Was watching this video

and her quick bit on Old Town Road really got me thinking about how similar these songs are:

• Both were groundbreaking songs for their respective platforms (YouTube/Tik Tok)

• Both propelled two relatively unknown artists to stardom overnight

• Both songs similarly are massive hits that tailor to kids but is enjoyed by adults (relatively clean lyrics, catchy, short, melodic)

• Both have had massive ramifications and influence in how music is created, produced and consumed by the GP almost immediately after releasing

• Both have left previous generations complaining about the “dumbing down” of music

It’s actually pretty crazy how similar these songs are in that perspective. Thoughts

Who cares

Need some millennial opinions on this parallel

This feels like one of those hot takes you say to grab attention but there's no basis for it or nothing beyond surface level comparisons

Like a clickbait headline but for internet posts. Reminds me of that thread about Zayn being the Lauryn Hill of his generation

I already know the argument wont be convincing before they even explain it

I think that’s fair on the surface level comparisons but to be fair we have almost two decades of retrospect on the impact of Crank That. I can see people looking back on Old Town Road as a paradigm shifting song (impact no quality ofc) as Tik Tok’s grip on music has longevity, same as YouTube one did

interesting comparison for sure but I can’t really tell if it’s valid but the points listed in OP definitely help your case imo

the first tik tok song trend i can recall was dulapeep did a full 180

I feel like old town road wasnt close to as big or impactful of a song but maybe I’m biased because I’m old

oppa forgot about gangnam style

I thought it was Mia Khalifa by iLoveFriday

u right

Crank Dat was crazy even here in Germany, but it was kinda reserved for the "cool kids".

Old Town Road was playing 24/7 even in the radios, so I'd assume there was no way around for EVERYBODY

Old Town Road was the BB #1 song for 19 weeks I know we have a lot of anecdotal evidence of how big Crank That was but it’s a lie to say that song wasn’t as popular at least

I think the major component that separates OTR from Crank That and its predecessor Can’t Touch This is obviously a dance associated with it but hey point still stands

YOUUUUUU

Old Town is not a fance which is the major thing of Crank and its popularity that continued for years & a social event

Crank That started a shift in production as well

Old Town Road was early on the country rap wave, but it wasn’t the beginning of it, and it never became the style of mainstream rap

a very important aspect that differentiates the two songs

Very good point. Obviously not 1:1 but just something I noticed

Old Town Road lacks longevity after the country controversy died down and started out as a meme

Crank That is a classic because it capitalized on the rise of ringtones and basically the first DIY rap song to blow up on the internet

yeah maybe big isn’t the word. OTR might be influential on pop music but I don’t think it impacts hip hop in the way crank that has. if that makes sense

He’s gay too; Issa lgbt hit