Salvador Sobral, the Portuguese singer who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017, became an internet sensation overnight. His performance of “Amar Pelos Dois” touched hearts all around the world and his quirky personality made him an instant favorite among Eurovision fans. However, with fame comes scrutiny, and in Sobral’s case, it came in the form of memes.

The Birth of the Memes

It all started with a simple GIF of Sobral’s reaction to a technical malfunction during his Eurovision performance. The GIF quickly went viral, and soon, people were creating memes based on Sobral’s facial expressions and mannerisms. Some were harmless jokes, while others were more mean-spirited.

“I remember seeing the memes and feeling both amused and uncomfortable,” said Ana Silva, a Portuguese fan of Sobral. “On one hand, it was cool to see Salvador getting so much attention. On the other hand, some of the memes were really disrespectful.”

The Height of the Meme Craze

For a while, it seemed like Sobral couldn’t escape the memes. They were everywhere – on social media, in news articles, and even on merchandise. Some Eurovision fans embraced the memes, seeing them as a fun way to celebrate Sobral’s quirky personality. Others, however, grew tired of them and felt that they were detracting from Sobral’s musical talent.

“I think the memes were funny at first, but then they got old really fast,” said Maria Lopez, a Spanish fan of Sobral. “I felt like people were more interested in making jokes about him than actually listening to his music.”

The Backlash

As the meme craze continued, Sobral himself began to speak out against it. In interviews, he expressed frustration with the way he was being portrayed online and urged his fans to focus on his music instead of his image.

“I am a musician, not a meme,” Sobral said in a 2018 interview with Portuguese newspaper Expresso. “I don’t want people to remember me for silly jokes.”

Some fans took Sobral’s words to heart and began to speak out against the memes on social media. They argued that the memes were disrespectful and that they were overshadowing Sobral’s musical talent.

The Fall of the Memes

Gradually, the meme craze died down. People moved on to other internet trends, and Sobral’s image was no longer plastered all over social media. However, the impact of the memes lingered.

“I think the memes helped to bring attention to Salvador’s music, but they also hurt his image in a way,” said Lopez. “People started to see him as a joke instead of a serious artist.”

The Legacy of the Memes

Years later, the memes are still a topic of conversation among Eurovision fans. Some see them as a harmless part of Sobral’s legacy, while others view them as a negative influence on his career.

“I think the memes were a double-edged sword,” said Silva. “They helped to make Salvador famous, but they also made it harder for people to take him seriously as a musician.”

Regardless of how one feels about the memes, there’s no denying that they played a significant role in Sobral’s rise to fame. Love them or hate them, they’re a part of his story.