KATSEYE, a Sixty-Year-Old Hit, and the New Global Music Map

TikTok's Global Artist of the Year: How KATSEYE and Connie Francis Became a Perfect Storm of Virality

In a year that will be etched in music history, TikTok's latest crown jewel is none other than KATSEYE, a 20-year-old global phenomenon born from six members across four continents. With over 15 million followers on the platform, they've achieved what many thought impossible: genuine global reach.

KATSEYE's meteoric rise to fame can be attributed to their infectious pop sound and captivating choreography, which has been adopted by everyone from K-pop sensation LE SSERAFIM to Grammy-nominated Camila Cabello. But it's not just the new generation that's taken notice – 63-year-old songstress Connie Francis also became an unlikely TikTok sensation.

Francis, a legendary artist who rose to fame in the 1960s, had recorded a sweet pop tune called "Pretty Little Baby" back in 1962. Fast-forward to this year, and her classic track emerged as one of TikTok's most unexpected viral phenomena. The song was driving over 600,000 daily creations, with users pairing it with wholesome pet videos, family moments, and tender relationship clips.

The unlikely success of "Pretty Little Baby" sparked a global conversation, with celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Timothée Chalamet, Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande, Shaq, and Jimmy Fallon joining in on the trend. The result? A 63-year-old song hit number one on TikTok's Top 50 chart and became Francis's most-streamed song ever.

Francis herself joined TikTok to thank fans, marveling at how her classic track was now captivating new generations of audiences. "To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is captivating new generations of audiences is truly overwhelming for me," she wrote in her first post.

The duality of KATSEYE and Connie Francis's success on TikTok defines the platform's power to build new stars while introducing older music to new fans. The year also saw eight out of ten Billboard number one hits have viral TikTok moments first, including tracks from Alex Warren, Sabrina Carpenter, Jess Glynne, and Black Eyed Peas.

TikTok has proven once again that the algorithm doesn't care about your release date – only if you connect with users. And for KATSEYE and Connie Francis, that connection is undeniable.

omg I'm not surprised by this at all ! TikTok's got a magic trick to make anyone go viral! it's crazy how Connie Francis, 63 and still slaying, became an overnight sensation on the platform . I mean who wouldn't love her sweet pop tune "Pretty Little Baby" paired with adorable pet videos and family moments? KATSEYE is def one talented artist but I gotta say, I'm loving how TikTok's making room for older music to reach new fans too . The algorithm's got its own way of doing things and honestly, it's kinda awesome .

omg i'm loving this! i mean who wouldn't want to be a viral sensation at 20 or even 63? katseye's energy is infectious and connie francis's song 'pretty little baby' is giving me all the feels i love how tiktok brought these two artists together, it's like they were meant to be on the same platform. and can we talk about how amazing it is that older music is getting a new lease on life? it just goes to show that great music knows no age boundaries

The way I see it is TikTok's algorithm is like a magic formula that can breathe new life into old music. It's crazy to think that 63-year-old song "Pretty Little Baby" by Connie Francis went from being a classic hit to a viral sensation on the platform, especially with users pairing it with wholesome pet videos and family moments . And it's not just an old artist, KATSEYE's global phenomenon status is proof that TikTok can launch new stars into the stratosphere in no time .

What I find fascinating is how this phenomenon highlights the power of social media to connect people across generations and cultures. For Connie Francis, it's been a dream come true to see her music resonate with new fans, while for KATSEYE, it's an opportunity to showcase their talents on a global stage .

But here's the thing – this success story isn't just about the artists or the platform; it's also about the way we consume and interact with music in today's digital age. With TikTok's algorithm playing matchmaker between old and new, I think we're seeing a shift in how we discover and engage with music .

For me, this is what makes TikTok so special – its ability to break down barriers and bring people together through the universal language of music .

