The Dua Lipa Dancing Meme, also known as Dua Lipa Dancing And Twisting, emerged from online mockery of singer Dua Lipa’s stage presence, specifically her hip-twisting dance during a performance of her hit song “One Kiss.” This seemingly simple dance move ignited a viral storm across platforms like Twitter and YouTube starting around November 2019, becoming a prominent example of internet meme culture and celebrity interaction with online humor.
Origin of the Dua Lipa Dance Meme
The genesis of the “Dua Lipa dancing meme” can be traced back to Dua Lipa’s performance at Lollapalooza Berlin on September 9th, 2018. During her rendition of “One Kiss,” her distinctive hip movements were captured and shared online. On October 11th, 2018, YouTube user RIPHashima uploaded a video clip from this performance, titled “Dua Lipa – One kiss ( Live At Lollapalooza Berlin 2018 ) by Arte Concert.” While this initial upload garnered a modest 12,600 views over five years, it laid the groundwork for the meme’s future explosion.
The dance truly entered the viral realm after Dua Lipa’s Jingle Ball Tour performance in Philadelphia on December 5th, 2018. The following day, December 6th, YouTube user @salvatorebellamo8410 posted a video titled “Blow You Mind & One Kiss & IDGAF & New Rules Dua Lipa@Wells Philadelphia 12/5/18,” showcasing the now-infamous dance moves. This video rapidly gained traction, amassing 1.3 million views and 10,000 likes within five years, signaling the dance’s breakout moment.
The online reaction to Dua Lipa’s dance was swift and often critical. On December 8th, 2018, Twitter user @ungodlyanele shared a video clip of Dua Lipa’s performance with a simple yet impactful caption: “What is this?” This tweet quickly resonated with online audiences, accumulating 5,900 likes and 1,700 retweets in four years, highlighting the initial wave of mockery and confusion surrounding her dance style.
The Meme Takes Off: Spread and Online Reactions
Approximately a year later, on November 28th, 2019, the Dua Lipa dancing meme experienced a significant resurgence. YouTube user @froggy3559 uploaded a video titled “Dua lipa dancing and twisting meme,” featuring footage from the Lollapalooza Berlin 2018 performance. This video became a catalyst for the meme’s widespread adoption, garnering 291,000 views and 1,400 likes in four years and solidifying the dance as a recurring internet joke.
The meme’s spread was further amplified by creative interpretations and parodies. For instance, a Twitter user @WrittenByDavid posted a video on February 19th, 2019, showing someone in a costume mimicking Dua Lipa’s distinctive dance. The tweet, captioned “SHE DID THE DUA LIPA ONE KISS DANCE SKSKSK I LOVE @lotionsideb,” received 1,563 likes and 318 retweets in four years, demonstrating how fans embraced and expanded upon the meme’s comedic potential.
Dua Lipa’s Response and Reclaiming the Meme
The viral meme phenomenon did not go unnoticed by Dua Lipa herself. In an interview with NPR, she openly discussed the impact of the online mockery on her mental health. She admitted that the meme made her question her abilities and worthiness as a musician, leading her to temporarily retreat from social media to cope with the negativity and jokes. This candid response revealed the personal toll that internet memes, even humorous ones, can take on public figures.
However, Dua Lipa’s story took a positive turn. Demonstrating resilience and a sense of humor, she reclaimed the narrative surrounding the meme. On March 4th, 2022, during a guest appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s The Tonight Show, she playfully recreated the infamous dance moves. The clip, uploaded to The Tonight Show‘s YouTube channel, titled “Dua Lipa on Reclaiming Her Viral Dance and Working with Elton John | The Tonight Show,” went viral itself, accumulating 3.4 million views and 44,000 likes in just one year. This act of self-deprecation and embrace of the meme transformed its perception, turning a source of mockery into a testament to Dua Lipa’s good humor and ability to connect with her audience on a human level.
Various Examples of the Dua Lipa Dancing Meme
The Dua Lipa dancing meme manifests in various forms across the internet. From GIFs capturing the repetitive hip-twisting motion to parody videos recreating the dance in humorous contexts, the meme’s adaptability is key to its longevity. Online users utilize these visual formats to express a range of reactions, often associating the dance with awkwardness or lack of coordination, but also with endearing charm due to Dua Lipa’s own embrace of the meme. The meme’s versatility ensures its continued presence in online conversations related to dance, pop culture, and internet humor.
In conclusion, the Dua Lipa dancing meme is a fascinating case study in internet culture. Originating from genuine dance moves during a performance, it was initially met with online ridicule. However, through its viral spread, creative adaptations, and ultimately Dua Lipa’s own reaction and reclamation, the meme evolved from a source of mockery into a symbol of internet humor and celebrity self-awareness. It highlights the complex relationship between artists, their performances, and the often unpredictable nature of online meme culture.
External References
[1] YouTube – Dua Lipa – One kiss ( Live At Lollapalooza Berlin 2018 ) by Arte Concert: https://youtu.be/6YGtoAK0VaY
[2] YouTube – Blow You Mind & One Kiss & IDGAF & New Rules Dua Lipa@Wells Philadelphia 12/5/18: https://youtu.be/IY2UQJhf6AE
[3] Twitter – ungodlyanele: https://twitter.com/ungodlyanele/status/1071291573055483904
[4] YouTube – Dua lipa dancing and twisting meme: https://youtu.be/ABp0Xtk4va4
[5] Twitter – WrittenByDavid: https://twitter.com/WrittenByDavid/status/1097862101291417600
[6] NPR – In Dua Lipa’s ever-expanding world, ‘there’s no time limit and there’s no what-ifs’: https://www.npr.org/2022/04/28/1094567222/in-dua-lipas-ever-expanding-world-theres-no-time-limit-and-theres-no-what-ifs?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_medium=social
[7] YouTube – Dua Lipa on Reclaiming Her Viral Dance and Working with Elton John | The Tonight Show: https://youtu.be/enW-fNTOnWM
