You’ve heard it. You’ve probably had it stuck in your head for three days straight while trying to do literally anything else. It starts with that bouncy, synthesized beat and then those specific, nonsensical words hit: i got 32 flavors of that bootylicious bubblegum. It’s one of those digital artifacts that shouldn’t be a cultural touchstone, yet here we are. It’s sticky. It’s loud. It’s the definition of an "earworm" that bypassed the traditional music industry gatekeepers and went straight for the jugular of the TikTok algorithm.
Honestly, tracking the origin of this sound is like trying to find the source of a rumor in a middle school hallway. Everyone knows the words, but nobody seems to know exactly where they first dropped or why they became the default soundtrack for everything from makeup tutorials to gym fails. This isn't just about a catchy line; it’s about how a very specific, hyper-stylized vocal delivery can turn a mundane lyric into a global meme that defines a whole era of short-form video content.
The line is weird. Let’s be real. Who has 32 flavors? Why bubblegum? And the word "bootylicious"—a term famously trademarked by Destiny’s Child and added to the Oxford English Dictionary back in the early 2000s—is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. It’s nostalgia wrapped in a modern, bass-boosted package.
Where i got 32 flavors of that bootylicious bubblegum Actually Came From
People keep searching for the "official" music video, but the reality is more fragmented. The sound is heavily associated with the world of Roblox, specifically "Royale High" and "Bloxburg" edits. If you’ve spent any time on the younger side of the internet, you know that pitch-shifted, sped-up (or "nightcore") versions of songs are the lifeblood of gaming montages. This specific snippet, though, seems to have been plucked from a larger track and distilled into its most potent form.
It's actually a distorted, sped-up version of the song "Bubblegum" by the artist Luli, though many users misattribute it to various SoundCloud rappers or even parody accounts. The original track has a distinct "hyperpop" energy—a genre defined by its over-the-top, abrasive, and sugary-sweet production. Think Charli XCX or 100 Gecs, but filtered through a basement-studio aesthetic.
When Luli recorded those lines, they probably didn't realize that "i got 32 flavors of that bootylicious bubblegum" would become the digital equivalent of a billboard. The song relies on the "bimbo-core" aesthetic, a subculture that reclaimed the "pink, plastic, and proud" vibe of the Y2K era. It’s intentional camp. It’s not supposed to be Shakespeare; it’s supposed to be a vibe.
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Why this specific sound blew up
- The "Wait, what?" factor: The lyrics are just strange enough to make you loop the video.
- Rhythmic perfection: The syllables in "bootylicious bubblegum" fit perfectly into a 4/4 time signature, making it incredibly easy to edit videos to.
- The Sped-Up Trend: In 2023 and 2024, the "Sped Up" version of songs consistently outperformed the originals on Spotify and TikTok because they trigger a faster dopamine hit.
The Science of the Earworm: Why You Can’t Stop Humming It
Psychologists call these "Involuntary Musical Imagery" (INMI). Basically, your brain gets stuck on a loop. Dr. Victoria Williamson, a researcher on the psychology of music, has noted that songs with simple melodic patterns but unusual rhythmic "hiccups" are the most likely to get stuck. I got 32 flavors of that bootylicious bubblegum hits all those marks. It’s repetitive. It’s high-pitched. It has a distinctive cadence that feels like a physical sensation in your ears.
There’s also the "mere exposure effect." You hear it once, you think it’s annoying. You hear it 50 times while scrolling through your "For You" page, and suddenly your brain begins to categorize it as familiar and, eventually, "good." It’s a Stockholm Syndrome for your auditory cortex.
The "32 flavors" part is also a weirdly specific number. It’s one more than Baskin-Robbins’ famous 31. It implies excess. It’s the "extra" nature of the lyric that makes it stick. In a world of minimalist "sad girl" pop, a loud, obnoxious song about flavored bubblegum stands out like a neon sign in a dark alley.
Cultural Impact and the Roblox Connection
You cannot talk about this song without talking about the "Preppy" subculture on Roblox. This isn't your 1980s Ralph Lauren preppy. This is a digital-native aesthetic: neon pink, hibiscus flowers, "aesthetic" room builds, and lots of "slay" energy. For these creators, the "bootylicious bubblegum" track is the national anthem.
I’ve seen thousands of videos where players sync their avatars’ dances to the "32 flavors" line. It’s become a way to signal that you’re part of a specific community. If you use the sound, you know the drill. It’s a digital handshake.
