Overview
Haley Sharpe’s choreography to Doja Cat’s “Say So” became the dance that launched a song to #1—a watershed moment proving TikTok’s power to drive mainstream chart success. The disco-inspired routine turned a 2019 album track into 2020’s breakout hit.
The Choreography
Created by 22-year-old Haley Sharpe (@yodelinghaley) in February 2020, the routine featured playful, retro-inspired moves matching “Say So“‘s disco-funk vibe: finger guns, hip sways, shoulder rolls, and the signature “telephone” gesture. The choreography’s charm was its fun accessibility—not technically demanding, but personality-driven.
Sharpe’s version went viral (5M+ likes), spawning millions of recreations. Celebrities including Lizzo, Camila Cabello, and Jennifer Lopez joined, while Doja Cat herself performed Sharpe’s choreography in the official music video—crediting her by name.
Chart Impact
“Say So” was released in November 2019 as a Hot Pink album track, receiving modest attention. After the TikTok dance exploded (March-April 2020), the song:
- Climbed to #1 on Billboard Hot 100 (May 2020)
- Generated 500M+ TikTok video creations
- Earned Doja Cat her first #1 hit
- Proved TikTok could manufacture hits without radio
This was the clearest demonstration yet of TikTok’s music industry influence, more direct than “Old Town Road” (which used TikTok among other platforms). Labels began strategically seeding choreography on TikTok to boost catalog tracks.
Credit & Compensation
Unlike Jalaiah Harmon’s Renegade erasure, Doja Cat and her team immediately credited Sharpe, inviting her to the music video shoot and acknowledging her contribution publicly. This became a model for ethical choreographer attribution—though questions about financial compensation remained unanswered.
Sharpe parlayed the viral moment into professional opportunities (dancing for Doja Cat on SNL, choreography work), but the debate over whether viral choreographers deserve royalties persisted.
Legacy
“Say So” established the template for TikTok music marketing: catchy 15-30 second hook + accessible choreography + creator credit = chart success. Songs like “Levitating” (Dua Lipa), “Blinding Lights” (The Weeknd), and “Savage” (Megan Thee Stallion) would follow this formula.
The dance’s success shifted music industry A&R priorities toward TikTok-friendly songs and accelerated the platform’s transformation into the primary music discovery engine for Gen Z.
Sources
- Billboard “How TikTok’s ‘Say So’ Dance Sent Doja Cat to No. 1” (May 2020)
- Rolling Stone “Doja Cat Credits TikTok Choreographer in ‘Say So’ Video” (March 2020)
- Variety “TikTok’s Influence on the Music Industry” (June 2020)