4 Songs That Will Hopefully Reach the Meme Levels of Toto’s “Africa”
I have a confession to make: I don’t share the strong affinity for Toto’s “Africa” that many seem to be really having as of late. In fact, I don’t care…
ANAHEIM, CA – JANUARY 25: Toto’s Steve Lukather celebrating Yamaha’s 125th Anniversary Live Around the World Dealer Concert performs at the Hyperion Theater on January 25, 2013 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Yamaha)
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesI have a confession to make: I don’t share the strong affinity for Toto’s “Africa” that many seem to be really having as of late. In fact, I don’t care for the song that much, period.
Now, before you reach for your torches and pitchforks, let me say this: After an in-depth conversation with my co-workers and some research as to how “Africa” has become less of a song and more of an Internet meme, I understand and respect why so many are drawn to the Toto hit.
In a piece from Vice’s Motherboard, Executive Digital Director Ben Lunt of London ad agency BMB said, “‘Africa’ crosses generations. There's a genuine nostalgia of people of my age, and a borrowed nostalgia of younger people. It has that tie-back to your childhood and that makes you feel safe.”
After reading those three sentences, everything made sense, in spite of my feelings on “Africa.”
With this in mind, this got me thinking about other songs that could possibly invoke such a response, and here are the four I’ve landed on.
Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock blogger that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.
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Mercury Records/Hulton Archive/Courtesy of Getty ImagesDef Leppard - “Animal”: It’s difficult not to feel joy when listening to Def Leppard’s Hysteria, so singling out one song from the album is almost unfair, but the song’s inherent longing and lustfulness can make anyone nostalgic of first loves.
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Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesForeigner - “Feels Like The First Time”: This Foreigner smash invokes the same feelings as “Animal,” minus the lust but adds to it the mind-blowing feeling of truly being in love for the first time and the comfort that it brings.
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Jack Kay/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesNeil Diamond - “Forever in Blue Jeans”: Like your favorite pair of jeans, there’s no denying the purity of this Neil Diamond classic. Similar to “Africa,” there’s a comforting build to this song that gives it a special kind of warmth.
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Ian Tyas/Keystone/Getty ImagesQueen - “Don’t Stop Me Now”: There’s perhaps no other song that conveys happiness and positivity than “Don’t Stop Me Now.” Think of how you felt during your high school and college years on a Saturday night when literally anything was possible.
