"Sigma Boy" (Russian: "Сигма Бой") is a song by Russian bloggers 11-year-old Betsy and 12-year-old Maria Iankovskaia, released as a single by the record label Rhymes Music [ru] on 4 October 2024.[1] It became viral on TikTok and charted on Spotify, YouTube, Shazam, Apple Music, and iTunes.[a] On Spotify, it topped the Viral 50 Global chart. It is known to be a popular meme amongst Generation Alpha.
Betsy had been recording songs for several years.[22] Notably, her "Simple Dimple Pop It Squish" ("Симпл Димпл Поп Ит Сквиш") was popular in Asia.[23] Maria Iankovskaia is a blogger and a regular host at СTC Kids, a Russian children's TV channel.[c] On 19 October 2024, Betsy and Maria received the CTC Kids' SuperLikeShow award in the "Super Trend" category. They also performed their song "Sigma Boy" on stage during the award ceremony.[26]
The song was written by Betsy's father, composer Mikhail Chertishchev [ru],[2] in collaboration with rock singer Mukka [ru],[27] most notable for the song "Girl with a Bob Haircut" (Russian: "Девочка с каре").[28] According to Chertishchev, when writing songs, they come to him spontaneously and do not initially "have any meaning". He records them on a dictaphone and later evaluates their "virality".[29]
The song's success is credited to TikTok's "word-of-mouth". Notably, German TikToker Streichbruder started a trend in which he would play the song at full volume in public transport.[30]
The song has been described by some as "brain rot", due to its lyrics being seen as "nonsensical" because of its use of the term "sigma".[30]
According to Betsy, the song's meaning is "the idea is that Masha and I are so cool, and the Sigma Boy is trying to win us over, and we are trying to win him over too".[27][29] She has also explained that "the Sigma Boy is a very self-confident boy who doesn't need anyone. At the same time, all the girls fall in love with him."[d]
Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation have condemned the song, describing it as a "weapon of Moscow's information warfare" and part of Russia's efforts to "cement its narratives and cultural influence".[33] Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the criticism on the Song, calling such remarks "madness" and "clinical Russophobia".[34]
Ultra-conservative Russian Orthodox movement Sorok Sorokov has accused its creators of sexualizing children and urged the Russian Prosecutor General's Office to investigate. Songwriter Chertishchev has dismissed the allegations.[33]
- Alpha and beta male § Sigma male
- "Sigma Boy" (official audio) on YouTube
