By Maricruz Salinas
Have you ever come across something so absurd, so weird and so creepy that it ultimately invaded your thoughts for the rest of the day and became infinitely awesome? If so, then let me know about it so that I can get this out of my head. Introducing one of the latest in the internet phenomenon popularity: Trololololololololololo
Warning: this beautifully not-sung musical number will either horrify you or trap you in its clutches. Most people will either close the video immediately and sigh in distaste or close the video immediately, sigh in distaste and ultimately let curiosity take over and take the plunge.
The now-legendary man lip-singing is named Edward Anatolevich Hill, a Russian singer who may or may not be the Russian version of David Bowie. The song Hill is “singing” is called “I Am So Happy to Finally Be Back Home,” a song meant to be sung exactly like this in 1970′s Russia. Apparently, the song was written by famous Russian composer Arkadii Ostrovskii, who wrote the song in the style of vokaliz. Vokaliz appears to be the art of singing without words, so basically anything unintelligible counts–A better example of vokaliz isn’t as obvious about it pantomime.
The epic level of creepiness is what makes this video so appealing. Hill’s uncanny and stiff posture makes the entire performance awkward and weird. It’s like you’re watching the really quiet kid in class finally come out of his shell and perform in the talent show and instead of the traditional ugly-duckling-turns-talented-swan scenario, the duck stays ugly. So ugly it’s fascinating and so memorable that it’s feels like a privilege to be a witness.
I’ve taken the liberty of posting the lyrics for those of you interested in showing off this beauty at karaoke night.
“I Am So Happy to Finally Be Back Home” by Arkadii Ostrovskii as interpreted by Edward Hill
Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh yuuuuuuuuu yuuuuuuuuu yuuuuuuu
Yeyeyeyeyeyeye
Ohohohohohohohohohoho
Yeyeyeyeyeyeye
Ohohohohohohohooooooooohooooooooo
Nanananananananana naaaaaa nanana naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa na na naaaaaaaaaaaa
Trololololololololololo
Ohohohohohohohohohoho lolololololololololololololol
AaaaEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Lololololololo lolololololololololo lololololololololo lolololololololololololololololololo
Ho ho ho ho ho!
Ha ha ha ha ha!
Ho ho ho ho ho!
Ha ha ha ha ha!
Olololololololololololololololololoolololololololololololololololololo
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATROLOLOLOLOLOLOLO
OlolololololoololololololololololoolololololololololololololololololoooooooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
A much more informative article about the origin of the Trololololololololololo video can be found at Justin E.H. Smith’s blog here.
Jimmy Kimmel on his show revealed the secret “Trololololololololololo” past of Christoph Waltz, the actor who recently won Best Supporting Actor for his role as the Jew-hunter Col. Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds. Apparently at one point in his career, Waltz performed the German equivalent entitled “Der Humpkin”.
Yes, it appears to be a parody. But it’s so endearing.
(UPDATE) Some crafty YouTubers have posted some good responses.

There is a difference between a meme and a viral video. What is it about this video that makes it a “meme”? From my understanding, this is merely a viral video that has been sent enough times to varying people around the internet to gain access to the real world and be parodied. From my understanding, a “meme” is a product that mutates over time due to varying people’s interactions (such as how the 300′s “This is Sparta!” line appeared all around on things that weren’t even related to the movie). It starts off as one thing and then evolves into another. Unless this original video has changed over time, then it isn’t right for you to call it meme.
One example would be the Christolph Waltz video he did on Jimmy Kimmel parodying it. Also there have been multiple reaction videos to it on youtube and different alterations to it (remixes, pairing it with other media like the movie “The Ring”).
You know what, Kit? You’re right. We’ll make the appropriate changes and thanks for helping us.