Shirt a Phobia

Sample Page

“SugarCrash!” is a song written, produced, and performed by Canadian musician ElyOtto. It was released on August 25, 2020. The song went viral on the video-sharing app TikTok in February 2021. A remix featuring Kim Petras and Curtis Waters was released on April 23, 2021. By December 2021, the song had become, at the time, the fourth most used TikTok audio in the platform’s history.[1]

Background and composition

On August 26, 2020, ElyOtto uploaded “Sugarcrash!,” a hyperpop song inspired by 100 gecs, to his SoundCloud.[2]

On August 27, 2020, ElyOtto uploaded a TikTok video promoting the song that received over 760,000 views and 204,000 likes in seven months.[3]

“SugarCrash!” incorporates hyperpop with many sound effects, distorted bass, and high-pitched vocals, consisting of two choruses, a verse, and a bridge. Platt claimed in a Genius interview that the song, made with GarageBand, was a soundfont test for Pokémon Black and White. Platt also stated that the song covered many of his issues: how tired he was of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, his future, and his gender dysphoria.[4]

I’ve heard a lot of trans people say that they feel like they’re born in the wrong body, wishing they could be someone else. I don’t feel like that at all, I’m who I meant to be. I want to get rid of that self-hatred I have for myself, and sort of become accepting. It’s such a personal thing to me, but taken out of context, it’s something that pretty much anyone could relate to, which I think is really beautiful.[4]

Critical reception

Vulture's Justin Curto wrote: “As a song, ‘SugarCrash!’ tries to solve the very problem it’s about. It’s nothing new in hyperpop, which often uses buoyant productions to address darker themes. But on another, equally self-aware level, the song works so well because it’s also about exactly what it sounds like. It’s a hyperactive song about being full of pent-up energy; a brain-splitting song that, at one point, contemplates splitting one’s own brain”.[5] The song also received praise from Billboard author Joe Lynch, who described it as “a diaristic, candy-coated slice of teenage dissatisfaction.”[6]

Due to the success of “SugarCrash!”, Spin magazine labeled ElyOtto “the new face of hyperpop”.[7]

Following the song’s success, at least seven record labels reached out to ElyOtto before he signed to RCA Records.[8][9]

Charts

“SugarCrash!” debuted at number 30 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, having spent 19 weeks-and-counting on the chart in total, peaking at number 10.[10] It later debuted at number 23 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 for the week of March 20, 2021,[11] and peaked at number 59 on the UK Singles Chart,[12] as well as number 126 on Billboard's Global 200.[13] The song also earned ElyOtto a spot on Rolling Stone's Breakthrough 25 chart for the months of February and March 2021 at numbers 15 and 17, respectively,[14] as well as a spot on Billboard's Emerging Artists chart for four weeks, peaking at number 36.[15]

Certifications

Certifications for “SugarCrash!”
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[27] Gold 40,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[28] Gold 25,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ “ElyOtto’s “SugarCrash!”: fourth most-liked TikTok ever, and 100 million Spotify streams”. SOCAN Words and Music. December 9, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  2. ^ SugarCrash! on SoundCloud, retrieved May 30, 2023
  3. ^ “ElyOtto on TikTok”. TikTok. August 27, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  4. ^ a b “ElyOtto “SugarCrash!” Official Lyrics & Meaning | Verified”. Genius. April 2, 2021.
  5. ^ Curto, Justin (April 23, 2021). “Admit It, ‘SugarCrash!’ Was Already Great”. Vulture.
  6. ^ Lynch, Joe (June 3, 2021). “ElyOtto on What Hyperpop Means to the LGBTQ+ Community”. Billboard.
  7. ^ Olivier, Bobby (April 8, 2021). “How ElyOtto Became the New Face of Hyperpop”. Spin. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  8. ^ Bell, Mike (May 12, 2021). “Calgary artist ElyOtto turns viral fame into record deal with massive TikTok hit SugarCrash”. TheYYScene.
  9. ^ Raza-Sheikh, Zoya (April 29, 2021). “ElyOtto is the trans TikTok star taking on the music industry”. Gay Times.
  10. ^ a b “Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – July 3, 2021”. Billboard.
  11. ^ a b “SugarCrash!” – Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart”. Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  12. ^ “ELYOTTO | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company”. www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  13. ^ a b “SugarCrash!” Billboard Global 200 Chart”. Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  14. ^ Blake, Emily (June 15, 2021). “Future of Music: The Sounds of Tomorrow”. Rolling Stone.
  15. ^ “Emerging Artists Chart”. Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  16. ^ “ElyOtto – SugarCrash!” (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  17. ^ “Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of March 13, 2021”. Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  18. ^ “ČNS IFPI – CZ Singles Digital – Top 100 – 10. týden 2021” (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  19. ^ “Irish-charts.com – Discography ElyOtto“. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  20. ^ “2021 9-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)” (in Lithuanian). AGATA. March 5, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  21. ^ “Dutch Single Tip 13/03/2021” (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  22. ^ “ČNS IFPI – SK Singles Digital – Top 100 – 10. týden 2021” (in Czech). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  23. ^ “Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 10, 2021” (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  24. ^ “Official Singles Chart on 12/3/2021 – Top 100“. Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  25. ^ “Official Independent Singles Chart on 5/3/2021 – Top 50“. Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  26. ^ “Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021”. Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  27. ^ “Canadian single certifications – ElyOtto – SugarCrash!”. Music Canada. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  28. ^ “OLiS – oficjalna lista wyróżnień” (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 19, 2023. Click “TYTUŁ” and enter SugarCrash! in the search box.