January 12th marks the birthday of a figure who elicits strong reactions worldwide: Jeff Bezos. While some might use this occasion to critique the entrepreneur, others find themselves drawn to a unique tribute – a song. This isn’t just any birthday tune; it’s Bo Burnham’s “Bezos I,” a track that has taken on a life far beyond its origins in a Netflix special.
Originally a satirical piece within Burnham’s introspective comedy special Inside, “Bezos I” was intended as a commentary on tech billionaires. However, the song’s journey didn’t stop there. It experienced a remarkable transformation, becoming recontextualized on TikTok as an anthem, particularly for Gen Z, resonating with sentiments surrounding disaster capitalism and economic disparities. This unexpected second life has cemented the “Jeffrey Bezos Song” as a cultural touchstone, sparking conversations far beyond its initial comedic intent.
Bo Burnham performing in his special Inside
The resurgence of the Jeffrey Bezos song on TikTok was largely due to its timely arrival amidst a backdrop of economic unease. As numerous individuals faced job losses, reduced wages, and health crises, Jeff Bezos’s wealth simultaneously surged, culminating in his spaceflight. His post-flight remark, thanking Amazon employees and customers for “paying for all of this,” inadvertently highlighted the growing chasm between the ultra-rich and the everyday worker.
TikTok users seized upon this stark contrast, adopting Burnham’s song as a soundtrack to videos depicting the realities of working in the shadow of Bezos’s empire. Amazon drivers navigating perilous conditions, warehouse employees facing demanding work environments, and satirical portrayals of Bezos’s oversight were all set to the tune of “Bezos I.”
These user-generated videos quickly gained traction. A TikTok video showing an Amazon delivery truck driving through flooded streets garnered over 10 million views in less than a month. Another showcasing an automated Amazon Go store attracted over 7 million views in a single day, demonstrating the song’s viral appeal and its connection to the zeitgeist.
@plantmami5 When Detroit floods but u still gotta deliver those prime packages #detroit #amazon #boburnham #jeffbezos #fyp ♬ Bezos I – Bo Burnham
It’s important to note that not every application of the Jeffrey Bezos song was critical. Some creators utilized the track to genuinely express admiration for Amazon or to celebrate their own entrepreneurial successes. The song even found its way into TikTok’s “three moods” trend, illustrating the unpredictable and multifaceted nature of internet culture. In the digital age, the original intent of a creative work is often just the starting point for a multitude of interpretations.
Bo Burnham, the creator of this unexpected anthem, is himself a millennial, yet “Bezos I” resonated most profoundly with Gen Z. The song’s brevity and catchy energy, clocking in at under a minute, are perfectly suited to the fast-paced consumption habits of TikTok users. However, the connection goes deeper than just catchy tunes.
Burnham’s Inside special, from which the Jeffrey Bezos song originates, tapped into the prevailing mood of pandemic-era isolation and anxieties, a context deeply familiar to Gen Z. Filmed entirely within a single room, the special delves into themes of depression and technology’s complex role in our lives. This introspective and often melancholic tone resonated with a generation that spends considerable time online and reports higher rates of mental health concerns.
Bo Burnham performing in his special Inside
While these societal anxieties form the backdrop for the song’s popularity, Jeff Bezos himself seems unaffected. As he looks towards the future, the “Jeffrey Bezos song” remains a fascinating example of how a piece of satire can evolve into a generation’s anthem, reflecting complex sentiments about wealth, power, and the digital age. In Burnham’s own words within the song: “Come on Jeff, get ’em! … *SCREAMS*…” – a sentiment that now echoes far beyond the confines of the original Netflix special.