I'm loving this crazy comeback of Connie Francis' "Pretty Little Baby" on TikTok! The song's been driving 600k daily creations & reaching a whole new audience... it's wild to see how a 63-yr-old classic can still slay the game . Meanwhile, KATSEYE is killing it with their catchy pop sound & sick choreo – those LE SSERAFIM collabs are everything !

Chart alert: 8/10 Billboard number one hits went viral on TikTok first this year . Talk about the algorithm magic . What's even more interesting is how artists from different eras are collaborating & creating new content together – it's a whole new level of creative synergy .

Here are some stats to give you an idea of KATSEYE and Connie Francis' reach:
- KATSEYE: 15M followers, 100B+ views on TikTok
- Connie Francis: 2.5M followers on TikTok, 1B+ views on the platform

These numbers are insane! The fact that a song from 1962 is now more popular than ever & KATSEYE's global phenomenon is still going strong is proof of TikTok's power .

I think it's awesome how artists like Kylie Jenner, Timothée Chalamet, & Jimmy Fallon joined in on the trend with Connie Francis' classic track. It's a beautiful reminder that music knows no age boundaries .

The chart performance of "Pretty Little Baby" is a great example of TikTok's ability to revive classics & introduce new artists to old fans... it's like a musical time capsule being opened!

omg just saw this on my fave TikTok vids and i'm shook ! like, who would've thought connie francis's 63 yr old song "pretty little baby" would go VIRAL on the platform? same with katseye, those pop sounds & choreos have got everyone dancing and it's so cool to see older music connect w/ new gen audiences . i think this just goes to show that tictok is all about creativity & community , not just about release dates . can't wait to see what other amazing vids come out of this!

omg i am loving this!! KATSEYE is killing it on tiktok and connie francis's "pretty little baby" is giving me all the feels that 63 year old song has become a viral sensation and i cant get enough of it! its amazing to see how the algorithm works in our favor, bringing together new and old fans alike kylie jenner, timothée chalamet, and jimmy fallon are all vibing with connie francis on tiktok? what a time to be alive!

just thinkin about this is mind blown so like tiktok's proof that even 60+ year old music can go VIRAL and it's not just new artists gettin' the love, these legends are killin' the game too Connie Francis from the 60s became a global sensation on tiktok after 63 yrs of bein' gone for music... that's wild what's happenin with this algorithm tho?

OMG I'm so done with this TikTok thing... just because an old song goes viral doesn't make it a good idea to revive '60s music trends all of a sudden . I mean, what's next? Reviving platform shoes and bell-bottom jeans? And the fact that Connie Francis is getting all this attention for a 63-year-old song just feels like a publicity stunt to me . Don't get me wrong, I love the girl and all, but this just feels like another fleeting fad to me... give it a year or two and they'll be back to making new music again . And as for KATSEYE, yeah they're talented and all, but do we really need to make them a global phenomenon overnight?

63-year-old Connie Francis going viral on TikTok? I'm not surprised though! She's still got that timeless pop sound and it's adorable to see her being rediscovered by a new generation. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good ol' fashioned wholesome video of an oldie singing along with cute pets or family moments? It's like TikTok is proof that music is ageless! And can we talk about how crazy it is to see KATSEYE and Connie Francis's success on the same platform? I mean, they're like two peas in a pod - both killing it with their infectious pop sound and captivating choreo. It just goes to show that TikTok is all about giving creators a chance to shine, regardless of age or release date!

omg this is wild how a 63 yr old song from the 60s can still be popular in 2025 is just crazy i mean i was listening to Connie Francis's "pretty little baby" for the first time and it's actually kinda catchy but at the same time, katseye's rise to fame feels like a different kind of magic what's even more amazing is how tiktok brought together artists from different generations who knew the platform could do that?

OMG I'm not surprised to see Connie Francis on TikTok, her music is still so iconic and catchy! But what's even crazier is how a song from 1962 can go viral in 2025 with users creating their own content around it... that's just wild . The algorithm definitely knows what it's doing when it comes to making old music cool again, right?