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Interestingly, the song has also been used ironically. "Alpha" gym bros and irony-poisoned meme accounts use the song over footage of people doing incredibly "un-preppy" things—lifting heavy weights, crashing cars in simulation games, or deep-fried memes of SpongeBob. This cross-pollination is what gives a meme longevity. When both the people who love it and the people who make fun of it are using the sound, the artist wins.
The Controversy of "Fast Music"
There’s a darker side to the rise of tracks like "i got 32 flavors of that bootylicious bubblegum." Music purists argue that the trend of speeding up songs to 1.5x speed is destroying the emotional intent of the artist. When you speed up a track to make it "TikTok friendly," you lose the low-end frequencies and the nuances of the vocal performance.
But let's be honest. This track wasn't designed for a vinyl listening session in a soundproof room. It was designed to be consumed in 15-second bursts through a smartphone speaker. It’s "disposable" pop that somehow became permanent.
The industry has noticed, too. Labels are now officially releasing "sped up" and "slowed + reverb" versions of songs on the same day as the original. They saw what happened with the bubblegum sound and realized they were leaving money on the table. If the fans are going to make a "bootylicious bubblegum" remix anyway, the label might as well be the one to collect the streaming royalties.
How to use this trend (if you’re a creator)
- Don't be late: TikTok trends move at the speed of light. If you're seeing this two months after the peak, use it ironically.
- Lean into the aesthetic: Pink filters, fast cuts, and high energy.
- Contrast is key: The funniest videos using this sound are the ones that have absolutely nothing to do with bubblegum or being "bootylicious."
What Most People Get Wrong About the Lyrics
There is a recurring debate on Reddit and Genius lyrics about whether the artist is actually saying "32 flavors." Some people swear they hear "32 layers" or "dirty two flavors."
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But looking at the hyperpop context, "32 flavors" makes the most sense. It’s an homage to the abundance of consumer culture. It’s about having everything. It’s the same energy as a 2000s music video where someone is surrounded by hundreds of shopping bags.
Also, can we talk about the word "bootylicious" for a second? It’s a fascinating word. Coined (or at least popularized) by Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams in 2001, it originally meant a combination of "booty" and "delicious." By the time it reached this bubblegum track, it had evolved into a general descriptor for "cool, feminine, and slightly edgy." It’s a word that has survived three decades of slang evolution. That’s impressive for a portmanteau.
Actionable Steps for the Curious
If you’re trying to find the song or want to dive deeper into this specific rabbit hole, here is how you do it without getting lost in a sea of fake uploads.
- Check SoundCloud first: This is where the raw, unpolished versions of these tracks usually live before they get "cleaned up" for Spotify. Search for "Luli Bubblegum" or "32 Flavors."
- Look for the "Nightcore" tag: If you want the specific high-pitched version that’s viral on TikTok, searching for "Nightcore" or "Sped Up" is your best bet.
- Isolate the beat: If you’re a producer, the "bootylicious bubblegum" beat is a great example of "bubblegum bass." Look into artists like Sophie or labels like PC Music to see where this sound actually originated. They were the ones doing this back in 2014 before it was cool.
- Verify the artist: Don’t just trust the TikTok sound name. Often, people rename sounds to "Original Sound - [User Name]" to steal credit. Look at the comments; the "song nerds" are usually there pointing to the real creator.
The reality of the digital age is that a song about 32 flavors of bubblegum can be more influential than a multi-million dollar marketing campaign. It’s chaotic, it’s a bit annoying, and it’s definitely stuck in your head now. You’re welcome.
To truly understand why this works, stop looking at it as "music" and start looking at it as "audio currency." It’s a tool for expression that just happens to have a beat. Whether you love the hyper-sweet aesthetic of the "preppy" Roblox world or you’re just a confused onlooker, you have to respect the sheer staying power of a well-placed rhyme.
Next time you hear those first few bars, don't fight it. Just accept that for the next three minutes, you’re living in a world of 32 flavors. It’s easier that way. If you're a content creator, try layering this audio over a video that is the complete opposite of "preppy"—the juxtaposition is usually where the viral gold is hidden. Go find the original Luli track on a streaming platform to support the actual creator behind the clip, as most of these viral moments leave the artist behind while the sound takes off on its own. It's the least you can do for the person who gave you that permanent earworm.