A new nostalgia number one has been crowned.
In 2007, Tony Soprano picked Don’t Stop Believin’ on a diner jukebox to close out the Sopranos and annointed America’s favorite drunken singalong song for the next decade. Journey rose from the ashes, a new frontman plucked from a Filipino Journey cover band found on YouTube. Rags-to-riches documentary, new tours (appearing with Def Leppard at a speedway near you this summer), etc.
The same year, the internet joined in. Rickrolling made Never Gonna Give You Up the first big musical meme.
But now, finally, the internet meme and Saturday night singalong belts have been united.
By a knockout, it’s Africa.
First came the a capella thunderstorm/Toto internet sensation.
Then came the meme that showed us what the world sounds like.
And Weezer on Jimmy Kimmel this week played it pretty straight and gave it another jolt.
So Africa reigns. As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti.