Scariest Sound on TikTok: In the vast landscape of TikTok, where trends come and go faster than you can scroll, one sound has emerged as the unsettling backdrop to a genre of chilling content: a haunting cover of “Hoist The Colours.” This song, pulled from the depths of a largely forgotten Pirates of the Caribbean movie, has taken on a life of its own, accompanying a wave of videos that evoke the most treacherous aspects of the natural world.
How a Forgotten Song Became the Soundtrack of Terror
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It seems to happen in an instant. One moment, users are lost in a sea of dance challenges and recipe hacks; the next, they find themselves watching gripping footage of the North Sea—a body of water notorious for its storms and treacherous conditions. The videos often depict ship crews battling monstrous waves or workers clinging to oil rigs while the ocean rages around them. “I don’t know why my feed is filled with videos of the North Sea, but I love it,” many commenters quip.
The Origins of “Hoist The Colours”
@the.bobbybass Reply to @michaelzwemke the sound as requested! Cant wait to see what’s made from this! #bass#seashanty#pirates#hoistthecolors#shanty#basssinging#sing
The trend appears to have ignited on November 27, 2023, when the TikTok account @ukdestinations shared a video showcasing the harsh realities of the North Sea, quickly racking up over 118 million views. The caption promised a shocking twist, but it was the soundtrack that left a lasting impression.
Bobby Waters: The Unintentional Soundtrack Creator
The song kicks off with an eerie silence that captures attention before plunging into a booming chorus: “YO, HO, ALL, HANDS.” As the song progresses, it paints a grim picture of the sea, invoking themes of death and survival. Commenters quickly noted its unsettling effect: “Imagine you’re in the middle of the ocean at night and you hear this song out of nowhere,” one user remarked. It wasn’t long before this cover became synonymous with the darker side of TikTok.
The original song, “Hoist The Colours,” hails from the 2007 film Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. The haunting melody plays during a scene where condemned pirates unite in song on the gallows—a moment both poignant and chilling.
Bobby Waters, a musician who first began posting on TikTok during the pandemic, had always been drawn to this song. With a deep, booming voice perfect for the track, he became part of the TikTok community that celebrated sea shanties and low harmonies. His viral cover of “Hoist The Colours” emerged from a series of collaborations with other singers, eventually evolving into a rich, layered version featuring multiple vocalists.
As Waters notes, he never aimed to create the soundtrack for TikTok’s scariest videos. “It just kind of happened,” he admits. The song’s chilling quality resonated deeply with users who began pairing it with content about mythical creatures, phobias, and tumultuous storms.
When Waters decided to produce a full version of the cover in mid-2022, he reached out to fellow TikTok bass singers, ultimately crafting a choral piece that combined their voices into something greater than the sum of its parts. The final product was an evocative rendition that captivated audiences and inadvertently became the haunting anthem of North Sea TikTok.
What began as a simple TikTok trend has morphed into a cultural phenomenon, with a song from a largely forgotten movie gaining a second life as the spine-chilling soundtrack for videos that push viewers to the edge of their seats. As TikTok continues to evolve, so too will the sounds that define it—proving that sometimes, the most unexpected creations can emerge from the depths of the internet, ready to terrify and entertain in equal measure.
Scariest Sounding Song On TikTok
“Gloomy Sunday” by Billie Holiday – Often referred to as the “Hungarian Suicide Song,” its melancholic melody and haunting lyrics have led to various urban legends about its dark impact on listeners.
Most Unsettling Song Of TikTok
“Revolution 9” by The Beatles – This experimental piece features a chaotic collage of sounds, voices, and disjointed phrases that can create a sense of unease and disorientation.
Creepiest Music Video On TikTok
“Come to Daddy” by Aphex Twin – The video features unsettling imagery, including distorted faces and surreal scenarios, creating a nightmarish atmosphere that many find deeply unsettling.
Scariest Piece of Music Ever Written For TikTok
“Danse Macabre” by Camille Saint-Saëns – This classical piece evokes images of skeletons dancing at midnight, using eerie melodies and dissonant harmonies to instill a sense of fear and unease.
