The ultimate Songs of the Summer list for NZ TikTok

AUCKLAND, Today: Kiwi summer might be winding down, but TikTok’s top tracks have kept the vibes alive. Dance trends, manu bombs, and even trauma bonding drove the most popular songs, racking up 809 million views in NZ.

Topping the list was Paper Planes, pulling in over 138 million views between December and February. The intergenerational dance trend saw The Wiggles and basketballers alike jumping in. Marking 16 years since its release, Diplo, the track’s producer, shared a studio throwback, while M.I.A. added, “Internet is wild but I love it.”

Landing just behind at #2 was La La La by DJ Naughty Boy & Sam Smith. A sped-up version of the 2013 hit took over TikTok, with users lip-syncing while switching between the foreground and background. Nearly 137 million views later, it was one of the summer’s biggest anthems.

A true classic made its mark at #3, with Let’s Groove by Earth, Wind & Fire amassing over 108 million views. TikTokers couldn’t resist boogying down to this blast from the past, proving timeless tracks never go out of style.

Skepta’s Gas Me Up (Diligent) provided the perfect soundtrack for Kiwis attempting the manu—a daring V-shaped water bomb. The trend helped push the track to #7, collecting more than 56.4 million views.

1. Paper Planes – M.I.A. (138.6 million views)
2. La La La – Naughty Boy & Sam Smith (136.8 million views)
3. Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire (108.9 million views)
4. How Do U Want It (ft. K-Ci & JoJo) – 2Pac (77.7 million views)
5. Messy – Lola Young (76.7 million views)
6. She Looks So Perfect – 5 Seconds of Summer (62.6 million views)
7. Gas Me Up (Diligent) (Acapella) – Skepta (56.4 million views)
8. Like Him (feat. Lola Young) – Tyler, The Creator (52.1 million views)
9. The Days – NOTION Remix – Chrystal & NOTION (50.7 million views)
10. DENIAL IS A RIVER – Doechii (48.4 million views)

“Summer in Aotearoa is the best time of year and music plays a special part, soundtracking holidays with whānau and beach time with mates… maybe even the odd #manu.” – Ollie Wards

5 Seconds of Summer also made the cut, with their 2014 hit She Looks So Perfect making a surprise comeback. Its resurgence was fueled by the You’re So Funny trend, where users, including 5SOS frontman Luke Hemmings and actress Brooke Shields, shared juicy life stories as a form of trauma bonding.

TikTok’s Songs of the Summer ranks tracks with the most video views in NZ from December 2024 to February 2025, boosted by Apple Music and Amazon Music. The list blends old-school rap like 2Pac’s ‘How Do U Want It’ ft. K-Ci & JoJo with fresh hits like Lola Young’s ‘Messy’, capturing music’s evolution.

The campaign also shone a light on local artists. Nearly 1,000 acts from Australia and NZ jumped on the #SongOfTheSummer hashtag, pulling in an extra 13 million views on their content.

“Summer in Aotearoa is the best time of year and music plays a special part, soundtracking holidays with whānau and beach time with mates… maybe even the odd #manu.

As the #1 platform for music discovery, TikTok set up a sweet set of Songs of the Summer that’ll keep making a splash until next year,” said Ollie Wards, Director of Music for TikTok Australia and New Zealand.

• You can listen to New Zealand’s Songs of the Summer with dedicated playlists across TikTok, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.