Task - Viral Phenomena

Investigate something that has gone ‘viral’. This could be an internet sensation, a campaign in your field/discipline, a music video, your favourite meme, a hashtag that you have been involved with or one that you disagree with... anything at all that resonates with YOU, and covers some of the issues we have discussed

today.

Write a short analysis of your findings.

I chose to look into Ariana Grande's song Thank You Next as the music video has the world record for the most views within 24 hours. She managed this by hyping the video up a lot on social media and making the video very nostalgic by recreating scenes from popular female-driven movies made in the early 2000's whilst adding her own twist on it.

Means Girls

The video opens with a “Mean Girls”style montage of famous faces playing out the famous scene from the movie in which high schoolers take turns bragging about copying Regina George.

The next scene reveals Grande’s own Burn Book. There are pages for each of Grande’s ex-boyfriends, including Big Sean, Ricky Alvarez, and Pete Davidson except for the late Mac Miller, who left out presumably as a sign of respect.

They reenact Jingle Bell Rock at the talent show with Kris Jenner playing Amy Poehler’s mum recording the whole dance on video whilst dancing and cheering them on.

Grande’s “Victorious” co-star Elizabeth Gillies plays Cady Heron as Grande plays Regina George as they march down the hallway.

Bring It On

Another “Victorious” co-star Matt Bennett plays Cliff Pantone and Grande plays Torrance Shipman in the famous bathroom scene.

Colleen Ballinger makes a crossover from the “Mean Girls” to “Bring it On” as a pregnant cheerleader, wearing a uniform that says TUN, referencing the song’s title. And of course, the Clovers and Toros having it out.

13 Going on 30

Next, Grande represents Jennifer Garner’s character from “13 Going on 30". She manages to expertly sync the song lyrics “when I walk down the aisle holding hands with my mama” with the moment when Jenna walks away in tears from Mattie’s wedding clutching the dollhouse he made her. With a flurry of wishing dust, we’re transported to another great movie.

Legally Blonde

Now Grande plays Elle Woods, with her dog Toulouse playing Bruiser. Grande also makes a sneaky political reference as she reads a textbook titled “Immigration and Refugee Policy.”

Ariana posted 27 times on Instagram 99% of them being about the release of the video in the 15 day run up to the launch of the it. She dropped loads of hints about what the video would be about to get people interested and talking about it. She also did a mini countdown posting every hour to make sure people watched the video straight away. Grande would have also talked about the video on her Twitter, Facebook and other social media accounts.

Grande smashed the record set up BTS with 45.9 million views. Within 22 hours of the song being realised it had 46 million. By the end of the first 24 hours the song had a massive 55.4 million views.

https://variety.com/2018/music/news/every-pop-culture-reference-thank-u-next-video-1203067592/

https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/ariana-grande-thank-u-next-youtube-record-video-views-1203071119/