June 7th—June 21st

 Top Sounds 

Our curated picks of the top sounds on TikTok

1. Hug Me! Bring it in A sound that encourages hugs, good times, and positive vibes. People and pets are dancing alike and telling the world what’s up.
2. Running Up That Hill The new season of Stranger Things is responsible for this one. Take this TikTok for example. Warning to business accounts: you won’t be able to use this sound. But as we always suggest for copyrighted sounds— you could get creative.
3. Eeenie, Meenie, Minee, YOU! Sometimes we can’t decide on the things we want in life. But sometimes, we know exactly what we want. Use this sound when you know. Even better if there’s implied menace.
4. Be My Lover It’s a jam, a bop even. If you don’t want to dance, you can use this sound to contrast two moods.
5. It Hurts To Remember All The Good Times This is the sound of nostalgia. It has been used to look back on events both real and fictional. Also— ABBA made a video reclaiming their sound.
6. Not Funny Ha Ha Sometimes things are just a little suspicious, a little odd, a little weird.
7. Hound Doja Use this vibey music track for to show off, explain, or tell all.

 Our Sound Highlight 

I’m Alive! I’m Dead…

Mood: 

This is a sound that perfectly encapsulates the average day. For my social media managers running accounts, you may want to cut some language. For everyone else, it’s a trendy sound with many uses.

 Video Highlight 

This Tiktoker is jumping for joy and showing their native pride after winning the democratic nominee spot in Oregon City! Big ups to the progressive change being made, because when we win for our own, we all win 

 The Moment 

Juneteenth! 

I’m taking The Moment section to do something a little different this week. Namely, put you onto media celebrating Black people and cultures. Here’s a list based on topic and interest.

• Food: High On The Hog is a book and Netflix series exploring the connection between Black cuisines across the Atlantic. Podcast The Sporkful has also put together a three-part episode series on African American food’s representation in the media, including an episode on how Ebony magazine’s Freda DeKnight shaped the representation of Black American food.
• Literature: Now, I’m one to be critical of a reading list that claims to be a political action. But I’m absolutely here for a solid book rec. So consider this list of books by Queer Black authors, considering Pride Month is also here! And, if those aren’t enough recommendations consider some reads brought to you by the folks on #blackbooktok. To get you started consider following @bookbaddiebri, @zoes_reads, and @zai_rambles.
• Music: Summer of Soul: Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised is a bit more than a music documentary— it is about change and freedom and enjoyment.

 The Zeitgeist 

Hot topics from across the internet

• The Platinum Jubilee occurred, with a £28 million cost (that’s 35 million USD). Now, this could lead one to wonder about the costs of monarchy and ponder a republican future, but really I’m talking about it here because a single Paddington Bear video made me question whether I come from a fictional country.
• The Real Housewives of Dubai premiered and Chanel Ayan has me in a choke-hold.
• Balletcore is back and Vogue says this time the style is size-inclusive.
• Corporate Pride and rainbow washing are in full swing and so are TikToks about it. Believe me, there’s video, after video.
• Ryan Gosling is Ken in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. I have nothing to add.
• Lizzo used an ableist slur in a song. This has been widely covered everywhere from Billboard to the BBC. Lizzo apologized to fans and has re-released the song with the word removed. The incident, and the responses online, are yet another reminder of how identities intersect.
• AI isn’t alive but that doesn’t mean there aren’t issues with AI, Google engineer Blake Lemoine thinks Google’s AI LaMDA is self-aware. Focusing on the sci-fi philosophical quandary of AI sentience is tempting but ignores more immediate concerns. Here’s a great analysis from @ottilie.edu on TikTok.
• Some on the internet insisted on mixing balsamic vinegar and La Croix. The concoction that some have described as an ‘abomination’ (for surely flying in the face of goodness and reason) was alleged to taste like “healthy” Coke. If you wonder who started this trend I can only say— yes, they are.

Made it to the end of this newsletter? Here’s a treat— a reminder to eat cheese and sin AND a bonus moment of joy from pride.

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