Podcast Summary
Meme Music: Meme music, such as 'Man in Finance' and the 'hamster dance,' have emerged as unexpected sources for chart-topping hits, demonstrating the power of internet culture in shaping music trends and the potential for individuals to make an impact without traditional musical training.
The internet has significantly impacted the music industry, with memes serving as unexpected sources for chart-topping hits. A recent example is the "Man in Finance" meme, which started as a catchy phrase sung by a TikTok user named Megan Boney (alias Girl on Couch). The simple, repetitive lyrics quickly gained popularity, leading to numerous remixes and eventually a record deal for Megan with several major labels. This event highlights the power of internet culture in shaping music trends and the potential for individuals to make an impact without traditional musical training. The history of meme music can be traced back to 1999 with the hamster dance meme, which featured a simple dance routine accompanied by a catchy tune. Since then, various memes have influenced the music industry, demonstrating the ever-evolving relationship between internet culture and pop music. This phenomenon challenges the traditional music industry model and emphasizes the importance of staying attuned to emerging trends in the digital world.
Internet memes and popular songs: Internet memes and popular songs can intertwine and become cultural phenomena, leaving a lasting impact on our memories. The hamster dance and 'Dragostea Din Tei' memes are examples of this, with each having a significant impact in their respective time periods.
The hamster dance was not only a popular song among elementary school children in the late 1990s but also one of the earliest internet memes. It originated from a web hosting service called Geocities, where people would open up a page with dancing hamsters to the song from Disney's animated movie Robin Hood. The humor in it came from the catchy beat and the chipmunk voice feature in the song. The hamster dance meme paved the way for EDM remixes, with groups like the Cuban Boys, Uncharted, and Boom Tag Boys creating popular versions. Fast forward to 2004, and a new meme emerged with Gary Bulsma's lip syncing video to the Moldovan pop group Ozone's song "Dragostea Din Tei." Both the hamster dance and this new meme were popular among children, with the hamster dance being used in a gymnastics coach's playlist. Despite the coach knowing the song well, she had never seen the hamster dance video, while the new meme with Gary Bulsma was a video that many people would remember. These examples show how popular songs and memes can intertwine and become cultural phenomena, leaving a lasting impact on our memories.
Internet and Music: The internet has enabled the rapid spread of memes and their incorporation into mainstream music, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two.
The internet played a significant role in the creation and popularization of memes and music, often blurring the lines between the two. An early example of this is the 2004 viral video of the "Numa Numa Dance" by Gary Busey, which became a meme and later inspired the hook of T.I.'s 2008 song "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna. The video, which was popular on websites like New Grounds and YouTube, showcased Busey dancing to the Moldovan pop song "Dragostea Din Tei." Although Busey was not credited in the songwriting, the meme's popularity likely influenced the sampling of the song. This is an early example of the internet feedback loop, where internet culture influences mainstream music. The line between memes and hooks can be blurry, and it's interesting to consider if a meme from four years ago would still resonate enough to be used in a pop song today. The use of old melodies and hooks in music is not a new phenomenon, with examples such as Michael Jackson's "Mama Se, Mama Sa, Mama Coo Sa" being used in various songs over the years. Overall, the internet has enabled the rapid spread of memes and the incorporation of these memes into mainstream music, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two.
Memes and Hit Songs: Artists like Lil Nas X are intentionally creating content that resonates with viral trends, transforming memes into global hit songs through strategic use of social media platforms like TikTok
The line between memes and hit songs is becoming increasingly blurred, with artists like Lil Nas X intentionally creating content that resonates with viral trends. The murder case discussion and the rise of Old Town Road in 2019 serve as compelling examples of this phenomenon. In the first instance, the investigation into a crime remains stalled due to public suspicion towards the victim's brother. Meanwhile, in the world of pop music, Lil Nas X capitalizes on the viral potential of a meme, transforming a song inspired by a video game into a global sensation. By leveraging social media platforms like TikTok, Lil Nas X strategically crafted his music to be easily meme-able, leading to Old Town Road's record-breaking run on the Billboard Top 100. This trend of memes driving hit songs is a significant shift in the music industry, with artists increasingly focusing on virality and audio-visual pairings to create memorable and shareable content.
TikTok and Music Industry: TikTok is a valuable platform for artists to find audiences and connect with new listeners, with established artists like Taylor Swift recognizing its importance despite debates on its impact on the depth of music art form.
TikTok has become an essential platform for artists of all levels to find audiences and connect with new listeners. Even established artists like Taylor Swift have returned to the platform, recognizing its importance. While some argue that using TikTok as a primary source for music consumption may limit the depth and richness of the art form, others see it as a creative challenge and a potential source of inspiration. As the music industry continues to evolve, artists are learning to navigate the platform's viral nature and focus on building sustainable fanbases rather than relying solely on viral moments. The future of music on TikTok remains to be seen, but it's clear that the platform is here to stay and will continue to shape the music industry in new and interesting ways.
Music virality on social media: Predicting what will go viral in music on social media is unpredictable, as demonstrated by the unexpected success of a TikTok creator's version of a song over a label's remix. Embrace the quirks and absurdities of the internet for potential viral success.
Predicting what will go viral in music, especially on social media platforms like TikTok, is unpredictable. The success of a particular song or version can be surprising, as demonstrated by the unexpected popularity of a TikTok creator named Vandalux's version of a song, despite a label releasing a remix on streaming platforms. This illustrates the disconnect between the music industry and internet culture, as sometimes the version that gets the rights may not be the one that resonates with audiences. The conversation also touched upon the fleeting nature of viral trends and the importance of embracing the quirks and absurdities of the internet. If you have any favorite internet meme songs that weren't discussed in the podcast, feel free to email the team at endlessthread@wbr.org. They might just create a Spotify playlist featuring your suggestions!