Back in 2023, a little-known song called “Hip to Be Square” by Huey Lewis and the News made a surprise comeback thanks to the internet. The song, which was originally released in 1986, gained popularity as the soundtrack to a series of memes featuring the titular character of the 2000 film American Psycho. The memes usually featured a clip of actor Christian Bale’s character Patrick Bateman dancing maniacally to the song, often with humorous captions superimposed over the footage.
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The Birth of a Meme
The origins of the American Psycho meme song are somewhat murky. Some say it started with a single tweet featuring the Bateman dance clip and the caption “When you finally finish all your assignments.” Others credit a Reddit post that went viral, or a TikTok video that gained traction on the app. Regardless of its origins, the meme quickly spread across social media platforms, with users creating their own versions of the Bateman dance to different songs and sharing them with their followers.
The Song’s Resurgence
As the American Psycho meme song grew in popularity, so too did interest in the original song by Huey Lewis and the News. Fans of the meme began seeking out the track on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, and the song’s streams and downloads skyrocketed as a result. The band even saw a bump in concert ticket sales, with fans eager to hear “Hip to Be Square” performed live.
The Backlash
Despite its initial popularity, the American Psycho meme song soon found itself at the center of controversy. Some critics argued that the meme was making light of mental illness, as Patrick Bateman is a character with severe sociopathic tendencies. Others felt that the meme was promoting toxic masculinity, as Bateman is depicted as a wealthy, successful businessman who revels in acts of extreme violence.
The Response
In response to the backlash, some social media users began creating their own versions of the American Psycho meme song that aimed to subvert the original message. These new memes featured Bateman dancing to songs with more socially conscious lyrics, or with captions that called attention to issues like income inequality and climate change. Others defended the meme, arguing that it was simply a lighthearted way to poke fun at an iconic film character.
The Fall of the Meme
Despite the efforts of its defenders, the American Psycho meme song eventually began to lose steam. As with all internet fads, the meme was eventually replaced by newer, fresher content. The song’s streams and downloads tapered off, and Huey Lewis and the News returned to relative obscurity. Today, the American Psycho meme song is remembered as a quirky footnote in internet culture, a brief moment of viral fame for a forgotten 80s pop hit.
The Legacy
Despite its relatively short lifespan, the American Psycho meme song left a lasting impact on internet culture. It showed how a single clip from a movie could inspire a viral trend that spread across the globe in a matter of days. It also demonstrated the power of nostalgia, as fans of the meme rediscovered and celebrated a song that had been largely forgotten for decades. And it highlighted the ongoing debate over the role of humor in social media, and how far is too far when it comes to joking about serious issues.
What do you think of the American Psycho meme song? Did you participate in the trend, or do you find it problematic? Let us know in the comments!
