It’s stuck in your head. Admit it. You probably can’t even read the words who's that sexy thing i see over there without hearing that specific, high-energy beat or seeing a grainy video of a cat walking in slow motion. Or maybe it’s a dog wearing sunglasses.
Songs have a funny way of outliving their original context. What started as a club anthem in the early 2010s eventually mutated into a digital shorthand for confidence, irony, and—weirdly enough—pet videos. This isn't just about a catchy lyric; it’s about how TikTok and Instagram Reels can exhume a decade-old track and turn it into a global vocabulary.
Honestly, the song is "Sexy and I Know It" by LMFAO. Released in 2011, it was the second single from their album Sorry for Party Rocking. Back then, the duo (Redfoo and Sky Blu) were basically the kings of "shuffling." They wore neon leopard print and oversized glasses without a hint of irony. Or maybe it was all irony? It was hard to tell. But the specific line—Who's that sexy thing I see over there?—was designed to be a self-congratulatory punchline.
The Anatomy of a Hook
Why does this specific phrase work? It’s the cadence. The way the rhythm pauses right before the answer "That's me, standing in the mirror!" creates a perfect comedic beat. In music theory, this is often called "call and response," even if you're just responding to yourself.
Redfoo (Stefan Gordy) actually talked about the creation of the song in various interviews over the years. He mentioned that the goal was to make something that felt like a workout anthem but for people who didn't actually want to work out. It was about the feeling of being attractive, even if you’re just goofing around.
When you look at the lyrics, they’re ridiculous. "I got passion in my pants and I ain't afraid to show it." It's absurd. But that absurdity is exactly why it survived the transition to short-form video. On TikTok, you don't want "cool." You want "funny-cool." You want a soundbite that allows you to poke fun at yourself while still looking kind of great.
From Radio to the TikTok Algorithm
The jump from 2011 radio play to 2024-2026 social media relevance wasn't accidental. It started with "glow-up" videos. You know the ones. Someone starts the video looking like they just rolled out of bed, the beat drops, and suddenly they’re in full glam.
But then the internet did what the internet does. It got weirder.
👉 See also: The Entire History of You: What Most People Get Wrong About the Grain
People started using the who's that sexy thing i see over there audio for things that were decidedly not sexy. Think damp golden retrievers. Think someone trying to flip a pancake and failing miserably. This subversion of the original intent is what gives a meme its staying power. If everyone just used it to look hot, we’d get bored. When you use it to show a pigeon eating a discarded taco, it’s gold.
Why the 2010s are Back
We’re currently living through a massive wave of 2010s nostalgia. It’s called "Indie Sleaze" or "Electro-pop Revival" depending on who you ask at a party. Music from Ke$ha, Pitbull, and LMFAO is seeing a massive surge in streaming numbers.
Data from platforms like Spotify and Apple Music show that Gen Z is consuming this era of music at a higher rate than the people who actually lived through it as adults. It’s high-energy, it’s unapologetically loud, and it doesn't take itself too seriously. In a world that feels increasingly heavy, screaming about being sexy in a mirror feels like a necessary release.
The Viral Life Cycle of a Lyric
You’ve probably seen the specific "filter" trends associated with this. There was a period where people would use the "Expanding Head" filter or the "Face Zoom" right as the line who's that sexy thing i see over there hit.
The technical reason this works for the algorithm is "retention." The song builds tension. You hear the intro, you hear the question, and your brain needs to see the payoff. This keeps viewers watching for the full 7 to 10 seconds, which tells the algorithm "Hey, this is a good video, show it to more people."
It’s basically a psychological trick set to a 130 BPM (beats per minute) track.
Does Anyone Actually Like the Song?
This is where it gets nuanced. There’s a difference between a "good" song and an "effective" song. Critically, "Sexy and I Know It" wasn't winning any Pulitzers. Rolling Stone readers actually voted it one of the worst songs of the year back when it came out.
✨ Don't miss: Shamea Morton and the Real Housewives of Atlanta: What Really Happened to Her Peach
But public opinion is a fickle beast.
Over time, the hate faded into a sort of begrudging respect. It’s a "party starter." Even the most cynical music snob usually cracks a smile when that synth bass kicks in at a wedding or a club. It represents a time before the world felt quite so digitized and cynical.
Technical Breakdown: The Sound of 2011
If you pull the track apart, it’s remarkably simple.
- The Bassline: It’s a distorted, "growling" synth that was popular in the Melbourne Bounce and Electro House scenes.
- The Vocals: They’re almost spoken-word. Redfoo isn't "singing" in a traditional sense; he’s delivering lines with a specific swagger.
- The Silence: The most important part of the hook is the split-second of silence before the word "That's." It’s the "drop."
This simplicity makes it easy to remix. There are thousands of versions of this song on SoundCloud and YouTube—sped up, slowed down, "lofi" versions, and even country covers.
Common Misconceptions About the Lyrics
A lot of people actually get the lyrics wrong. Because of the way the song is mixed, some people think he’s saying "Who's that second thing" or "Who's that succulent thing" (which, honestly, would be a very different song).
The actual line is: “When I walk on the spot, this is what I see / Everybody stops and they staring at me / I got passion in my pants and I ain't afraid to show it / Show it, show it, show it... / I'm sexy and I know it.”
The phrase "Who's that sexy thing I see over there" is actually the opening of the chorus, setting the stage for the self-reveal.
🔗 Read more: Who is Really in the Enola Holmes 2 Cast? A Look at the Faces Behind the Mystery
How to Use the Trend Without Being Cringe
If you're a creator or just someone trying to stay relevant on social media, using the who's that sexy thing i see over there audio requires a bit of strategy.
Don't just stand there. That was 2012.
- The Subversion: Use it for your pet. A lizard. A particularly well-organized spice rack. The irony is the currency here.
- The Fast Cut: Edit your video so the "reveal" happens exactly on the beat. If you're a frame off, the "sexy" factor disappears and it just looks messy.
- The Zoom: Use a slow zoom-in on something mundane, then a fast zoom-out on the "sexy" reveal.
The Legacy of LMFAO
It’s worth noting that LMFAO hasn't released new music as a duo in years. They went on an "indefinite hiatus" around 2012. Redfoo went on to judge X Factor Australia and play professional-level tennis (seriously), while Sky Blu pursued solo projects.
Yet, they remain billionaires in terms of streams. "Sexy and I Know It" has over a billion views on YouTube. "Party Rock Anthem" has even more. They created a visual and sonic language that survived their actual career.
When you hear who's that sexy thing i see over there, you’re hearing a relic of a very specific era of American pop culture—the "shuffling" era. It was a time of bright colors, lighthearted arrogance, and the birth of the viral music video.
Actionable Takeaways for the Modern Listener
If you’re looking to dive deeper into this specific vibe or use it for your own content, here’s the move:
- Check out the "Melbourne Bounce" genre. If you like the beat of "Sexy and I Know It," this is the genre that birthed that specific sound. Artists like Will Sparks or Joel Fletcher carry that torch.
- Study the "Rule of Three" in comedy. The reason this song works as a meme is that it sets up a premise, reinforces it, and then delivers a punchline. Use that same structure in your videos.
- Don't overthink the "Sexy." The whole point of the song is that confidence is a choice. Whether you're wearing a tuxedo or a trash bag, the "sexy thing" is the person who decides they are.
The internet never truly forgets anything. It just waits for the right moment to turn a 15-year-old lyric into a global inside joke. So next time you see that "sexy thing" in the mirror, you know exactly what song needs to be playing in the background.