German MEP calls viral song by schoolgirls Russian propaganda tool
Nela Riehl has claimed that ‘Sigma Boy’ is being used to spread “pro-Russian worldviews”
A viral song by two Russian schoolgirls, which recently made it into Billboard’s top ten dance hits, has been branded a “Russian trope” used for spreading propaganda on social media by a member of the European Parliament for the Volt Germany party, Nela Riehl.
Riehl, a teacher-turned-politician from Hamburg, addressed the alleged dangers of the song ‘Sigma Boy’ during a session of parliament in December, but her claims did not receive public attention until earlier this week after she posted her speech on Instagram.
“’Sigma Boy’ is a viral Russian trope used on social media, which communicates patriarchal and pro-Russian worldviews,” Riehl claimed, addressing the parliament. She went on to explain that the song is popular with teenagers and is “only one example of Russian infiltration of popular discourse through social media.”
According to Riehl, “Russia has understood how to embed” its ideas into society, and is doing so by targeting young Ukrainians and changing “the stories Ukrainians are telling their own society” through influencers and viral tropes, such as ‘Sigma Boy’, apparently.
“Last week, Ukraine’s minister of culture pointed out to me that cultural heritage does not only include history books and also museums, but Ukrainian language, music and also current Ukrainian influencers. Russia targets this all,” she said, calling on the EU “to stand in strong support and target even these subtle infiltrations and falsifications.”
It is unclear what falsifications the MEP had in mind. During the same session, she also raised the question of how social media platforms affect young people, as they are where most of them gather information about a range of topics, including politics.
The viral Russian song “Sigma Boy” is about to be banned in Europe.
German politician Nela Riehl says that with the help of the song Russia has figured out how to introduce “patriarchal and pro-Russian worldviews” into society⬇️ pic.twitter.com/WvQghK5x2l
However, ‘Sigma Boy’ and politics could not be further from each other, as can be seen from the lyrics, included below. The song is about a teenage girl in love with a boy, and the girl’s not-so coherent thoughts on how to build their relationship. It does not address any political issues nor any values which could be considered pro-Russian.
Sigma, Sigma boy, Sigma boy, Sigma boy
Every girl wants to dance with you
Sigma, Sigma boy, Sigma boy, Sigma boy
I’m so cool, it’ll take you a year to make me yours
Betsy, Jared, babe like Leto, Betsy’s like the summer heat
So the sweet boy will be jumping and burning
Boy, get into my Bentley, get into my Beauty Box
You’re my Sigma Boy, but I want your tears, got it?
Sigma, Sigma boy, back on the table, I reach for a bank roll
I’ll buy all the Skittles, Snickers, then you’ll definitely be mine, boy
Sigma, Sigma boy, I’m the icon of your icons
They dream about me as if I were Bitcoin, got it!
Sigma, Sigma boy, but not mine, silently, like a mute,
Looking into nowhere, oh this look is fire
I will wait for years for you to get your act together
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 track was initially popular among elementary and middle schoolers, but later gained popularity among adults, and has since been featured in a number of meme videos.
Over the past two months, ‘Sigma Boy’ has gone viral on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where it has amassed over 63 million views. Earlier this month, it took the seventh spot in Billboard’s Hot Dance/Pop Songs category, outperforming tracks by heavyweights such as Katy Perry, Bon Jovi, and Kesha.
Riehl’s remarks have raised eyebrows online. While her comments section on Instagram is closed, reposts of her speech on X have so far resulted in users ridiculing the MEP. Some called her “dumb” and a “woke loser,” and her speech a “clown show.” One user suggested that German politicians should focus on what is happening in Germany, “where migrants are killing children,” rather than on children’s songs.
