[Western Music Edition] Songs Frequently Used in YouTube Shorts [2026]

MakebaJAIN

Jain – Makeba (Official Video)

The song “Makeba” has regained worldwide attention thanks to its hit on TikTok.

Created by French singer-songwriter Jain, the track features stark rhythms and melodies built from acoustic tones.

It’s used frequently not only on TikTok but also on YouTube Shorts, often accompanying videos that capture bizarre scenes or have a surreal vibe.

Be sure to check it out.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Ryo

Report a problem

Tomfoolery (Dante9k Remix)David Snell

Spongebob – “Tomfoolery” (Dante9k Remix)

That comical track that’s so often used in YouTube Shorts.

This piece is a remix by a modern beatmaker of a composition by the multi-talented British musician David Snell.

The original is also famous as background music in the anime SpongeBob SquarePants, so many of you might recognize it.

Its melody is cheerful with a slightly playful vibe throughout, and the strong beat added in the remix gives each note more impact.

This unique style seems to be frequently used in videos capturing funny everyday mishaps or pets’ mischievous antics.

The original track was included on the 1981 album “Childhood Fantasies,” and it continues to be enjoyed today with a fresh new appeal.

SaharaHensonn

Hensonn-Sahara

Hensonn is a producer from Ukraine.

His electronic style, centered on phonk, has gained massive support on the internet.

His signature work, released in November 2021, also made headlines for receiving RIAA Gold certification.

Built on an aggressive, high-velocity sound known as Drift Phonk, the track balances a tense, adrenaline-pumping intensity with a liberating sense of release.

On YouTube Shorts, it’s frequently used for car-action clips and game highlight videos.

Be sure to check it out.

WORTH NOTHING (ft. Oliver Tree)TWISTED

TWISTED – WORTH NOTHING (ft. Oliver Tree) [Drift Music Video] from the Fast & Furious Phonk Mixtape

DJ Twisted, who’s gaining attention in Europe’s bass music scene, teams up with Oliver Tree on this track, which has blown up on YouTube Shorts as background music for drift videos.

The key appeal lies in its novel structure: channeling a searing sense of self-denial—“I have no value”—through the fast, distorted beats typical of drift phonk.

Released in September 2022, the song is also included on the EP Fast & Furious: Drift Tape/Phonk Vol.

1, inspired by the Fast & Furious series.

It’s a perfect track for blasting away pent-up feelings—be sure to check it out.

Paint It, BlackThe Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones – Paint It, Black (Official Lyric Video)

A masterpiece released in 1966 by the British rock giants The Rolling Stones, this song paints a profound picture of sorrow and loss.

Noted for its exotic sitar sound, it was included on the U.S.

version of the album Aftermath and reached No.

1 on both the U.S.

and U.K.

charts.

With searing lyrics expressing the narrator’s grief over lost love and a desire to “paint it black,” the song leaves a powerful impression.

It was also used in Stanley Kubrick’s film Full Metal Jacket, where it became known as a symbol of the horrors of war.

An eternal classic that resonates with those bearing deep emotional wounds.