THE STORY OF 'MONSTER'
In 2011, we sat down in a living room in Oregon to record an acoustic cover of Meg & Dia’s “Monster.” We were just a group of friends sharing our music with the early YouTube community. We had no idea that 15 years later, that 480p video would become a global soundtrack for a new generation.
The original upload that started it all.
The June 2025 Spark
For over a decade, our cover lived quietly in the digital archives. Then, in June 2025, something changed. Suddenly, the algorithm caught fire. We didn’t even realize it until late July when we hopped onto TikTok to see what the noise was about.
While the original viral poster’s account has since vanished into the digital ether, the momentum didn’t stop. Thousands of users began using our audio for their own personal stories, art, and memories. It wasn’t just a “moment”—it was a movement across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts that sent our original 2011 upload climbing into the millions.
The Minecraft Anthem & Gaming Lore
Minecraft & Roblox
Unknown to us, the original “Monster” song by Meg & Dia was an unofficial anthem for thousands of early Minecraft intros and Roblox edits. Seeing/hearing our cover of the song brought back memories to that period in time.
Mini Militia
In certain parts of the world, the original “Monster” song was the definitive soundtrack for Mini Militia gameplay. The comments section is packed with nostalgia for those mobile multiplayer battles.
The Nightcore Shift
Whether at its original speed or at the Nightcore remix speed, many people thought our cover song was the original version sampled for popular dubstep remixes that exist across the internet.
The Cycles of Virality & The Arabic Dub
The strangest part of virality is how it evolves. Since the initial surge in 2025, the song has come back in waves. Just when we think it’s slowed down, someone finds a new way to share it.
Most recently, we saw a massive trend in the Middle East where a creator used our video but replaced the audio with an Arabic track. It became a viral “bait-and-switch”—people clicked expecting to hear our familiar “Monster” cover and were met with something entirely different. Perhaps it was just funny to see two emo kids “playing” a song that was definitely not them playing. Either way, we were happy to see fans having fun with our content!
A Global Community & Special Shoutout
We never expected our cover song to reach people all around the world. Looking at our stats from the last year is mind-blowing—we’ve connected with listeners in Brazil, Turkey, Russia, Germany, Mexico, and dozens of other countries.
But we can’t tell this story without giving a massive, special shoutout to our fans in South Korea. You drove the overwhelming majority of our views and were the heartbeat of this viral resurgence. From sharing the cover across platforms to leaving incredible comments, the Korean community embraced this song in a way we never expected. To everyone around the globe: thank you! ❤️
Where We Are Now
We are Summer Soundtrack. We’re still that same group from Oregon, just a little older and incredibly grateful. We’re currently digging through our archive to share more “lost” sessions and throwbacks with the community that brought us back to life.
Thank you for being part of the story. Whether you found us in a Minecraft intro in 2012 or on your FYP in 2026, we’re glad you’re here.
