The Bad Times song behind the TikTok trend.
Every Bad Times trend video runs on the same sound: “BAD TIMES” by Imael Angel. If you have heard it under a dog pointing at the camera or someone losing it at the person filming, this is the track.
The basics
| Title | BAD TIMES |
| Artist | Imael Angel (independent) |
| Released | Spring 2026, self-released (Songfacts lists March 30, 2026) |
| Style | Deep house: a steady four-on-the-floor beat, a soft vocal and a build that drops into the hook |
| Went viral | September 2026, with the TikTok argument routine; AI remakes from October 2026 |
What the song is about
Without quoting it: the song is about getting through a rough stretch while keeping your sense of your own worth — the tough times of the title. On its own it’s calm, almost reflective. The trend flips that completely: creators lip-sync it as if every line were a furious accusation, and the contrast between the soft track and the explosive acting is a big part of the joke.
How the trend uses it
The routine lines up its biggest moves with the music: the finger at the lens as the vocal comes in, the hands on the head and the “hold on” through the build, and the lunge at the camera on the drop. That fixed timing is why the AI versions work so well — the original clip already contains every beat, so only the star needs to change.Here’s how to make one, with you, your dog or your cat.
Using the song in your video
The song belongs to its rights holders. On TikTok, Reels and Shorts, pick it from the app’s sound library, or post a video that already carries it, so the platform handles the licence. Don’t use it in ads or paid promotions without a licence. Videos made with our tool keep the original clip’s audio and are for personal sharing only.
Make my Bad Times video · $4.99 One photo · ready in 3–5 minutes · charged only when your video is ready
Quick answers
Who sings Bad Times on TikTok?
The trend sound is “BAD TIMES” by Imael Angel, an independent artist. It’s the track behind the viral one-take argument videos and their AI remakes.
When did Bad Times by Imael Angel come out?
It was self-released in spring 2026 (Songfacts lists March 30, 2026). It went largely unnoticed until TikTok creators paired it with the argument routine in September 2026.
Is the Bad Times song AI-generated?
It’s disputed. Some sites say AI music tools were used to produce it from lyrics the artist wrote; others describe it as human-made, and we haven’t found a statement from the artist. Treat any confident claim either way with caution.
Where can I find the lyrics?
We don’t publish them — the lyrics are copyrighted. Official streaming services that show lyrics are the best place to read them.
Bad Times AI is an independent tool inspired by the trend. It isn’t affiliated with the creator of the original video, Imael Angel or the song’s rights holders, TikTok, or anyone else connected to it. We don’t publish the song’s lyrics. Videos are for personal entertainment only — not a licensed product.