Before TikTok dances took over the planet, there was a man, his webcam and one incredibly catchy Romanian pop song that created one of the earliest viral videos to hit the internet.

Gary Brolsma, also known as the "Numa Numa Guy," was one of the internet's first-ever meme legends from a time when YouTube wasn't even a video-sharing platform with viral potential.

Armed with a grainy 2000s webcam and a tiny silver headphones and eyeglasses combo, Brolsma's lip-sync to O-Zone’s "Dragostea Din Tei" became an accidental masterpiece for more reasons than one.

In the 20 years since the video was first unleashed online, it's clear that Brolsma was one of the first in a series of people experiencing internet fame for the weirdest reasons.

Here's a recap of the iconic video and a look at what Gary Brolsma, better known as the Numa Numa Guy, is up to these days.

Who Is Gary Brolsma, Also Known As The Numa Numa Guy?

In December 2004, Gary Brolsma uploaded a video that would skyrocket him to internet infamy on Newgrounds, a site that was iconic for hosting Flash animations and indie content.

It was the "Numa Numa Dance," and it featured a chubby Brolsma gleefully lip-syncing and flailing along to O-Zone's "Dragostea Din Tei" while sitting at his computer.

Shot with a grainy, low-res webcam in his bedroom, a bespectacled Brolsma sang along to the song while pumping his fists at periodic intervals, all while delivering facial expressions so animated he looked like a human Looney Tunes character.

At its peak, the video earned over 8 million views on Newgrounds and (according to a U.K.-based ad agency) eventually 700 million across the internet.

Even the mainstream media lapped it up. Brolsma made one appearance on the Fox Morning Show, and his video even made it to VH1, where he beat the Star Wars Kid to reach #1 on the Top 40 "Internet Superstars" list.

But Brolsma wasn't ready for the fame. According to The New York Times, he became an "unwilling and embarrassed web celebrity," canceling appearances after getting overwhelmed. Family members said he spent weeks moping around the house, too overwhelmed to attend calls from journalists, and canceled an appearance on NBC's Today Show.

Why Did Gary Make A Video Set To The Numa Numa Song, And Where Was The Song From Anyway?

Fun fact: Brolsma once revealed he discovered "Dragostea Din Tei" through the Japanese Flash animation "Maiyahi" by an Albino Blacksheep user named "ikari."

The animation featured the "Numa Numa" song and the popular Shift JIS art cat Monā. Brolsma reportedly made the "Numa Numa" video for his group of friends but decided to post it online as a lark, not knowing that it would explode in popularity.

The "Numa Numa" song is better known as "Dragostea Din Tei," a Romanian pop song by the Moldovan group O-Zone, first released in 2003. Translating loosely to "Love from the Linden Tree," it's an energetic breakup anthem in which the singer pleads with his lover not to board a plane and leave him behind.

The track took over Europe before quietly worming its way into American pop culture, thanks largely to Brolsma’s viral video. The "Numa Numa" nickname comes from the song's earworm chorus, "nu mă nu mă iei," which sounds a lot like "Numa Numa yay!" when filtered through the ears of non-Romanian internet users in the mid-2000s.

What Was The "New Numa" Contest?

Brolsma may have dodged early attempts to capitalize on his vitality, but he reemerged in 2006 with "New Numa," a professionally shot sequel video featuring an original song by Variety Beats. But he wasn't just rehashing his old viral video — he was on the hunt for a new one.

In September 2006, he launched the "New Numa Contest," dangling a $45,000 prize pool to inspire a new wave of viral creators. First prize? A hefty $25,000.

The entries were a glorious hodgepodge of memes, green screens and questionable 2000s-era graphics. Ultimately, a University of Arkansas student named Keith Eddy won with a video titled "NewNuma.com 11197 Virus," a comedic short in which the "New Numa" song triggers a fictional computer virus outbreak.

The "New Numa Content" didn't replicate the viral magic of the original, but it proved Brolsma had a sense of humor about his fame and a genuine love for internet culture.

How Did Gary Brolsma Capitalize On His Internet Fame?

Gary Brolsma stayed camera-shy for years but still found ways to embrace his accidental stardom on his own terms.

In 2008, he cameoed in Weezer's internet-star-packed "Pork and Beans" music video alongside other memes like "Chocolate Rain" creator Tay Zonday.

In 2014, Brolsma posted "Numa Numa 10-Year Reunion" on Newgrounds, lip-syncing to pop hits like Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" and Katy Perry's "Roar." Although licensing issues led to the video being subsequently removed from Newgrounds, it's still live over on YouTube.

What Is the Numa Numa Video's Legacy?

"Numa Numa" has since become a permanent landmark in meme history. In 2022, Fortnite even dropped a "Numa Numa"-inspired emote, officially welcoming a newer, younger Gen Z audience to the meme.

Off-camera, Brolsma quietly built a creative career. In 2007, he teamed up with Lonelygirl15's Glenn Rubenstein and the Chad Vader duo for Canon's "Battle of the Viral Video Superstars."

Brolsma also made a surprise appearance in character during the 2008 South Park episode "Canada on Strike," with a paper cut-out version of himself doing his iconic Numa Numa dance alongside fellow early internet legend Tron Guy.

What Is Brolsma Up To Today, And Where Can I Find Him Online?

Gary Brolsma currently works in web design and makes music. He started with his debut album Weird Tempo, mixing quirky electronic beats with offbeat humor, and in 2019, he followed it up with the album Haunted House of Pancakes.

It's evident that music is Gary Brolsma's primary passion, and if this track he released with his friend and fellow meme legend Tay Zonday is any indication, making music is arguably something he's quite talented at.

In 2023, he even filmed a near shot-for-shot recreation of his original "Numa Numa Dance," showing off a striking new beard and proving that he's still got it 20 years down the line.

These days, you can find Gary Brolsma on his YouTube channel and on his Twitter / X account, @Gman250. It's cool to see that whether he's making songs or surprise comeback posts, Brolsma's still quietly embodying the original spirit of viral internet weirdness.

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For the full history of Numa Numa, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information. To see the rest of our "Where Are They Now" series, you can find them all here. Stay tuned for next week's editorial!

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