The cover of the latest Dixie D’Amelio single ‘One Whole Day’ looks genuine. It has a guest appearance from Wiz Khalifa. There is a film clip. But does TikTok’s third-biggest influencer really have any business being a pop star?
Celebrity Sells
Pop music has seen no shortage of stars which have successfully crossed over into a career in music from film, television, and social media. If someone has been catching people’s attention on a screen chances are there is a record deal waiting in the wings. Could Dixie D’Amelio be TikTok’s first musical star? More on this in a second. First, let’s look at what ‘One Whole Day’ tells the listener about Dixie D’Amlio.
What ‘One Whole Day’ Has To Offer
Singing is triggered by a different part of the brain than the one used to talk. Elderly people suffering from dementia and others with brain injuries can often still sing long after losing the ability to engage in conversation. When we sing, we reveal a different part of ourselves. D’Amelio is hardly a vocal prodigy but ‘One Whole Day’, which digs ever so slightly deeper than the million-streamed ‘Be Happy‘, offers a glimpse inside the head of a TikTok superstar. What’s more, ‘One Whole Day’ is a breakup song.
Dixie D’Amelio and Griffin Johnson
Dixie separated from boyfriend Griffin Johnson earlier this year. Following the emergence of cheating allegations, D’Amelio was revealed to be less than happy. ‘One Whole Day’ capitalizes on the 19-year-old’s personal drama with a very simple message: Dixie was upset about the breakup, for one whole day. The song’s narrative may then reveal deeper feelings. “Truth,” Dixie sings, “is that you really broke my heart.” ‘One Whole Day’ has value in that. It’s more soul-bearing than buying a Dixie t-shirt. But let’s be honest here, not by much.
@dixiedamelio one whole day video out now @wizkhalifa🖤🖤 link in bio
Does Dixie D’Amelio Have What It Takes?
Does Dixie D’Amelio have what it takes to be a musical star? Probably not. As a vocal talent, put her closer to Rebecca Black or your drunk uncle at a party than Ariana Grande. She does not bring much to the table. The best music production and pop glamour treatment do little to enhance her natural abilities. Wiz Khalifa’s decision to appear may have more to do with a flagging pop career than any genuine artistic connection. As YouTube commenter Alex Stevenson astutely states: “I wonder how many people would listen to her music if TikTok didn’t exist.” Yet what use is a hypothetical in light of the fact ‘One Whole Day’ has already been streamed 6-and-a-half-million times on YouTube and a million on Spotify within two days of its release. (D’Amelio’s debut single ‘Be Happy’ has, at the time of writing, clocked close to 60 million listens on Spotify.)
The Verdict
To one on the outside of Dixie’s 46.5 million-strong following, something seems a little off. Ill-fated pop singles from Kim Kardashian, The Hills’ Heidi Montage, YouTuber Tana Mongeau show this kind of material often has little lasting value. Still, TikTok is a huge influence on popular culture in 2020. Whether or not songs like ‘One Whole Day’ are in good taste or not, they cannot be ignored. ‘One Whole Day’ might not be for everybody. Just Dixie’s 45.6 million followers. D’Amelio coasts comfortably on reputation alone.
