Why Is Tinashe’s ‘Nasty’ Going Viral?
The human mind is a feeble organ. One day your brain is functioning normally, and the next all it can do is replay “that’s that me espresso” on a loop. Currently No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, Sabrina Carpenter’s sugarplum disco single is a top contender for song of the summer. But lo and behold, there may be a competitor on the horizon. I’m talking about Tinashe’s “Nasty,” which is rocketing up Spotify’s viral charts thanks to a meme.
Tinashe released “Nasty” last month as the lead single to her upcoming album BB/Ang3l Pt. 2 — Quantum Baby. But it didn’t really pop off until a few weeks later, when an X user reposted a 2023 TikTok of a bespectacled British dancer named Nate, who uses the handle @nates.vibe. In the initial video, Nate is getting, well, nasty, with his instructor to soca music, impressively limber as he winds, grinds, and wags his tongue. In the memed version of the video, the original audio has been replaced with “Nasty.”
good morning ???? pic.twitter.com/nWBrGJK0kJ
— ???????????????? (@grruessome) April 27, 2024
Of course it went viral. “Nerdy white boy with surprise flavor” is one of the internet’s favorite demographic categories. People love when a guy who looks like a T-Mobile customer-service employee reveals that he’s got a little rhythm in his bones. He’s also just an impressive dancer. How many people can twerk in five-inch heels?
Like his fellow countryman Adele, Nate appears to be fond of Caribbean culture — he posted the dance after going all out for Carnival. On his page, he also can be found booty popping and finger-biting to music from other parts of the globe, from reggaeton to African pop. Tinashe has posted several replies of herself dancing on top of the original video, copying both his style — white T-shirt, joggers, glasses — and his freaky moves. Nate has also reacted to Tinashe’s response with the self-aware hashtag #nastywhiteboy. It’s getting a little out of hand here, but the pop star is criminally underrated and hasn’t had a Billboard hit in eight years. Anything to get Tinashe her flowers.
https://t.co/ISa73ngI0Q pic.twitter.com/nly89ZskXE
— RK Jackson | Atlanta ???? (@theerkj) May 16, 2024
Sims Nashe doing the viral nasty dance pic.twitter.com/FVQqiOcRWt
— mai✨ (@original_miyah) May 17, 2024
turning up on a wednesday night because why not pic.twitter.com/gggpbQl9Ne
— homosexual court jester (@sweatpantspapi) May 16, 2024
tinashe is trending. STREAM NASTY Y'ALLpic.twitter.com/0A54MD7L3h
— ࣪ (@tlnashex) May 10, 2024
this is for NEEDS! this is for NATURALLY! this is for X! this is for SAVE ROOM FOR US! this is for THE WORST IN ME! this is for PASADENA! this is for COMPANY! this is for PERFECT CRIME! https://t.co/KmLrhbndEB pic.twitter.com/JvuJPvm87E
— daniel. ???? (@dejavu405) May 15, 2024
I love that Tinashe “Nasty” is having this viral moment ???? these videos be so funny pic.twitter.com/ESdGGqf6y4
— Dante (@AllThingsDante) May 13, 2024
is SOMEBODY gonna match MY FREAK? pic.twitter.com/S7UfQu8LT1
— Boo Barrymore (@BooBarrymore) May 13, 2024
Tinashe’s Nasty going full stop viral across social media I’ve prayed for times like these pic.twitter.com/svB6j7uUeg
— shyguy (@phillymapper) May 12, 2024
— discredux (@discredux) May 9, 2024
Girl not Nasty transcending generations djdndndndn ???? pic.twitter.com/f7N2S9yoiv
— ³³³ ʚɞ (@LuxxTheeICON) April 21, 2024
Waiting for tinashe to release nasty girl pic.twitter.com/hlI8LF3oZq
— kaysey (@gwskays) March 25, 2024
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