TikTok Lists Top Videos, Creators of 2020

It is not surprising that people have turned to TikTok for 60 seconds of relief in a year marked by the COVID-19 health crisis¹ and social and political unrest.

This week, the social media app shared its list of top 100 videos in America. The videos include a man skateboarding, singing, and drinking cranberry² juice on his way to work.

The director of creator community at TikTok is Kudzi Chikumbu. He told the Associated Press that there is a main idea, or "through line," connecting all these videos.

He said, "The through line is that these are videos that brought joy and inspiration³ to millions of Americans in a year that has been a bit of a whirlwind for everyone as we all try to figure it out." A whirlwind is a time filled with quickly changing events and feelings.

TikTok is especially popular among younger people born between 1981 to 2012. They experiment with effects like green screens to add different back drops. Some have even become social media stars called "influencers" with many followers⁴.

The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" and Jason Derulo's "Savage⁵ Love" inspired TikTok dance challenges that made them the top songs on the app.

For some TikTok creators, the coronavirus itself became inspiration to create a connection with other users. Caitlin Reilly used the app to make fun of co-workers on Zoom⁶. It became one of the top-liked videos. Curtis Roach sang about endless days at home with his song "Bored in the House" -- something people all over the world can relate to.

The second-most popular video was made by an Idaho man named Nathan Apodaca. He became famous with a video of himself singing "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac while skateboarding on a road.

When talking about Apodaca's video, Chikumbu said, "It's really about capturing an essence⁷ and a moment."

However, for those who have not used the app, some of the videos may be hard to understand, including the most-liked TikTok video.

In the video, Bella Poarch, a woman with 45 million followers, simply moved her mouth, or lip-synced, to the words of a song. She added a few seconds of well-timed head moving and eye rolling. She has since launched her own businesses and turned her art form into her career.

The app might be aimed at younger people. However, Chikumbu said this year the growth of TikTok has pushed it more into popular culture.

He said, "You're seeing everyone from the teenager to the college student with their parents and their grandparents all making videos."

Some of the most-watched videos show people's homes. Others show people making things like donuts. All signs of the times.

Words in This Story

relief – n. a pleasant and relaxed feeling that someone has when something unpleasant stops or does not happen

app – n. a small computer program, usually on mobile devices

inspiration – n. something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create : a force or influence that inspires someone

bored – adj. feeling weary⁸ and restless through lack of interest

skateboard – n. a short board mounted⁹ on small wheels that is used for coasting and for performing athletic¹⁰ stunts¹¹

essence – n. the basic nature of a thing : the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is

teenager – n. between 13 and 19 years old

donut – n. a small usually ring-shaped piece of sweet fried dough

1 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

2 cranberry   

n.梅果

参考例句：

• Turkey reminds me of cranberry sauce.火鸡让我想起梅果酱。
• Actually I prefer canned cranberry sauce.事实上我更喜欢罐装的梅果酱。

3 inspiration   

n.灵感，鼓励者，吸气

参考例句：

• These events provided the inspiration for his first novel.这些事件给了他创作第一部小说的灵感。
• What an inspiration she was to all around her!她对于她周围所有的人是一种多么大的鼓舞！

4 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

5 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

6 zoom   

n.急速上升；v.突然扩大，急速上升

参考例句：

• The airplane's zoom carried it above the clouds.飞机的陡直上升使它飞到云层之上。
• I live near an airport and the zoom of passing planes can be heard night and day.我住在一个飞机场附近，昼夜都能听到飞机飞过的嗡嗡声。

7 essence   

n.本质，实质，精华，精粹

参考例句：

• We must try to get to the essence of things.我们必须想法抓住事物的本质。
• The two things are the same in outward form but different in essence.这两件东西外表形式一样，但实质不同。

8 weary   

adj.疲劳的，使人疲劳的；vi.厌烦，不耐烦

参考例句：

• He has laid out all his strength and is weary.他使出了全部气力，非常疲倦。
• I am weary of his constant complaints.我对他不断发牢骚感到厌烦。

9 mounted   

adj.骑在马[自行车]上的；安装好的；裱好的v.登上，骑上( mount的过去式和过去分词)；增加，上升；上演；准备

参考例句：

• He mounted his horse and rode off. 他跨上马骑走了。
• He saddled his horse, mounted, and rode away at a gallop. 他给马套上鞍子，跨上马背疾驰而去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

11 stunts   

n.惊人的表演( stunt的名词复数 )；（广告中）引人注目的花招；愚蠢行为；危险举动v.阻碍…发育[生长]，抑制，妨碍( stunt的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He did all his own stunts. 所有特技都是他自己演的。
• The plane did a few stunts before landing. 飞机着陆前做了一些特技。 来自《简明英汉词典》