If you spent any time on TikTok or Instagram Reels back in early 2022, you definitely heard it. That infectious, upbeat drum beat followed by the high-pitched vocals of The Ting Tings. "They call me 'hell', they call me 'Stacey'..." It wasn’t just a catchy throwback song from 2008. It was the backbone of the That’s Not My Name meme, a viral phenomenon that managed to bridge the gap between Hollywood A-listers and regular people showing off their pets.
Honestly, it's rare for a meme to have that much staying power. Usually, these things burn out in a week. But this one? It hit a nerve. It tapped into our collective desire to show off our "layers." Whether you were a famous actor reminding everyone of your iconic roles or a barista showing off your weekend hobbies, the format was foolproof. It was simple, nostalgic, and incredibly effective at grabbing attention in a fast-scrolling world.
How a 2008 Indie Pop Hit Went Nuclear
The song at the heart of the That’s Not My Name meme is, of course, "That's Not My Name" by the British duo The Ting Tings. When it first dropped in the late 2000s, it was an anthem for anyone feeling overlooked or mislabeled. Fast forward over a decade, and the internet decided it was time for a revival.
It started relatively small. TikTok creators began using the "they call me" lyrics to list out the various names, nicknames, or misconceptions people had about them. But the real shift happened when the "edit" culture of the internet took over. People realized the song provided the perfect rhythmic structure for a fast-paced montage.
The structure was almost always the same: a quick shot of the creator today, followed by a series of rapid-fire clips or photos representing different "names" or versions of themselves. It wasn't just about names, though. It was about identity. It was about saying, "You might know me as this one thing, but look at everything else I am."
The Celebrity Effect
While regular users started the trend, the That’s Not My Name meme reached its peak when celebrities got involved. This is where it turned from a fun trend into a cultural moment. Drew Barrymore was one of the first major stars to jump in, sharing a montage of her most famous roles, from E.T. to Scream to 50 First Dates.
Then the floodgates opened. Alicia Silverstone gave us a Cher Horowitz throwback. Reese Witherspoon showed us everything from Legally Blonde to Walk the Line. Even the heavy hitters like Idris Elba joined in.
Why did this work so well for famous people? It’s basically a localized version of a career retrospective. For an actor, being "called" different names is literally their job description. It allowed them to be humble-braggy in a way that felt authentic to the platform. They weren't just saying "look at my awards," they were saying "remember this character you loved?" It felt like a shared wink between the star and the fan.
The Psychology of Why We Keep Clicking
Memes don't just happen. They thrive because they satisfy some weird itch in our brains. The That’s Not My Name meme works because of three specific triggers: nostalgia, categorization, and the "reveal."
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First, nostalgia is a hell of a drug. The Ting Tings represent a very specific era of neon-colored indie pop. For Gen Z, it’s a "new" retro sound. For Millennials, it’s the sound of their high school hallways. When that beat drops, your brain is already primed to stay and watch.
Second, humans love to categorize things. We like lists. We like seeing a person broken down into their constituent parts. Seeing a creator transition from "Professional" to "Cat Mom" to "Skater" in fifteen seconds satisfies our need for order. It’s a visual resume that doesn't feel like work.
Lastly, there’s the reveal. Every good TikTok trend has a "hook" and a "payoff." The hook is the creator looking at the camera. The payoff is the fast-paced montage. We stay because we want to see the variety. We want to see if we recognize the roles or the references.
Is It Still Relevant?
You might think a meme from 2022 is "dead" by internet standards. You'd be wrong. While the specific "That's Not My Name" audio isn't topping the charts every single day, the format it pioneered is now a permanent part of the social media lexicon.
Every time a new "Photo Dump" trend or "Meet the Artist" challenge pops up, it’s carrying the DNA of this meme. We’ve moved past just using The Ting Tings, but the idea of the "identity montage" is here to stay. It’s the most efficient way to tell a story about yourself in under thirty seconds.
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Technical Breakdown: Why This Audio Succeeded
If you look at the waveform of "That's Not My Name," it’s a producer’s dream for social media. The tempo is roughly 145 BPM. This is fast enough to feel energetic but slow enough that you can actually see the photos in a montage without getting a headache.
The lyrics are also "punched."
"They" (beat)
"call" (beat)
"me" (beat)
"Stacey" (beat)
This creates natural "edit points." Even if you have zero video editing skills, you can just slap some photos down on those beats and it looks professional. This low barrier to entry is exactly why it went viral. You didn't need to be a filmmaker; you just needed a smartphone and four pictures.
Common Misconceptions About the Trend
A lot of people think the That’s Not My Name meme was just for actors. That’s a total myth. Some of the best versions of this meme came from:
- Shelter Dogs: Rescues used the audio to show a dog's "shelter name" vs. their "forever name."
- Small Businesses: Founders showed their roles as "accountant," "packager," and "CEO."
- Athletes: Showing their off-season look vs. their game-day intensity.
It was a tool for humanization. It broke down the one-dimensional wall of the "influencer" and showed the messier, more varied reality underneath.
How to Use This Format Today Without Looking Dated
If you’re a creator or a brand, you can still use the logic of the That’s Not My Name meme without necessarily using the exact song (unless you’re going for a "throwback" vibe). The key is the "Identity Pivot."
- Identify your "Core" vs. your "Labels": Start with how people perceive you, then pivot to who you actually are.
- Use Rhythmic Editing: Don't just let the photos slide by. They need to hit the beat. Use "Match Cuts" where your head is in the same place in every photo to create a seamless transition.
- The "Final Frame" Matters: The meme usually ends with a "main" name. Make sure your last image is the one you want people to remember.
The reality of the digital age is that we are all fragmented. We have our LinkedIn selves, our Instagram selves, and our real selves. The That’s Not My Name meme was the first time we really found a way to celebrate that fragmentation in a way that felt fun instead of exhausting.
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The Ting Tings probably didn't realize they were writing a social media blueprint back in 2008. They were just writing a song about being annoyed that people couldn't remember who they were. But in a weird way, that’s the most relatable feeling in the world. We all just want to be seen for who we really are, even if that’s just a collection of five different nicknames and a bunch of weird hobbies.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to tap into this kind of viral energy for your own content, don't just copy the past. Use these principles:
- Audit your "Names": List out the five things people identify you as. Are they accurate? Use the gap between "perception" and "reality" to create your hook.
- Check the BPM: If you’re choosing a song for a montage, aim for something between 120 and 150 BPM. It’s the sweet spot for viewer retention.
- Focus on the "Niche Name": The most successful versions of this meme used names that were hyper-specific. Instead of just "Dog Owner," use "The Person Who Carries Poop Bags Everywhere." Specificity kills on the internet.
- Look for "Audio Hooks": Find songs where the lyrics list things out. Whether it's "That's Not My Name" or a newer track, those lists are gold for engagement.
The meme might evolve, but the desire to say "I am more than what you see" is never going out of style.