What Is That Melody? (Sigma)

About

What Is That Melody? is a quote from the Overwatch character Sigma, originally said in his 2019 "Origin Story." Although it first trended in memes on YouTube, the sound became increasingly viral on TikTok in late 2022, remixed into multiple Sigma edits and TikTok sounds. This predominantly happened in October 2022 when "What Is That Melody?" was remixed with a Playboi Carti song, the orchestral song "Hier encore" by Charles Aznavour and a Detroit rap beat produced by Energy Made This One used in songs like "Brace Yourself" and "Wack Jumper." Many TikTokers used the sounds to express humorous excitement over hearing a certain "melody" that was often not auditory but a setting, situation or concept.

Origin

On July 22nd, 2019, the official YouTube^[9] channel of PlayOverwatch uploaded a video that announced a "New Hero" coming soon named Sigma. The video was his "Origin Story." At the 1:22-minute mark, Sigma exclaims, "What is that melody?" in reference to his psychotic break that is a key factor in his character development. Over the course of three years, the video received roughly 10.2 million views (shown below, left). On July 24th, 2019, YouTuber^[10] b9njo became the first known creator to exploit the "What is that melody?" soundbite, gaining roughly 119,200 views in three years (shown below, right).

Spread

On July 27th, 2019, YouTuber^[11] Paradox Sol posted a video meme that played the "What is that melody?" sound before the Undertale song "Megalovania," gaining roughly 93,900 views in three years (shown below, left). On November 30th, YouTuber^[12] SageNine Music used the "What is that melody?" sound for a piano cover, gaining roughly 133,800 views in three years (shown below, right).

On TikTok / TikTok Sounds

On October 19th, 2022, TikToker^[13] marquariusjigglebottom referenced Sigma's "What is that melody?" quote in a video with text overlay reading, "When you're walking down the street and the random schizophrenic man that escaped the asylum and has been terrorizing the city screams 'WHAT IS THAT MELODY,'" gaining roughly 289,700 plays and 75,600 likes in 22 days (shown below, left). On October 20th, 2022, TikToker^[14] mudaemu posted a video that also referenced Sigma's quote, expressing how it was difficult to not say it when "Sigma ults." In three weeks, the video received roughly 498,100 plays and 93,200 likes (shown below, right).

Both aforementioned videos inspired the virality of "What is that melody?" TikTok sounds going into the remainder of October 2022.

"What Is That Melody?" x Playboi Carti's "Bando"

On October 28th, 2022, TikToker^[15] bucketjosh posted a skit that referenced the "What is that melody?" sound, remixing it with Playboi Carti's song "Bando."^[16] Over the course of 12 days, the video received roughly 3.7 million plays and 715,200 likes (shown below, left). The sound inspired viral usage. For instance, on October 30th, TikToker^[17] chiefvenom used the sound for a joke similar to the Babe Please Stop and Say the Line, Bart! formats, gaining roughly 1.5 million plays and 246,900 likes in 11 days (shown below, right).

"What Is That Melody?" x Charles Aznavour's "Hier encore" x Energy Made This One

On October 28th, 2022, TikToker^[1] raidenlucian posted a video that replied to a user comment asking them to make a Sigma Overwatch edit. On October 29th, 2022, TikToker^[2] raidenlucian posted another Sigma edit, responding to a user comment on the previous video that wanted them to add his notorious soundbite, "What is that melody?" Over the course of 12 days, the video received roughly 2.1 million plays and 162,800 likes (shown below).

TikToker raidenlucian's "What is that melody?" sound^[4] used two different songs. The first was the orchestral song "Hier encore" by Charles Aznavour (YouTube upload shown below, left). The second song was a hip-hop beat produced by Michigan producer Energy Made This One used in two main songs, one being “Wack Jumper” by GlockBoyz TeeJaee & OnFully feat. The Godfather & BandGang Lonnie Bands^[3] and the other being "Brace Yourself" by Zenorachi (YouTube upload shown below, right).

On October 30th, 2022, two creators used TikToker raidenlucian's sound,^[4] becoming the first known to do so. One was TikToker^[5] vtdmo who used it for a SpongeBob edit showing scenes from The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, specifically the "Goofy Goober Rock" scene. Over the course of 11 days, the video received roughly 175,600 plays and 32,300 likes (shown below, left). On the same day, TikToker^[6] axidikal used the sound to satirically portray what Christian moms do when they hear Playboi Carti earning roughly 461,700 plays and 91,700 likes in 11 days (shown below, right).

Continuing into November 2022, the TikTok sound achieved mainstream appeal as multiple creators used it in the same way as TikToker^[6] axidikal. For instance, on November 1st, 2022, TikToker^[7] bloodygutz777 used the sound to make a joke about people hearing a song in the car before Shazam was invented, gaining roughly 4.3 million plays and 979,900 likes in nine days (shown below, left). On November 9th, TikToker^[8] LeanBeefPatty used the sound to joke about the fitness community discovering phonk music, gaining roughly 4.4 million plays and 858,300 likes in one day (shown below, right).

By November 10th, 2022, the "WHAT IS THAT MELODY" sound^[4] had amassed roughly 58,600 videos using it.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References