Nyan Cat: The Musical Phenomenon of the Century

Nyan Cat appeared on Youtube in April 2011 and almost instantly won the hearts of millions. The song was unremarkable Japanese pop, made using Vocaloid software until the adorable rainbow making pop tart cat propelled the song to fame.
So why am I calling Nyan Cat "The Musical Phenomenon of the Century?"
Well firstly, because I like hyperbole and secondly, because Nyan Cat is extremely culturally significant. The internet is the largest culture in the world and Nyan Cat took it by storm.



Remixes for all genres have been made for Nyan Cat's song. T-shirts have been made. Tons of fan art is being drawn and posted now, a year since its birth. There are even Nyan Cat games for the iPhone. Nyan Cat is not just another internet meme that dies after a few days. Nyan Cat has become a beloved character, the internet's version of Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny and its song has become our Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or Happy Birthday. Every citizen of the net knows it.



The internet is more than a communication device. It's a culture, it's a world. Calling Nyan Cat significant to music will seem silly until it is looked at that way. In our world, the world of the net, this little pixel pop tart cat is a star. Our star. Is its impact and importance really any less than the stars and cultural trends of the real world?