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Bongo Cat is an Internet meme that originated when a Twitter user created and tweeted a GIF of a white cat-like blob smacking a table with its two paws. The tweet was then replied to by another Twitter user with an edited version of the GIF including bongos hit to the tune of a Super Mario World track. The reply went viral and caused the GIF to be edited to many other songs.

History

The original Bongo Cat GIF originated on May 7, 2018, when an animated cat GIF made by Twitter user @StrayRogue was edited by @DitzyFlama, with the edit including bongos which were hit by the cat to the tune of "Athletic" from the Super Mario World soundtrack. The original artist clarified that Bongo Cat was a cat-like blob rather than an actual cat, showing a drawing of the character's full body in another tweet.

It has later been edited to many other songs and many different instruments in fan-made videos, appearing on social media such as YouTube and Twitter. The meme has covered many songs from video game soundtracks, such as music from Persona 5 and Super Mario, as well as mainstream songs such as Toto’s "Africa" and Darude’s "Sandstorm". After an increase in popularity, Stray Rogue began making and selling Bongo Cat merchandise. Bongo Cat also has been made into an interactive website.

In 2023, Bongo Cat's cover of "What Was I Made For?" by Billie Eilish was shared online. The cover went viral on TikTok and fans sang this version during Eilish's concerts in 2024.

Reception

Polygon and Uproxx both described Bongo Cat as the best meme of 2018. Ellen Scott of Metro also described Bongo Cat as bringing "happiness to all, even in the trashfire year that was 2018". The Daily Dot described it as the most earnest and wholesome meme of 2018. Reid McCarter of The A.V. Club and Megan Farokhmanesh of The Verge both praised the meme. Nicole Clark of Vice described the meme as "the only good thing on the internet."

Praised for its flexibility, Bongo Cat has also been compared to the keyboard cat meme.

References

1. ^ "Take A Break With This Cat Who Plays Your Favourite Tunes". Kotaku Australia. September 26, 2018. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
2. ^ Sung, Morgan (September 14, 2018). "The story behind Bongo Cat, the adorable music meme that's taking over Twitter". Mashable. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
3. ^ "The hot new thing is a cat just playing the drums, which is nice". The A.V. Club. 25 September 2018. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
4. "This Adorable Cat Mascot Thing Can Shred the Goddamn Drums". www.vice.com. 8 October 2018. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
5. ^ "Bongo Cat Reflects the internet's age-old love of kitties". The Daily Dot. December 18, 2018. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
6. "This Adorable Cat Mascot Thing Can Shred the Goddamn Drums". www.vice.com. 8 October 2018. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
7. Feldman, Brian (September 25, 2018). "The Bongo Cat Meme Is Our Light in the Darkness". Intelligencer. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
8. ^ Farokhmanesh, Megan (September 14, 2018). "All hail bongo cat". The Verge. Archived from the original on September 24, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
9. "Bongo Cat Reflects the internet's age-old love of kitties". The Daily Dot. December 18, 2018. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
10. "Billie Eilish Fans Are Meowing At Her Concerts Thanks To TikTok Trend". UPROXX. 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
11. "The Memes That Defined 2018 -- From 'Scared To Moan' To 'Bongo Cat'". December 27, 2018. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
12. Radulovic, Petrana (December 24, 2018). "The best warm and fuzzy memes of the year". Polygon. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
13. Scott, Ellen (December 29, 2018). "27 of the best cats of 2018". Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
14. "Here are the 70 dankest memes of 2018". The Daily Dot. January 12, 2018. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
15. "All Hail Bongo Cat, the Internet's Purest New Meme". www.vice.com. 26 September 2018. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2021.

External links

• Fictional cats
• Internet memes about cats
• Internet memes introduced in 2018
• 2018 in Internet culture