I'd say this is PARTLY true, there's a difference between popular and trendy. Trending songs tend to be less unique. If you look at the most popular songs of all TIME, like lovely by Billie Eillish... Riptide by Vance Joy... Viva La Vida by Coldplay... those songs sound much more beautiful and meaningful and touch your soul more :) TRENDY songs like Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter and BIRDS OF A FEATHER by Billie Eillish aren't as good, that's why they fall off faster.
Trendy songs don't have as good lyrics either. Espresso is a good example, it sounds good but the lyrics are about something pretty stupid.
I guess the more passion and originality you put into a song, the better it'll do in the long run