Viral Videos That Built YouTube: Shoes (2006)
Shoes (2006)
Sure, “Shoes” never became a massive hit song, but the video itself was a masterpiece of the comedic parody song trend that gained momentum after the Lonely Island’s “Lazy Sunday” took off a year earlier. Written by and starring comedian Liam Kyle Sullivan, “Shoes” is told from the perspective of a Valley Girl-esque young woman named Kelly (played by Sullivan) who just wants shoes for her birthday. Sullivan’s song became a viral sensation, racking up millions of views. It’s a perfect dance-pop time capsule, and predicated the type of quick-cut musical moments that would take over viral video culture through TikTok this past year. Plus, Sullivan’s Kelly took on a life of her own, even making a cameo in a Weezer video two years later.
