Jordan Adetunji Hits No. 1 on TikTok Billboard Top 50 With ‘Kehlani’

Following the release of a music video for a remix featuring its namesake, Jordan Adetunji’s “Kehlani” has soared to No. 1 for the first time on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart, dated Aug. 17.

The TikTok Billboard Top 50 is a weekly ranking of the most popular songs on TikTok in the United States, based on creations, video views, and user engagement. The latest chart reflects activity from Aug. 5-11. Activity on TikTok is not included in other Billboard charts except for the TikTok Billboard Top 50.

“Kehlani” is the fourth consecutive new No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50. After Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby” held the top spot for ten weeks, Blood Orange’s “Champagne Coast” climbed to No. 1 on July 27. This was followed by Clairo’s “Juna” on Aug. 3, and Sevdaliza, Pabllo Vittar, and Yseult’s “Alibi” on Aug 10, before “Kehlani” reached the peak.

“Kehlani” initially debuted on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 in June. It spent two weeks in the top 10 early in the summer and began to climb back up in August. By topping the chart in its 10th week, the song sets a record for the longest time between debut and reaching No. 1 since the ranking began in September 2023.

The song’s initial popularity stemmed from a dance trend, which continues with the release of the remix that features Kehlani on vocals. This remix was released on June 20, with the music video following on Aug. 2.

“I broke the simulation,” reads Adetunji’s TikTok upload announcing the video on July 30 while Kehlani lip-synchs to the tune.

Simultaneously, “Kehlani” has achieved a new peak on the Billboard Hot 100 dated Aug. 17, jumping from No. 53 to No. 26. This is driven by 13 million official U.S. streams, 8.2 million radio audience impressions, and 1,000 downloads in the week ending Aug. 8, as reported by Luminate.

The top four on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 also include previous No. 1s. Following “Kehlani” are “Alibi,” “Champagne Coast,” and “Million Dollar Baby” at Nos. 2-4 respectively. Charli XCX’s “Apple,” which had peaked at No. 3 on Aug. 10, falls to No. 5.

Lower in the top 10, Alphaville’s “Forever Young” moves up from No. 10 to No. 7, while Hanumankind and Kalmi’s “Big Dawgs” leaps from No. 33 to No. 10, marking its first appearance in the top 10.

“Forever Young,” initially a No. 65 hit for Alphaville in 1988, has found a new life on TikTok, mostly used in nostalgic videos. Content ranges from creators reminiscing their youth to tributes for people who have passed away. The song made it to the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts for the first time in August, reaching new peaks of No. 74 and No. 112, respectively, as of the Aug. 17 tallies. In the U.S., it saw an 11% boost in streams, climbing to 2.2 million in the week ending Aug. 8.

“Big Dawgs” hits the top 10 of the TikTok Billboard Top 50 for the first time, driven by its popularity across platforms, particularly TikTok and YouTube. Many popular TikTok uploads featuring the Indian rapper’s song involve reactions to its music video or recreations of Hanumankind’s dance moves from the clip.

Concurrently, the song debuts at No. 24 on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart dated Aug. 17, with 12.1 million streams, a 58% increase. It also moves up from No. 57 to No. 31 on the Hot 100.

Scrolling down to No. 34 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 reveals this week’s biggest debut: The Sundays’ “Life Goes On.” Originally released as part of a CD single for the then-disbanded group’s 1997 single “Cry,” the song got a digital release for the first time on Aug. 3. Some recent TikTok uploads featuring the song comment on its previous unavailability on streaming services, while others follow a trend that prompts “they hate when [you/we] serve.”

Source: TikTok, Billboard, Luminate