A quick search and thousands of playlists will pop up for sped-up versions of songs. Even Spotify has curated playlists like “sped up songs” and “This Is sped up.” Or while scrolling through TikTok, tons of trending sounds are simply faster version of hit songs. Artists have gotten up to speed and are releasing their versions on major streaming platforms, rather than letting fans alone be the one to turn up the tempo on their favorite tracks.
For example, indie rock band Mother Mother released a handful of faster versions for hits like “Verbatim” and “Hayloft.” Cults, an alternative rock band, also re-released “Bad Things” and “Gilded Lily” sped up. Some other names to join the trend include mazie, Michael Aldag, and Riley Lynch. What all these musicians have in common is not only a young adult demographic of listeners but also a moment of fame on TikTok, each with some sort of trending sound that created the desire for an official sped-up version — that way, they don’t just have to listen to a TikTok sound on repeat. Whether the social media platform is driving the demand, or the music industry is just catching wind that people love an insanely fast tempo every now and again, it’s clear more sped-up versions are on the way.
Other accounts or artists on Spotify have crafted a brand on solely remixing others’ hits, such as verified Spotify artists sped up tiktok audios, sped up viral, sped up, and many many more. Hear a melody on TikTok you like and these artists are already ahead of the game.
The trend is reminiscent of nightcore edits, which increase both the pitch and speed of a song by about 30% for a more upbeat, almost video game vibe. Nightcore is credited to a Norwegian duo from the early 2000s, but the music style quickly spread and is making a comeback today. Perhaps listening to sped-up songs today evokes some Y2K nostalgia for listeners.
But why move so fast? People love a good, danceable beat. The fast-paced tempo exudes energy and sets the vibes to let it all out. The dopamine hit of that many beats per minute is irresistible. Besides, they’re just super catchy. You better believe that my Spotify liked list will reveal tracks like Lady Gaga’s “Bloody Mary – Sped Up” by northwest or “This Is The Life – Sped Up Version” by Amy Macdonald and Speed Radio, and I have no shame. The originals are iconic, so obviously the remixes are too, but enhanced to hit the spot for a brighter yet more electronic mood.
Sped-up versions can be a great motivator to pump you up during cardio, and they’re almost destined to be the soundtrack while you rush to get ready in front of the mirror for a big night out. Sad? They’ll get you hyped. Excited? They’ll match that exhilarating vibe. Sped-up songs are oh-so versatile, and they’re not going away any time soon. Don’t even get me started on slowed-down, reverb versions of songs.
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