Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 3, 2026

Sigma Boy

"Sigma Boy" is a song by Russian bloggers and singers Betsy and Maria Iankovskaia, released as a single by the record label Rhymes Music on 4 October 2024. It became viral on TikTok and charted on Spotify, YouTube, Shazam, Apple Music, and iTunes. On Spotify, it topped the Viral 50 Global chart. It is known to be a popular meme amongst Generation Alpha.

Last revised
Jul 3, 2026
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"Sigma Boy"
Single by Betsy and Maria Iankovskaia
LanguageRussian
Released4 October 2024
Genre
Length2:14
SongwriterMikhail Chertishchev
Music video
"Sigma Boy" on YouTube

"Sigma Boy" (Russian: "Сигма Бой") is a song by Russian bloggers and singers Betsy and Maria Iankovskaia, released as a single by the record label Rhymes Music on 4 October 2024.1 It became viral on TikTok and charted on Spotify, YouTube, Shazam, Apple Music, and iTunes.a On Spotify, it topped the Viral 50 Global chart.b It is known to be a popular meme amongst Generation Alpha.

Background and release

Betsy had been recording songs for several years.22 Notably, her "Simple Dimple Pop It Squish" ("Симпл Димпл Поп Ит Сквиш") was popular in Asia.23 Maria Iankovskaia is a blogger and a regular host at СTC Kids, a Russian children's TV channel.c On 19 October 2024, Betsy and Maria received the CTC 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,2 in collaboration with rock singer Mukka,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 would play the song at full volume in public transport.30

Reception

The song has been described by some as "brain rot", due to its lyrics being seen as "nonsensical" because of its use of the term "sigma".30

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".2729 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

Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation have condemned the song, describing it as a "weapon of Moscow's information warfare" and part of Russia's efforts to "cement its narratives and cultural influence".33 Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the criticism on the Song, calling such remarks "madness" and "clinical Russophobia".34

Ultra-conservative Russian Orthodox movement Sorok Sorokov has accused its creators of sexualizing children and urged the Russian Prosecutor General's Office to investigate. Songwriter Chertishchev has dismissed the allegations.33

Charts

See also

See also

Footnotes

Footnotes

  1. The Russian Streaming chart was launched in late March 2025. Therefore, "Sigma Boy" did not have a full run on the chart.
Notes

Notes

References

References

  1. "‎Сигма Бой – Single – Album by Betsy & Мария Янковская – Apple Music". Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  2. Beyond, Russia (17 December 2024). "'Sigma Boy': How a song by Russian teenagers went viral with foreigners". Russia Beyond. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  3. "'Sigma Sigma boy' trend: Why is it taking over the internet?". The Times of India. 13 December 2024 – via The Economic Times – The Times of India.
  4. Arora, Jatin (3 December 2024). "What's the story behind the 'Sigma Sigma Boy' tiktok trend? Viral song fuels a wave of memes". www.soapcentral.com.
  5. "What is the 'Sigma Sigma Boy' TikTok trend? Viral song inspires memes". Dexerto. 2 December 2024.
  6. Good, Anna (6 December 2024). "'Sigma Sigma Boy' goes TikTok viral". The Daily Dot.
  7. "What's the Sigma Sigma Boy Meme Sound that's going on TikTok? – Voicy Blog". 12 December 2024.
  8. Guggenberger, Jonathan. "Sigma Boy auf TikTok: Russische Propaganda fürs Kinderzimmer". Der Freitag.
  9. Singh, Ritika (4 December 2024). "What Is 'Sigma Sigma Boy' Viral Song Trend on TikTok?".
  10. Entertainment Times. "'Sigma Sigma boy' trend: Why is it taking over the internet?". MSN.com.
  11. "What Is 'Sigma Sigma Boy'? Viral TikTok Trend Explained". Times Now. 7 December 2024.
  12. "«Сигма-бой» — хит соцсетей. Откуда взялась вирусная песня и почему ее так полюбили за рубежом". T-Bank. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  13. "Вирусная песня девочек из России попала в топы зарубежных чартов — текст для нее написал нижегородский музыкант". NN.ru. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  14. "Песня «Сигма-бой» возглавила чарт Spotify". Halvacard.ru (Sovcombank). 17 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  15. "Кто такой «сигма бой» из популярной песни на YouTube, и что известно о девочках-подростках, исполняющих трек". Parents.ru (Счастливые родители). 11 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  16. "Betsy Chart Positions on Spotify, Apple Music and Other Streaming Services". Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  17. "Песня двух юных россиянок завирусилась в TikTok и стала мировым хитом". Argumenty i Fakty. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  18. "Автор музыки к "Лунтику" написал песню, ставшую хитом на Spotify". Rossiyskaya Gazeta. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  19. "Песня двух юных россиянок завирусилась в TikTok и стала мировым хитом". News.ru. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  20. "Что такое сигма бой? Кто поёт песню сигма бой? Что такое сигма?". Metro (Russian newspaper). 12 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  21. "Лидеры чартов цифровых площадок в 2024 году". Kommersant. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  22. "Светлана Чертищева (Бетси Girl)". Vokrug TV. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  23. "Русская песня «Сигма-бой» завирусилась в интернете: что это такое, что значит сигма-бой и мейл, тренд в ТикТоке, кто поет этот трек". МСК1.ру (Shkulev Holding regional network). 14 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  24. "Пригожин заявил, что время группы «Тату» ушло". Mail.ru. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  25. "Пригожин заявил, что время «Тату» ушло". Gazeta.Ru. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  26. "В Москве прошла премия СТС Kids «СуперЛайкШоу»". InterMedia. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  27. "Песня двух девочек из России стала мировым хитом, завирусившись в TikTok". 78 (TV channel). 15 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  28. "«Сигма-бой»: песня двух девочек из России взорвала мировые чарты". 12 December 2024.
  29. "Что за песня «Сигма Бой» прославила двух россиянок на весь мир?". Argumenty i Fakty. 16 December 2024.
  30. "Песня «Сигма-бой»: кто поет и почему она стала популярной". 9 December 2024.
  31. "Тренд «Сигма бой» бьет рекорды на Детском радио".
  32. "Тренд «Сигма бой» бьет рекорды на Детском радио".
  33. "Ukraine Calls Russian Pop Song 'Sigma Boy' a Weapon in Moscow's 'Information War'".
  34. Russia slams "European politicians' remarks about viral song as 'Russophobia'". Anadolou Agency. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  35. "Betsy / Мария Янковская – Sigma Boy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  36. "ČNS IFPI – CZ Singles Digital – Top 100 – 1. týden 2025" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  37. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  38. "המצעד השבועי: היטליסט – שבוע 26, 2025 – 17.06 – 23.06.2025" [Mako Hit List: Weekly Chart – Week 26, 2025 | 17.06 – 23.06.2025]. Mako Hit List (in Hebrew). 24 June 2025. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  39. "Top Internet Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Mar 27, 2025". TopHit. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  40. "ČNS IFPI – SK Singles Digital – Top 100 – 1. týden 2025" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  41. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 5" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  42. "Hot Dance/Pop Songs: Week of January 18, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  43. "Top Internet Hits Russia Monthly Chart: March 2025". TopHit. 29 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  44. "Top All Internet Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2025". TopHit. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  45. "Top All Internet Hits Russia Decade Chart: 20s". TopHit. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
External links