yr-old classic can still slay the game 
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. Talk about the algorithm magic 
. What's even more interesting is how artists from different eras are collaborating & creating new content together – it's a whole new level of creative synergy 
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The fact that a song from 1962 is now more popular than ever & KATSEYE's global phenomenon is still going strong is proof of TikTok's power 
on the platform? same with katseye, those pop sounds & choreos have got everyone dancing 
and it's so cool to see older music connect w/ new gen audiences 
. i think this just goes to show that tictok is all about creativity & community 
. can't wait to see what other amazing vids come out of this!
Connie Francis from the 60s became a global sensation on tiktok after 63 yrs of bein' gone for music... that's wild 
what's happenin with this algorithm tho? 
i mean i was listening to Connie Francis's "pretty little baby" for the first time and it's actually kinda catchy 
but at the same time, katseye's rise to fame feels like a different kind of magic 
. The algorithm definitely knows what it's doing when it comes to making old music cool again, right?