‘Sigma Boy’ previously went viral on YouTube, TikTok and Shazam
A viral song by two Russian schoolgirls has made it into Billboard’s top ten dance hits, outperforming tracks by global music heavyweights such as Katy Perry, Bon Jovi, and Kesha. The song, ‘Sigma Boy’, took the seventh spot in the ‘Hot Dance/Pop Songs’ category on January 15.
The track was recorded by 11-year-old Svetlana Chertischeva, known as Betsy, and 12-year-old Maria Yankovskaya, two rising stars of Russian music. Released in November, the song quickly gained traction domestically before going viral on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
On YouTube alone, Sigma Boy has amassed 54 million views, as well as 3.8 million plays on Spotify. The song has also featured in meme videos, including one by Italian football club Atalanta, and was played during a hockey match in Prague.
Speaking to RT, Mikhail Chertischev, Betsy’s father and producer, expressed his surprise and pride at the song’s success on Billboard, saying both girls were “absolutely delighted” by the news. He noted, however, that being chosen by Billboard was unexpected, given the current geopolitical situation and anti-Russian sentiments in the West.
“An amazing story… unexpected for them. But I believe in the power of a song, if a song is talented, it has a great future despite all the restrictions,” he said. He added, however, that while Sigma Boy’s inclusion in the Billboard chart was remarkable, the girls value their online popularity even more.
“For the generation that grew up in the 1990s-2000s, getting into foreign music charts was a dream. But for the new generation, things like 1.5 million TikToks featuring their song or being on Shazam’s world top chart mean more than appearing on Billboard,” he said.
Svetlana also shared her thoughts with RT: “I was very happy. Seventh place in a global chart means a lot. But, truth to tell, I never followed Billboard, because teens are more interested in social networks like YouTube, TikTok, in Shazam. If we see big numbers there, that’s what means a lot to us.”
According to Chertischev, the success of ‘Sigma Boy’ highlights the evolving nature of global music trends. He said “there’s a misconception that songs need massive promotion and funds to succeed,” while at this stage, a song can gain more international popularity through social media with minimal investment.
