7 days ago
Shaan Says His Viral Cuss Word Meme Changed How GenZ Sees Him: 'Even My Children's Friends…'
Shaan's viral Instagram Live during the pandemic made Gen Z remember him for a meme, not his music, as he recalls the unexpected moment.
News18
Back in the days of lockdown lives and endless scrolling, one moment from Shaan's Instagram session managed to break through the noise—though not in the way the singer expected. What was meant to be a casual interaction with fans turned into a viral meme that continues to follow him.
In conversation with Mashable India, the playback singer explained how the now-famous clip came to be. 'I was reading the comments, and I did not have my spectacles on. I did not know that people cuss others in the comments. When I was reading them out, one of them said, 'abey ey l***a'. Someone screen-recorded me reading it, and it became a meme."
The internet pounced on the clip, and suddenly Shaan found himself trending—though not for his voice. Instead, a generation knew him from a single moment on camera. 'That meme has now become my identity. Gen Z and young millennials don't know me as someone who sings; they only know me from the cuss word. Even my children's friends are surprised when they see me and say, oh hey, he's your dad? When they tell him, yeah, he's singer Shaan. They say no and show them the meme."
What really kicked off the meme was Shaan's reaction to trolls flooding his livestream with foul language. Disheartened by the tone, he addressed it head-on and said, 'Ye l****a bolna band karo yaar, kya hai ye? Tameez se baat karenge, gali vali mat do. That shows your true colours."
The moment got even more intense when someone in the comments questioned who he was. Shaan responded sharply. 'Ask your parents who I am, ask your teachers about me. I might have sung less, might be less popular, but I don't need to tell you who I am."
Shaan's songs span a wide range of emotions and genres, making him a versatile voice in Indian music. Known for heartfelt tracks like 'Tanha Dil" and romantic hits like 'Chand Sifarish", he's also delivered peppy numbers such as 'Dus Bahane" and feel-good anthems like 'Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh". Whether it's Bollywood playback, indie pop, or regional music, Shaan's smooth, expressive singing has made his songs timeless favourites across generations.
First Published:
July 17, 2025, 07:53 IST
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