Why 9 Million Viewers Loved Ashley Tisdale’s Cover of “Ex’s and Oh’s”

This past week, actresses Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens teamed up to cover Ellie King’s “Ex’s and Oh’s,” and the internet has gone crazy for it. In the first four days alone, Tisdale has grossed over nine million views on her video. While many have been quick to attribute this success to her previous fame, her most recent videos would prove otherwise, with only two of Tisdale’s videos cracking over 300,000 views.

Here’s what this video reveal about Tisdale’s fans and how can you use that knowledge in advancing your own musical career.

1. Audience members love to reminisce.

The main reason the cover went viral is simply because of the girls’ history together. Even though their characters Sharpay and Gabriella never officially sang together during the High School Musical series, the film’s fans went crazy for the pairing, calling it the duet of their dreams.

While you may not be able to make your audience reminisce about your past exactly, throwback covers can often draw attention to your music and videos in a similar way.

Watch singer/songwriter Anna Clendening perform her own throwback cover of “How to Save a Life” here.

2. Viewers enjoy a laidback visual style.

It doesn’t take long to notice the soothing ambience of the video, and that’s part of what draws viewers in. Between the hanging tapestries, string lights, and the plush mattress on the floor, there’s a calming, sensual vibe between the girls, prompting viewers to interact with the video and comment on their chemistry.

The video’s style is similar to that of the ultra popular cover of “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” performed by Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande. In both cases, viewers seem to have latched onto the laidback style, which you can use in your next video to boost your music’s exposure.

Check out Cyrus’s video here.



3. Fans like to be “in the know.”

Despite the video’s focus on Tisdale and Hudgens, many fans came to get a glimpse of Tisdale’s husband Christopher French, who is seen playing guitar in the background of the video. It’s human nature to be a little curious, and Tisdale plays into her fan’s curiosity by letting them have a look into her personal life and giving her audience few minutes to see what her private interactions are really like.

If you can’t give fans a peek into your relationships, try other forms of intimate bonding with your audience through platforms such as Q&As.

Watch Tisdale and French perform their cover of “Still Into You” here.

Ashley Tisdale’s attempt to revamp her image through her cover was successfully boosted with a throwback, a calming background, and just a little bit of insight into her private life. Follow her tactics to make your own song go viral.

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Kelsey Leaman is a senior at American University in Washington D.C. studying Economics and International Studies. She is passionate about writing, Lemonade, and Michelle Obama.

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