'Ceilings' Singer Lizzy McAlpine Talks Viral Success On TikTok

There's no need to drive Lizzy McAlpine home because the success of her viral song "Ceilings" is far from over!

There's a pretty good chance TikTok users would be familiar with "Ceilings," 23-year-old McAlpine's lead single from her sophomore LP "five seconds flat." The song has become a success story on the app, with the help of a sped-up version. "Ceilings" was originally released last year.

McAlpine has been releasing music for half a decade, and now she can cross a major musical milestone off of her bucket list! "Ceilings" has made its way from TikTok to the top of the Billboard charts; "Ceilings" has now claimed the number one spot on Billboard's Alternative Streaming Songs!

Last week, McAlpine appeared on "The Zach Sang Show" to discuss all things related to her music, including the massive success of "Ceilings." She revealed that she feels "very much" surprised by the viral success of the track.

Sang asked if McAlpine has "ever tried to figure out why or understand" the song's success, she responded, "I mean, I think it makes sense. I think that, I've just, I was watching it basically blow up on TikTok and people relating to like, the idea of being a little delusional," she continued. "And imagining, you know, a scenario with someone that's not actually real, or like, you know... I feel like it's a pretty universal feeling of like, you're just starting to date someone and you're imaging your whole life together. Or you see a stranger on the street, and you're like, 'Oh, he could be the one,' you know?"

"I feel like it happens to all of us in some form, so I think that it makes a lot of sense to me why people are relating to it. Because it's a very universal feeling."

When Sang's co-host, Dan Zolot, brings up the plot point in the song where McAlpine reveals the entire story of "Ceilings" had been a figment of her imagination, she says, "People love a plot twist, I guess."

When asked how it feels to hear her song "in a chipmunk voice," McAlpine replied, "It's weird. I don't love a sped-up version. I love that it's helping my song do well, that's cool to me..."

She goes on to say, "It's weird, cause people are like, 'release the sped-up version,' and I'm like, 'why?' Who wants to listen to that? Like, what? It just doesn't make any sense to me. I'm like, just listen to the real song!"

McAlpine concluded the subject of "Ceilings" and its viral success on TikTok proclaiming that she "has a love/hate" relationship with the app.

For those fans who lean more toward the visual variety of an album, McAlpine has made an accompaniment short film to "five seconds flat," and it's available to be streamed on YouTube.

McAlpine also announced on Instagram earlier this week she will be a "special guest" opening for Lewis Capaldi in Manchester, England, on August 25th!