Congratulations (Roomie, PewDiePie, and Boyinaband song)
"Congratulations" is a song by Swedish YouTuber PewDiePie (Felix Kjellberg), Swedish singer, YouTuber, and musician Roomie (Joel Berghult), and English musician and YouTuber Boyinaband (David Brown).[1][2][3] The single was self-released on 31 March 2019 with an accompanying music video on YouTube as a response to T-Series surpassing PewDiePie as the most-subscribed YouTube channel.[4][5][6][7] The music video is banned on YouTube in India. As of September 2022[update], the video has over 226 million views, making it PewDiePie's second most-viewed video,[8] his most viewed being his previous T-Series diss track, Bitch Lasagna.[9]
| "Congratulations" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Roomie, PewDiePie, and Boyinaband | ||||
| Released | 31 March 2019 | |||
| Recorded | November 2018 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:19 | |||
| Label | Roomie | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
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| PewDiePie singles chronology | ||||
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| Roomie singles chronology | ||||
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| Boyinaband singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Congratulations" on YouTube | ||||
Background
In mid-2018, the subscriber count of the Indian music video channel T-Series rapidly approached that of Swedish web comedian and Let's Player PewDiePie, who at the time was the most-subscribed YouTuber.[10][11] As a response, PewDiePie fans and other YouTubers had shown their support for PewDiePie, while T-Series fans and other YouTubers had shown support for T-Series, in the PewDiePie vs T-Series competition. During the competition, both channels had been gaining a large number of subscribers at a rapid rate. The two channels had surpassed each other in subscriber count on a number of occasions in February, March, and April 2019.[12][13][14][15][8][16]
Composition and lyrics
"Congratulations" is an upbeat-sounding synth-pop/hip-hop diss track whose instrumentals are based on "Buckwild" by 2Virgins. In the music video, PewDiePie criticizes T-Series for achieving their early success by selling pirated songs and chairman Bhushan Kumar for alleged tax evasion (in reference to a Times of India article).[citation needed] He also mocks T-Series for sending him a cease and desist letter alleging that his actions and lyrics of "Bitch Lasagna" were defamatory. He also mentioned the CEO of T-Series' tax evasion scandal, collusions with the Mumbai mafia, and #MeToo allegations.[17]
The video also thanks to his fans for sticking with him through his YouTube career, referencing past videos.[18][17]
Reception
Eight days after it was released, "Congratulations" was banned in India, alongside PewDiePie's earlier diss track, "Bitch Lasagna". The Delhi High Court granted an injunction against the two songs at the request of T-Series, who asserted the tracks were "defamatory, disparaging, insulting, and offensive" and that the songs contained "repeated comments ... abusive, vulgar, and also racist in nature." In their decision, the court noted that PewDiePie, in communication with T-Series after the release of "Bitch Lasagna", had apologized after posting the first video and had "assured that he [was] not planning any more video[s] on the same line."[19][20][21]
In August 2019, it was reported that T-Series and PewDiePie had settled their legal disputes outside of court.[22]
Music video
A music video for the song was released the same day. The video was previously recorded in November 2018 in anticipation of T-Series surpassing his subscriber count.[23] It shows PewDiePie, Roomie, and Boyinaband throwing a party inside a room adorned with party decorations, balloons, champagne, and a cake that imitates the T-Series logo. They sing and dance congratulating T-Series in a tongue-in-cheek manner. At the bridge of the song after the second verse, PewDiePie gives a "Thank You" to all his fans and subscribers for supporting his career and gives a "Brofist" to the camera, before the video cuts to the final chorus of the song with a scene showing PewDiePie, Roomie, and Boyinaband launching fireworks outside in the night. The video ends with MrBeast giving a slow clap to the song. As of September 2022[update], the music video has received over 226 million views.[24]
Charts
| Chart (2019) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Hot Singles (Recorded Music NZ)[25] | 27 |
| Scotland (OCC)[26] | 77 |
| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[27] | 8 |
| US Comedy Digital Track Sales (Billboard)[28] | 1 |
See also
References
- ^ "PewDiePie concedes defeat to rival T-Series". BBC. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ Tobin, Ben. "PewDiePie back on top as largest YouTube channel over Indian music label T-Series". USA TODAY. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ "PewDiePie drops scathing Congratulations video for T-Series". Metro. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ Radulovic, Petrana (31 March 2019). "PewDiePie admits defeat to T-Series". Polygon. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ Alexander, Julia (31 March 2019). "PewDiePie concedes to T-Series in battle for YouTube's biggest channel". The Verge. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ Alt, sloth_on_meth's (1 April 2019). "CONGRATULATIONS! PEWDIEPIE IS BACK IN THE LEAD! THIS. IS. EPIC!". @subgap. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ "TheYoutubeArchive: Pewdiepie vs T-Series: Subscriber data from 22 March 2019 until 1 April 2019". TheYoutubeArchive. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Congratulations". YouTube. 31 March 2019.
- ^ "bitch lasagna". YouTube. 8 September 2022.
- ^ Huddleston Jr., Tom. "This Bollywood YouTube Channel Is on the Verge of Bumping 'PewDiePie' from His Top Spot". CNBC. NBC Universal. from the original on 31 August 2018.
- ^ Rakin, Ethan. . Business Insider Singapore. Archived from the original on 8 March 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Trenholm, Richard; Ryan, Jackson. "PewDiePie Dethroned by T-Series as YouTube's Most Subscribed Channel". CNET. CBS Interactive. from the original on 12 March 2019.
- ^ Hamilton, Isobel Asher. "PewDiePie Briefly Lost His Crown as the Biggest YouTuber on the Planet". Business Insider. from the original on 19 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (20 March 2019). "PewDiePie vs. T-Series: YouTube Channels Keep Battling for No. 1 Spot". Variety. Penske Business Media. from the original on 20 March 2019.
- ^ "PewDiePie concedes defeat to YouTube rival T-Series". BBC. 1 April 2019.
- ^ Virginia Glaze (31 March 2019). "Watch PewDiePie roast T-Series with epic new 'Congratulations' diss track". dexerto.com.
- ^ a b Julia Alexander (31 March 2019). "PewDiePie concedes to T-Series in battle for YouTube's biggest channel". The Verge.
- ^ Radulovic, Petrana (31 March 2019). "PewDiePie admits defeat to T-Series". Polygon.
- ^ Babele, Aryan (12 April 2019). "Delhi High Court orders YouTube to remove PewDiePie "diss tracks" on T-Series". Medianama. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ Stenn, Lili (15 April 2019). "PewDiePie's T-Series Diss Tracks Banned in India". Rogue Rocket. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ Sanchz, Daniel (11 April 2019). "India Clamps Down on PewDiePie Racism — High Court Orders YouTube to Remove Two Offensive Videos". Digital Music News. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ Ghosh, Shona (13 August 2019). "PewDiePie and T-Series quietly settled a court battle over 'racist' diss tracks following their epic YouTube battle". Business Insider. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ "Making the song with PewDiePie (Congratulations BTS)". YouTube. Boyinaband. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ Congratulations, retrieved 23 October 2019
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 15 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 15". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
- ^ . Billboard. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.