TikTok has become one of the most powerful tools in music discovery. It's launched careers, revived forgotten hits, and turned niche tracks into household anthems.
But for every song that gets its moment in the spotlight, dozens slip through the cracks.
When thinking of the unlikely hits, several songs come to mind that are just as deserving if not more than others to blow up online, but they never quite caught the algorithm's favor.
Songs that deserved the TikTok fame
1. Superet - "Go to Sleep Kimberly"
From Los Angeles-based Superet’s 2019 LP How to Work a Room, this track wraps dreamy guitar textures around lyrics that feel like a late-night confession. It quietly reached a few million Spotify plays, standing as their top song, yet it never translated into TikTok traction.
It's easy to imagine the disco atmosphere backing sleepy routines, cozy bedroom montages, or intimate phone-call POVs. It practically begs to be used that way with the vibe.
These guys got a big kick in popularity after touring with IDKHow as an opening act, whose lead singer recommended his fans to listen to this song in particular. Superet can only hope more people recognize the quality they have to offer.
2. Glass Beach - "motions"
Off last year's Plastic Death, "motions" rides a playful emo-punk wave with a hooky riff and self-aware lyrics about creative slog. The song's bridge is this huge explosion of energy and brass as the lyrics break down into desperation that gives chills every time.
Glass Beach already enjoy modest attention on TikTok, helping their debut go viral in its own right. But “motions” seems to be without this treatment, missing any clips of micro‑edits on art routines or glitchy aesthetic videos.
3. Willy Rodriguez - "Spirit Number"
Sometimes known as WillyRodriguezWasTaken, the duo dropped this two‑minute punch of alt‑punk charm as the title track of their late 2021 EP. It's backed by a lo-fi aesthetic and lyrics about ghosting and awkward romance.
The artist has never really seen any breakthrough in popularity, but if one song were to do it, it should be "Spirit Number." TikTok could’ve used it for quick‑cut breakup videos or moody storytelling, but it's unfortunately stayed under the radar.
A live version in Seattle was released on Soundcloud a couple of weeks ago, maintaining the track's relevance. Despite that, it's probably the most underrated song in this list, so give it a listen if you can.
4. Self - "Out with a Bang"
This high-energy alt-rock anthem was popular on the early internet, being the theme of the TF2 fan video "Team Fabulous 2." This usage even got acknowledged by the lead singer, who commented sympathetically on a reupload in 2021 about the creator's death and thanked fans for listening.
This popularity predated TikTok's existence, though, and has yet to be picked up by the platform in modern times. It's perfect for punchy, action-driven videos like dramatic exits, comedic reveals, or emotional payoffs, complemented by the driving guitar bridge.
5. Vulfpeck - “Lonely Town”
Taken from their 2018 album Hill Climber, this funky, soulful track rides Theo Katzman's vocals over clean pocket grooves. Vulfpeck's minimalist, upbeat aesthetic has seen brief TikTok moments, but not enough.
"Lonely Town" is ripe for character edits of villains or mysterious protagonists, especially given its subtly melancholic vibe paired with a isolating lyrics on a tight groove.
TikTok's algorithm can feel random, and frankly, a few of these songs should’ve taken off by now. Maybe the window’s still open. These tracks are clickable, embeddable, and begging for creativity. If a trend hits them right, they could blow up overnight. Sometimes all it takes is one creator to spark it.