Nothing beats a New Orleans bounce remix—just ask TikTok. In December 2022, British airline Jet2 Holiday launched a commercial soundtracked by Jess Glynne’s 2015 dance-pop hit “Hold My Hand.” Fast forward to peak summer, and a viral TikTok trend had taken over, with users pairing the jingle with videos of vacation fails and later remixing it in different accents, dialects, and languages.
Among the standout remixes was one by Melody Smith, better known as YoGirlMel, who gave the tune a signature New Orleans bounce twist. Though she wasn’t initially familiar with Jet2, Mel recognized the trend’s momentum and jumped in with her own version. “[When I first started TikTok], I would put a bounce beat to anything trending, so people started looking for it,” the bounce artist told GU. Still, as a creator, she noted how trends can be fleeting and how followers often move on quickly.
This time, though, the moment stuck. Another TikToker had tried placing a bounce beat behind the Jet2 ad and encouraged Mel to add her voice to it. “You need to do it,” the user urged her. “I just freestyled something and it went crazy,” Mel said. Her bounce remix now has over 5 million views and 1.3 million likes. She followed it up with a second remix—this one surpassing 7 million views—and then a third, featuring fellow creator Motha Nola. Dressed in flight attendant outfits, the duo rapped their way through the Jet2 jingle. “I really didn’t think [the videos] would blow up like this,” Mel admitted.
Beyond the Jet2 remixes, Mel’s bounce career continues to gain traction. She began rapping with friends in high school in the early 2000s, recording mixtapes before stepping away from music for nearly a decade. The rise of TikTok in 2020 reignited her passion, and now her inbox is flooded with booking inquiries. “I just hope that this alone will bring so many more opportunities for me,” she said.