DANCE AWAY
Melissa McCarthy trend: Why TikTokers are dancing to Grace Potter & the Nocturnals’ Something That I Want from Tangled
Despite Melissa McCarthy never even partaking in the trend, find out why it's named after her
DANCING aggressively to Grace Potter and the Nocturnals’ Something That I Want has become a must-do video for all TikTokers.
The trend's longevity shows just how much people love to do it - especially because it reminds people of Hollywood actress Melissa McCarthy.
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What is the trend?
The trend, which began at the end of 2023, has accumulated nearly 40 million posts on TikTok under the title Melissa McCarthy I Want Something That I Want.
It starts off with a seemingly cute dance routine to the song Something That I Want by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.
But as the song hits the chorus with the lyrics, I Want Something That I Want, the dancer turns nasty, pointing their fingers in a gun shape and moving aggressively.
The partaker quite often scares other people who are not familiar with the TikTok trend.
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Then as the song transitions to the “something I tell myself I need” lyrics, the dancer switches the aggressive gun fingers to subtle, relaxed moves.
Where does Melissa McCarthy come into the trend?
TikTok user posted the video with the Tangled song in August 2023, but the trend didn’t lift off until another user shared her video in December the same year.
Han’s post has over 27.8 million views and is one of the most watched videos under the hashtag #IwantsomethingthatIwant - which has hundreds of millions of views.
From watching Han’s videos, fans thought her dance moves and mannerisms drew a stark resemblance to Hollywood actress and comedian Melissa.
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This then launched what is now referred to as the Melissa McCarthy trend.
One commenter under Han’s video said: “This feels like something Melissa McCarthy would post in the BEST way.”
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Another said: “I haven’t seen a video of Melissa McCarthy doing this but it’s very her coded so I believe it.”
Helpfully, a number of TikTok fans shared clips of Melissa robbing a restaurant while wearing a paper bag over her head in the 2014 movie Tammy, to show how similar the dance moves are.
Why are people doing it?
An element as to why the trend is so popular is scaring the people in the room with you.
Many videos show terrified family members wondering what’s happened to their younger relatives as they wave gun fingers in their face.
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Another reason for its popularity is that TikTokers can put their own creative spin on the dance as it doesn’t follow a specific routine.
Unlike many other dances on TikTok that appear to only be for professionals, this one is perfect for those who don’t have much rhythm.
And the fact that the song used is the Nocturnals’ Something I Want is nostalgic for many TikTokers who grew up watching the Disney classic Tangled, making it a fun trend to join in.
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