So, if you’ve spent more than five minutes on TikTok lately, you’ve probably seen the clip. You know the one. JoJo Siwa, decked out in her post-Karma "bad girl" aesthetic, belt-screaming the lyrics to Olivia Rodrigo’s "traitor." It’s become one of those internet artifacts that people can't seem to look away from, like a car crash made of glitter and leather.
But honestly, the conversation around jojo siwa singing traitor is kind of a mess.
People are either making fun of the vocal technique or acting like she just discovered the song yesterday. In reality, this wasn't some random karaoke night gone wrong. It was a very calculated, very JoJo moment that says a lot about where she is in her career right now.
The Performance Everyone Is Talking About
Let’s get the details straight first. This isn't just about one video; it's about a specific vibe JoJo has been chasing. The most famous instance of jojo siwa singing traitor happened during a live rehearsal/performance snippet where she leaned heavily into a raspy, rock-inspired vocal delivery.
She wasn't trying to be Olivia. She was trying to be "Rock Star JoJo."
The internet, being the internet, immediately lost its mind. Critics jumped on the "strained" vocals, while fans defended it as raw emotion. If you listen to the original Sour track, Olivia Rodrigo uses this airy, devastatingly quiet whisper-tone. JoJo did the exact opposite. She went for the throat—literally. It was loud, it was aggressive, and it was undeniably polarizing.
Wait. Let’s look at why she even chose this song.
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"traitor" is about a very specific kind of betrayal—the kind where someone didn't technically cheat, but they might as well have. For a girl who has grown up in the public eye, dealing with public breakups (remember the Avery Cyrus or Kylie Prew eras?), the lyrics actually fit her brand of "honesty."
Why the Internet Can't Stop Memeing It
Social media loves a "cringe" moment. It’s the fuel that keeps the servers running. When the clip of jojo siwa singing traitor hit the FYP, it wasn't just about the music. It was the juxtaposition of the girl we remember in giant hair bows singing about "Boomerang" now trying to channel the angst of a 20-something heartbreak anthem.
The comments sections were brutal:
- "My ears are a traitor for listening to this."
- "She’s singing like the rent is due and she’s $500 short."
- "It’s giving Glee club but if the Glee club was in a mosh pit."
But here's the thing: JoJo knows. She’s not oblivious. She has built an entire career on being the loudest person in the room. Whether you love the cover or hate it, you watched it. And in the 2026 attention economy, that’s a win.
The "Raspy" Era and Vocal Evolution
If you’ve heard her recent single "Raspy," you know that JoJo is leaning into the criticisms. She’s literally naming songs after the things people make fun of her for. Singing "traitor" with that gravelly, almost forced-sounding grit was a precursor to this new musical direction.
Vocally, what’s happening?
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When jojo siwa singing traitor, she’s using a technique that vocal coaches often call "constricted" or "pressed." It’s that sound where it feels like the air is being squeezed out. Is it healthy for the vocal cords? Probably not in the long run. Does it create a dramatic effect for a 15-second TikTok? Absolutely.
It’s a massive departure from her Nickelodeon days. Back then, everything was pitch-corrected to high heaven and sung in a bright, nasal "theatre kid" register. Now, she’s trying to prove she has "edge." The "traitor" cover was basically her audition for being taken seriously as a grown-up artist, even if the execution left people divided.
What This Says About JoJo's Rebrand
We have to talk about the Olivia Rodrigo connection. Olivia is the gold standard for Gen Z pop-rock. By covering her, JoJo is trying to plant a flag in that same territory. She wants to move from "child star" to "pop disruptor."
But there's a disconnect.
Olivia's brand is built on vulnerability and relatability. JoJo's brand is built on performance and spectacle. When you combine the two in a song like "traitor," it can feel a bit performative. It’s like watching a Broadway star try to do a grunge cover—the talent is there, but the "vibe" feels slightly manufactured.
The Impact of the Cover
Despite the jokes, the jojo siwa singing traitor moment did a few things for her:
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- Relevancy: It kept her in the trending topics for weeks.
- Demographic Shift: It signaled to her older audience that she’s done with the "glitter and rainbows" phase.
- Meme Status: It solidified her as a "camp" icon. People aren't just watching her because they like the music; they’re watching because they want to see what she does next.
Is It Actually Good?
"Good" is subjective. If you’re a fan of technical vocal perfection, you probably hated it. If you like "messy" pop culture moments that feel human and weird, you probably found it fascinating.
JoJo isn't trying to be the best singer in the world. She’s trying to be the most talked-about person in the world. In that sense, her rendition of "traitor" was a masterpiece. It provoked a reaction. It sparked a thousand "stitch" videos. It made people talk about her vocal range (or lack thereof) for three straight days.
Most artists would kill for that kind of engagement.
Actionable Takeaways for Navigating the JoJo Discourse
If you’re trying to keep up with the ever-changing world of JoJo Siwa and her viral covers, here is how to look at it through a more "expert" lens:
- Watch the "Raspy" Connection: Don't view the "traitor" cover in a vacuum. Listen to her original tracks like "Karma" or "Raspy" right after. You’ll see that the "traitor" performance was actually a style rehearsal for her current sound.
- Look for the Satire: JoJo is increasingly leaning into self-parody. Before you assume she thinks she’s the next Celine Dion, consider that she might be "in on the joke" more than she lets on.
- Study the Rebrand: Use this as a case study in how child stars attempt to pivot. It’s rarely a smooth transition—it’s usually loud, clunky, and controversial.
- Check the Live Dates: If you really want to see if she can handle these vocals, look for raw concert footage from 2025 and 2026. Studio recordings and TikTok clips are edited; the stage is where the truth comes out.
The next time you see a clip of jojo siwa singing traitor, don't just cringe and scroll. Look at the lighting, the outfit, and the specific way she’s pushing her voice. It’s not a mistake; it’s a manifesto. Whether we like the new JoJo or not, she’s making sure we can’t look away.
Keep an eye on her upcoming festival circuit appearances—that's where we'll see if this vocal style is a permanent fixture or just a passing viral experiment.