Once in a while, someone rises from the depths of TikTok fame to capture the hearts of music fans across the world. Enter Benson Boone, the latest in a long line of social media stars turned recording artists, now gracing our airwaves with his soulful crooning. But while Boone might have the face of an angel and a voice that hits the right notes, something about his meteoric rise just feels… stale. Welcome to the stage, Benson Boone, your throne awaits as Hot Garbage’s Trash Artist of the Week.

The TikTok to Talent Pipeline

TikTok is a breeding ground for overnight celebrities, and Benson Boone fits the mold perfectly. He became a sensation by lip-syncing, singing covers, and generally doing what everyone else on the app is doing—except with an added dollop of the boy-next-door charm. His appearance on American Idol didn’t hurt either, but like many before him, Boone decided he didn’t need reality TV to make it big and dropped out of the competition. Bold move? Sure. But bold doesn’t always equal brilliance.

The issue with TikTok stars turning into musicians is that they often skip the artist development stage. One minute they’re syncing their lips to someone else’s music, and the next, they’re expected to create their own hits. Boone’s TikTok success felt like a fast-pass to fame, and while that may work for some, the cracks are already starting to show.

His Music Feels Like a Hallmark Card Set to a Sad Guitar

Benson Boone’s breakout single, “Ghost Town,” hit like an emotional gut punch—for about five minutes. With lyrics about heartbreak and moving on, it’s basically a song custom-made for Gen Zers to listen to while pretending they’re in a movie montage about their sad lives. The issue isn’t that Boone can’t sing. The guy has pipes, sure, but there’s a lack of depth that makes his songs feel more like greeting cards than genuine emotion.

“Ghost Town” is the kind of song you’d expect to hear while shopping for overpriced candles at a store that smells vaguely of lavender and regret. It’s all surface-level sorrow, but with none of the grit that makes heartbreak songs memorable. Boone’s music feels like it was created by a committee that Googled “How to Write Sad Boy Songs” and then slapped some light piano chords behind it.

The Personality of Dry Toast

Here’s the thing: pop stars are supposed to have a little sparkle, a little something that makes you think, Yeah, I get why people are obsessed with this person. But with Benson Boone? It’s like watching paint dry. Sure, he’s pretty, but his personality is as bland as unseasoned chicken. Boone gives off the vibe of someone who says “sorry” when people bump into him and signs his texts with “Best, Benson.”

Maybe we’ve been spoiled by pop stars who at least try to be interesting. Think about the wild antics of artists like Post Malone or the bold swagger of Billie Eilish. These are people who demand your attention, whether you like them or not. Benson Boone, on the other hand, seems content to be wallpaper—inoffensive, easy on the eyes, and utterly forgettable.

The Algorithm Made Him, and It Might Just Break Him

Let’s be honest: Benson Boone owes a huge chunk of his success to the TikTok algorithm. It’s no secret that TikTok has the power to catapult people into fame overnight. Boone’s music went viral because it fit neatly into TikTok’s niche of emotional, easily digestible content. His songs are perfect for 15-second clips set to sad, aesthetic videos. But here’s the thing about being an algorithmic darling: the same algorithm that made you can just as easily toss you aside.

Boone’s viral success feels like a house of cards waiting to collapse. His appeal is too dependent on TikTok trends, and we all know how quickly those change. Remember when sea shanties were a thing? Exactly. Boone’s music may be hot right now, but will anyone care about him in a year? Or will his fanbase move on to the next sad boy TikTok singer with a guitar and a well-lit bedroom?

The Future Looks Boring

The most frustrating thing about Benson Boone is that he has potential, but he’s wasting it on the most generic path imaginable. Instead of pushing boundaries or even attempting to show a shred of personality, he’s leaning into the safest version of himself. Boone seems content to ride the wave of TikTok fame as long as possible, all while giving us more of the same cookie-cutter ballads.

In an industry where standing out is the only way to survive, Boone is blending in, and that’s why his future feels so bleak. He has all the tools to be something bigger, but right now, he’s playing it so safe that he’s becoming a forgettable footnote in pop music. And if Boone doesn’t figure out how to inject some authenticity into his music soon, his moment in the spotlight is going to flicker out faster than his TikTok likes.

Conclusion: The Ghost of a Real Artist

Benson Boone may have started strong, but it’s clear that his 15 minutes of fame are on borrowed time. His music, while catchy in the most basic way, lacks the depth or uniqueness that makes an artist stick around for the long haul. At the end of the day, Boone is just another TikTok creation, manufactured by algorithms and tailor-made for short attention spans.

For all his talent, Benson Boone is a walking, talking example of how fast fame can come—and how quickly it can go. And that’s why, with a shrug and a sigh, we name him Hot Garbage’s Trash Artist of the Week. So, enjoy the spotlight while it lasts, Benson. Because if you keep playing it this safe, you’ll soon be haunting the ghost town of forgotten TikTok stars.