What if I told you that the version of the viral TikTok sound you’ve been using for your videos and watching other creators use is an AI version of the original Papaoutai by Stromae?
Stromae released Papaoutai in 2013, which is translated in English to mean “Dad, where are you?” It is a form of an ode to his dad, Pierre Rutare, who was killed in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. 
The Original Papaoutai
The music video of the original song showcases Stromae standing as a mannequin, symbolising his dad’s emotional unavailability.
According to Stromae in an interview done with NPR in 2014, he was angry for half his life at his dad, but singing Papaoutai somehow released him of the burden and anger.
“Actually, when I was a teenager, I was maybe a little bit angry. And until before I created the song, I was still a little bit angry, but I decided to have less [anger] about my father and just decided to say, ‘OK, I’m already 28, and I think I have to grow up. Because he’s not there anymore, and I think that I’m here, and I have to do my best for the next one; that’s all.”
Unfortunately, a lot of people who listen to and use this sound are unaware of the fact that it is an AI version.
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How To Identify The AI ‘Papaoutai’ Version
Papaoutai – Afro Soul Version, as it is titled, is credited to Chill77 and Unjaps, with copyright and publishing attributed to UnjapsAB. Uploaded on December 21, 2025, it has since amassed over 14 million Spotify streams.
The original version of the song by artist Stromae can be streamed on Spotify and everywhere you listen to your music.
Papaoutai by Stromae is the second French-language video to surpass 1 billion views after Dernière Danse by Indila.
This reimagination of the hit song speaks to AI and the future of music.
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