Half a decade later, we're still trying to unravel how a vapid EDM parody somehow became genuine and unironically beloved.
The world has changed a lot in five years, but one thing remains constant: the cultural imprint left by “A Little Bit Alexis,” Alexis Rose's gloriously kitsch anthem on Schitt's Creekk. It's a gift that keeps on giving, much like Moira Rose's vocabulary.
When Schitt's Creek Star Annie Murphy took center stage as Alexis, socialite, jet-setter and reformed party girl; the cheesy track was supposed to be nothing more than a punchline. But “A Little Bit Alexis” quickly became a phenomenon, immortalizing Alexis's wild, whimsical energy through cheeky lyrics intertwined with a pulsating, formulaic electro house beat.
Her intentionally chaotic choreography and imperfect performance only made her more iconic.
To create this worm, the Emmy Award-winning actress teamed up with her real-life husband, musician Menno Versteeg, who stepped in as co-producer along with her Hollerado bandmate Nixon Boyd. Murphy, the mastermind behind Alexis' endearingly delirious pop star moment, says they couldn't finish the recording without laughing.
“Not even close,” says Murphy EDM.com. “In fact, it was laughter that made the song what it was. As soon as someone laughed or said, 'Oh my God, that's so dumb,' we'd immediately record whatever that idea was.”
After countless spontaneous dance parties and karaoke catastrophes, the song has amassed over 10 million digital streams and even managed to land on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart, where it rose to #21. the annals of fictional dance-pop stardom, who would have guessed that Alexis' croaking voice about expensive sushi and big, cute yachts (and being a little single even when she's not) would last longer than her 15 minutes of fame?
“Sometimes the cheesiest answer is the only answer, okay?!” Murphy explains. “The most significant impact was seeing the laughter and silliness it brought out of people. Seeing it performed at drag lunches or seeing people doing their own versions during lockdown, complete with 'choreography' was incredibly special.”
When that rhinestone-encrusted lyrical cyclone swept through our playlists in 2019, it left us forever changed and a little confused. It's a far cry from the raw indie-rock sound of Versteeg, who will soon release a new solo album, why do we run.
That contrast, Versteeg says, is what made producing the song so much fun.
“We knew it had to be cheesy and over-the-top, so the mandate was: leave your restraint and your indie sensibility at the door,” Versteeg explains. “We sat in the studio and immediately watched Britney's 'Work Bitch' video. We didn't even look at anything else. We came back the next day and Nixon had that amazing bass line… Yeah, it definitely sounds very similar. That was it.” the point: original, catchy and fun.”
Kendel Carson
why do we run will be out December 13 on Versteeg's own label, Toronto-based Royal Mountain Records. Fans of “A Little Bit Alexis,” of course, won't hear the same distant, beautifully brash trash-pop on the album.
But they'll find themselves right at home thanks to the playful unpredictability of Versteeg, who says he and Murphy “have brought some of the experience of writing this song to our other work.”
Look no further than the wild music video for “Bad Dog,” a song about Versteeg's canine best friend, Roger. He says Roger is a cuddle monster that everyone loves, but in the video, he's “a sword-wielding, free-eating, peanut butter-chomping 'treat' dealer” to all of his and his friends' dogs. Murphy.
Tied to the soulful authenticity of classic rock, there's a gritty honesty and husky warmth to Versteeg's sound. Just like Alexis's life in Schitt's CreekHis music has always felt like the soundtrack to a beautifully imperfect life and the quest to make sense of its messiness.
With that in mind, it's fair to wonder if Versteeg can not only reconcile the enduring appeal of “A Little Bit Alexis,” but also balance artistic integrity with commercial viability in the face of its runaway success. It's impossible not to question creative decisions and reflect on their implications, imagining whether they might become part of pop culture years later.
Versteeg believes that music that stays true to itself has value beyond success and moves people deeply, whether it's on a totemic TV show or in a dimly lit bar with graffiti-covered walls.
“I think that artistic integrity always has to come first, but also that each Any form of art at all levels of 'success' can be done with integrity,” he explains. “Creating original ways to express thoughts and feelings, helping people feel something within themselves, or helping people escape from themselves… great art does not “This time is hanging on the wall of the Tate or singing it to three people in the pub down the street.”
“Some things make money, others never will. Part of being a true artist is following your own path, no matter how bumpy or easy.”
Versteeg is now paving that path with a North American tour, for which fans can purchase tickets. here. His next album, why do we runis now available for place an order.
c/o Royal Mountain Records
Follow Menno Versteeg:
Instagram: instagram.com/sebastianingrosso
Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@ingrosso
UNKNOWN: x.com/ingrosso
Facebook: facebook.com/sebastianingrosso
Spotify: spoti.fi/3Xn23ij
thanks to our partners at edm.com
