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TikTok is a dangerous platform where its account users are allowed to create fan videos of whatever they like - enhanced by the fact that users can choose the audio tracks, one of which happens to be Niki Zefanya’s version of Phil Collins’ You’ll Be in My Heart. Now, take her own rendition and pair it with scenes from one of Netflix’s latest South Korean series When Life Gives You Tangerines. The result? Other than more TikTok replays, you’ll get wayyyyyy more listeners on other social media channels and streaming platforms because these listeners would want to listen to the entire song over and over. Although Niki Zefanya had released it as a cover song in 2022 as part of Spotify Singles, Niki is only getting my attention now, especially because I live outside her homeland of Indonesia.

Niki, or Nicole by birth, made it to the top 50 Global list by Swedish audio-streaming platform Spotify, as more and more are increasingly starting to realise her voice, style, and roots. The top 50 Global List gives you a daily update on the most played tracks at present. Spotify Singles is an excellent avenue for musicians to reinvent their own creative works or honour others who have been in the industry by singing a cover song of their choice.

Making it her own, while retaining the original lyrics as per written in 1999 for the Disney movie Tarzan, the song is infused with the sounds of the Indonesian gamelan, while also having the drumbeats. As one would expect, she tailored the song to suit her voice, so it’s much softer and therefore goes hand in hand with a slice-of-life episodic series like When Life Gives You Tangerines, which centres on the relationship between Ae-sun and Gwan-sik and their journey as they navigate life on Jeju Island, despite hailing from difficult backgrounds and being targets of insensitive comments.

On Spotify, as of press time, the song sits on the 20th spot, beating hits by Tate McRae, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, and Chapell Roan.

Niki Zefanya, I feel, shines in this version during the song’s bridge:-

Don’t listen to them

‘cause what do they know

We need each other

To have and to hold

They’ll see in time, I know

The 26-year-old female record producer and singer-songwriter is born to a gospel singer, which is why Niki is blessed to be surrounded by music and she is particularly attracted to hip hop, pop and R&B. In 2020, Nicole was listed on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia.

Currently based in the US, Niki has covered Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Singapore during her Buzz World Tour (2024-2025) and other parts like Europe, North America and Australia, under her Nicole World Tour (2023-2024).

Niki had opened for American female singer-songwriter Taylor Swift when her Red Tour made a stop in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2014.

Phil Collins had originally written the song for his daughter Lily.