Album Success: Doi's song "Anxiety" from the album Alligator Bites Never Heal became a smash hit, with the album winning the best rap album in 2025.
Viral Success: "Anxiety" gained significant popularity through platforms like TikTok but has since become overplayed, losing its initial charm.
Song Analysis
Earworm Nature: Initially captivating, the song became tiresome due to excessive play.
Sampling: The track samples "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gautier, a popular song from the early 2010s.
Replacement Pattern: The track often misleads listeners expecting "Somebody That I Used to Know," creating a sense of betrayal similar to other songs like "Ice Ice Baby."
Cultural Context
Parallel with Gautier's Song: Similar to "Anxiety," "Somebody That I Used to Know" faced backlash for being overplayed despite its originality.
Ironic Nostalgia: There's potential for "Anxiety" to gain appreciation in the future, following the same trajectory as Gautier's song.
Meme Culture: "Somebody That I Used to Know" became a part of internet meme culture, enhancing its legacy.
Insight
Doi's Achievement: Despite the backlash, Doi's work on the album is commendable, particularly for creatively sampling classics.
Listener Reaction: The song's overexposure on social media has led it to ironically induce anxiety, demonstrating the potential downside of viral fame.
Conclusion
Irony of Success: "Anxiety" exemplifies how a song's popularity can lead to it being overplayed and eventually disliked.
Future Appreciation: There's potential for the song to be re-evaluated positively in the future, as was the case with Gautier's most famous track.
Engagement
Audience Interaction: The author asks for feedback on which meme to explore next in their series, encouraging audience interaction.