It was 2015. You couldn't walk into a Target or turn on a car radio without hearing that infectious, funky bassline. Joe Jonas was back, but not with his brothers. He was leading DNCE, a band that looked like they’d just raided a neon thrift store, and they were singing about eating dessert on a beach. Or were they?
"Cake by the Ocean" became a massive sleeper hit. It peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. It stayed on the charts for months. But even as people screamed the lyrics at weddings and bar mitzvahs, a collective confusion lingered. Is this about a picnic? Is it a weird metaphor? Is it just gibberish?
Honestly, the story behind the song is way funnier than the fan theories.
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The Swedish Mistake That Launched a Hit
Most people assume the lyrics are some deep, metaphorical poetic device. They aren’t. The title came from a literal linguistic fluke.
Joe Jonas was working with Swedish producers Mattman & Robin. At one point, the producers wanted to talk about the drink "Sex on the Beach." However, they got the words mixed up. They kept calling it "Cake by the Ocean."
Joe found it hilarious. Instead of correcting them, he decided to write a song around the mistake. That’s why the song feels so chaotic. It started as a joke about a mistranslation.
The song isn't trying to be War and Peace. It’s trying to be a vibe. It’s "Seinfeld" in pop form—a song about nothing that somehow means everything to a summer playlist.
Why the Metaphor Works (Even if it’s Fake)
Even though the origin is a mistake, the song took on a life of its own. In pop culture, "cake" has been slang for... well, anatomical features, for a long time.
So, when the lyrics mention being "hungry for some pie" or "licking frosting off your finger," the audience's mind goes exactly where you think it goes. It’s the "Every Breath You Take" effect—a song that sounds happy and bright but carries a secondary, slightly more adult meaning if you look closely.
But Joe Jonas has always played it both ways. In interviews with MTV News and People, he’s leaned into the "Sex on the Beach" origin story while acknowledging that fans can interpret the "cake" however they want. It’s smart branding. It’s clean enough for Radio Disney (mostly) but suggestive enough for the club.
Breaking Down the Sound: Why It Hooked Us
Musically, "Cake by the Ocean" is a masterpiece of minimalism.
Listen to the beginning. It’s just that driving, four-on-the-floor kick drum and a gritty bass guitar. No synths. No massive wall of sound. Just rhythm.
This was a pivot for Joe Jonas. After the Jonas Brothers went on hiatus (the first time), his solo effort Fastlife didn't quite land. It was too polished, too "R&B-lite." DNCE felt different. It felt like a real band. You had JinJoo Lee on guitar, who is a powerhouse. You had Cole Whittle from Semi Precious Weapons bringing this punk-rock energy on bass. Jack Lawless, the longtime Jonas touring drummer, kept the pocket tight.
The "Ah-ya-ya-ya-ya" hook is what people remember. It’s a "non-lexical filler"—basically, sounds that aren't words but are easy to sing in any language. That’s the secret sauce for a global hit. You don't need to know English to sing along to the chorus.
The Music Video's Literalism
Directed by Black Coffee and Gigi Hadid (who was dating Joe at the time), the music video didn't try to be sexy. It went for the literal joke.
They staged an actual "Cake Fight Championship" on a beach. There was a massive piece of cake. There was The Fat Jew (Josh Ostrovsky) covered in frosting. It was messy. It was absurd.
By leaning into the literal "cake by the ocean," the band bypassed the "trying too hard to be cool" phase that many boy band members struggle with when they go solo. They looked like they were having a blast. That authenticity is what Google Discover loves—content that captures a specific, high-energy cultural moment.
The Cultural Legacy of a "Meme Song"
Is "Cake by the Ocean" a "good" song?
Critics at the time were split. Some called it "cloying." Others called it "the best pop song of the year."
What’s undeniable is its staying power. It paved the way for the Jonas Brothers' eventual reunion and their "Happiness Begins" era. It proved that Joe Jonas had a specific "funk-pop" lane that he owned better than almost anyone else in the industry.
It also highlighted a trend in mid-2010s pop: the rise of the "quirky" smash hit. We were in an era of "Ex's & Oh's" by Elle King and "Stressed Out" by Twenty One Pilots. People wanted something that sounded a bit different from the EDM-heavy tracks dominating the early 2010s.
Understanding the Lyrics: A Quick Translation
If you're still trying to figure out what the heck is happening in the second verse, let's look at the actual words.
"Waste time with a masterpiece."
This is likely a nod to the creative process itself. Or, it's just a cool-sounding line. Pop lyrics often prioritize phonetics over philosophy. The "ooh" sounds and "ee" sounds in the song are designed to be "mouth-friendly." They feel good to sing.
"Go for gold on the ceiling."
Some fans thought this was a reference to The Black Keys' song "Gold on the Ceiling." It might be. Or it might just be Joe Jonas describing a high-energy party atmosphere.
The point is, you’re overthinking it. The song is about the feeling of a summer day where you have no responsibilities and a lot of sugar.
Actionable Takeaways for Pop Culture Fans
If you're looking to recreate the DNCE vibe or just want to appreciate the track more, here is what you should do next.
- Listen to the Stems: Search for the isolated bass track of "Cake by the Ocean" on YouTube. It’s a masterclass in how to write a "hooky" bassline that carries an entire song.
- Check out JinJoo Lee: Don't just focus on Joe. Watch JinJoo’s live performances. She’s one of the most underrated guitarists in modern pop, and her timing is what gives the song its "strut."
- Explore the Swedish Connection: If you like the production, look up Mattman & Robin’s other work. They produced "Close" for Nick Jonas and "Believer" for Imagine Dragons. You’ll start to hear the "Swedish Pop" DNA—the emphasis on rhythm and clarity—across all their hits.
- Watch the Live Performances: DNCE was known for being a bit "wild" on stage. Their 2016 BBMAs performance is a great example of how they turned a simple pop song into a full-blown rock spectacle.
The reality of "Cake by the Ocean" is that it’s a happy accident. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best creative ideas come from a misunderstanding. Next time you're at the beach, skip the "Sex on the Beach" cocktail and just bring a literal cupcake. It’s what the Swedes intended, anyway. Sorta.