"Sigma Boy" (Russian: "Сигма Бой") is a song by Russian bloggers 11-year-old Betsy and 12-year-old Maria Yankovskaya, released as a single by the record label Rhymes Music [ru] on 4 October 2024.[1] It became viral on TikTok and also charted on Spotify, YouTube, Shazam, Apple Music, and iTunes.[a] On Spotify, it topped the Viral 50 Global chart at some point.[b]
Background and release
Betsy has been recording songs for several years.[22] Notably, her "Simple Dimple Pop It Squish" ("Симпл Димпл Поп Ит Сквиш") was reported to have been popular in Asia.[23] Maria Yankovskaya is a blogger and a regular host at СTC Kids, a Russian children's TV channel.[c] On 19 October 2024, Betsy and Maria Yankovskaya received the STS 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 put the song on at full volume in public transport.[30] The song later became popular among Roblox players.[30]
Composition
With its simple lyrics and beat, the song has been described as falling under the definition of "brainrot". On YouTube, many comments joke about how the song is "annoying" and "irritating".[30]
The chorus translates to:
"Sigma, sigma boy, sigma boy, sigma boy
Every girl wants to dance with you
Sigma, sigma boy, sigma boy, sigma boy
I am so very special that it will take you a year to win me over."[31]
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]
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 1. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 1. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
