Words by Tom Disalvo December 22, 2021

It’s somewhat unnerving how TikTok has taken over my life in 2021.

Whether it’s a viral feta and tomato pasta recipe (unsurprisingly gross) or any number of gyrating hip dances (unsurprisingly gross), the TikTok algorithm has seeped it’s way into the fabric of what was a largely-locked down year, so much so that I now go to bed dreaming- or more accurately nightmaring- about my For You Page.

But nothing was as pervasive in 2021 as the (in)glorious TikTok audio. Endlessly quotable yet only applicable in specific contexts, these bitesized sounds lived in my head rent-free (HA!), to the point where they’re now simply a part of my vocabulary (you’d be surprised how often something is “giving Cher” a day-to-day basis).

@rosiereallysucksThis is literally my brain 24/7 #fyp #foryou #viral #uk #tiktokobsessed #helpme #BOSSUpYourGame #CreatorRevolution ♬ Waking up in the mornin fortnite Candace u ready – Karl

For better or for worse, we’ve compiled a list of 2021’s top 10 funniest TikTok sounds.

“Oh no, our table, it’s broken.”

Originally taken from an America’s Funniest Home Video entry, the sound of a young boy lamenting his shattered coffee table reverberated across TikTok for months, with users trying (and often failing) to duet the sound without laughing. So strong was the broken table chokehold that part of me sincerely wished for a damaged desk, just so that I’d have a scenario to quote it.

@lockedinoutOh No♬ oh no our table – goompa

“THE KILLER IS ESCAPING.”

Another completely-unusable entry (unless you’re in a hostage situation) was actress Sarah Paulson’s high-octane dialogue from American Horror Story. Re-contextualised as a soundtrack for users escaping various obstacles or matched with Michael Jackson choreography, the sound is undeniably Paulson’s best work to date.

@thereallightskinmonteMichael If He Was Ever In A Horror Movie 😭😭😭♬ helllp the killer is ey scape ing – abi

@billieeilishhate that you guys made this sound huge on here. most infuriating scene in all of asylum♬ helllp the killer is ey scape ing – abi

@lizzoThis one?♬ helllp the killer is ey scape ing – abi

“Bing Bong.”

In late 2021, TikTok got political with a two-note sound courtesy of NYC street show creators Sidetalk. “Bing Bong” was the most enduring quote from a compilation of the group’s funniest street interviews, followed closely by a passerby misnaming Joe Biden. In a development that’ll make you question what the world has come to, the viral sound reached presidential heights when the Jonas Brothers enlisted Joe Byron himself for a remastered lip-dub.

@yvngwxrldBING-B😂NG|#fyyyp #funny #viral #famous #yvngwxrld #nyc #meme #edit #share #foryoupage ♬ original sound – yvngwxrld

@jonasbrothersEYYYY YOOOO♬ original sound – Jonas Brothers

Saweetie, “Let’s Go.”

This line from rapper Saweetie’s verse in Best Friend walked all over TikTok and never left. Superimposing Saweetie’s half-turn strut from a live performance over various escapee scenarios, the audio is perhaps the most quotable on this list, particularly useful when you’ve eaten dinner but want to dodge the cleanup.

@conr16 #fyp #foryoupage #disney #pixar #toystory #toystory2 #letsgo #saweetie #trend #fy ♬ LETS GO – LevitatingOnTheMoonWithDulaPee

@jakefrescaThey really said 💀 #fyp #foryoupage #4u #letsgo #saweetie #comedy ♬ LETS GO – LevitatingOnTheMoonWithDulaPee

@conr16I CAN’T STOP MAKING THESE #fyp #foryou #saweetie #letsgo #supermario #mario #nintendo #mariokart #trend #fy ♬ LETS GO – LevitatingOnTheMoonWithDulaPee

“Doin’ Nish”

Taken from an episode of Eastenders, this sound saw users sing themselves praises for doing the bare minimum. From investing a couple bucks in crypto to finally getting a driver’s licence at age 25, users compared their minor wins to others who “sat around, doin’ nish.”

@steezy1010 ♬ Sitting around doing NISH lp24s – Loosepete

@ball_cancer_awarenessMake some moves. #fypシ ♬ Sitting around doing NISH lp24s – Loosepete

“The flavours are melting on my tongue.”

The most recent TikTok sound on our list comes courtesy of a McDonald’s-eating user, whose Dora the Explorer-level reaction to her burger set the algorithm alight in recent months. It’s not just the woman’s exasperated vocal inflections that have caused a riot, but the widespread applicability of her quote in (oftentimes crude) contexts.

@viadiddyMcDonald’s trip #mcdonalds ♬ original sound – dede

@malsaiditok this the last one i promise 😭 #fyp #viral #relatable #comedy #joke ♬ original sound – dede

@jakefrescaNemo still chilling in the egg like 🧍🏻#fyp #foryoupage #disney #4u #pixar #findingnemo ♬ original sound – dede

“You need to leave.”

Another entry whose viral success comes thanks to a hilarious interjection is mid-2021’s “you need to leave.” The soundtrack to users who’ve embarrassed themselves in some capacity, the TikTok sound is infinitely quotable.

@pak.the.pebble #greenscreen Just jokes ppl, I know them caucasians got some flavor to em🤣 #fyp #foryou #trending ♬ you need to leave – m<333

@joshuagregory2googoogaga♬ you need to leave – m<333

“I know it ain’t the stallion.”

When Keke Palmer introduced Megan Thee Stallion on the Met Gala carpet in September, she unknowingly gifted us with the ultimate soundbite. The greeting was pushed along by a jazzy piano backing, which users promptly applied to all instances when someone was in need of a hype man.

@contejasmusicReply to @thatyeastt Absolutely! #fyp #piano #harmony #jazz #musiciansoftiktok #comedy ♬ KeyKey Palmer – ConTejas

@annaxsitaraccurate♬ KeyKey Palmer – ConTejas

“Good soup.”

Taken from an otherwise-forgettable piece of Adam Driver dialogue, “Good Soup” has since been used to an excessive degree, but not in the culinary contexts you’d expect. There’s not a minestrone in sight on soup-tok.

@visionsvibraniumpubes👌good soup #goodsoup #fyp #viral ♬ good soup – MARVEL FANS

@heathermacciykyk♬ good soup – MARVEL FANS

@jakefrescathe fish really said 👁 👅👁 #fyp #foryoupage #4u #comedy #goodsoup ♬ good soup – MARVEL FANS

“WHAT DOES IT MEAN?”

Miley Cyrus’ live performance of an old lyric also blew up this year, with TikTok-ers using her howling “what does it mean?” to narrate their incomprehension of various topics. She hasn’t released much this year, but her TikTok soundbite alone has kept her in the spotlight.