Nigerian singer and songwriter Skales is experiencing an unexpected but thrilling career revival, thanks to the renewed popularity of his 10-year-old hit single Shake Body.
The song, originally released in 2014, has found a new lease on life through TikTok, where users across the globe have latched onto its infectious rhythm for dance challenges and trends.
This viral surge has brought Skales back into mainstream conversations and streaming platforms, culminating in a major milestone: for the first time in his career, he has surpassed one million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Riding this wave of renewed attention, Skales has now teased a new single titled Dance Like Lamine Yamal. The upcoming track is a tribute to teenage football sensation Lamine Yamal, who plays for FC Barcelona.
According to Skales, the inspiration for the song is deeply tied to the role Yamal played in the revival of Shake Body. “This kid has done more than most people realize,” Skales said in a recent Instagram Live session.
“It was his moves, his energy, and the massive love from his fans that brought Shake Body back to life. This new song is a way to say thank you, and to keep the dance going.”
Lamine Yamal’s influence on TikTok has proven extraordinary. With over 26 million followers on the platform, Yamal’s dance videos often go viral, and one particular clip featuring him dancing to Shake Body racked up a staggering 126 million views.
That single video is widely credited for sparking the song’s second wave of global popularity. “He didn’t just dance; he revived a whole career. That kind of love deserves something special,” Skales noted, adding that the title Dance Like Lamine Yamal is both a tribute and a challenge to fans around the world to join the trend.
This phenomenon of old songs finding new life through TikTok is far from isolated. In recent years, the app has become a powerful engine for musical rediscovery.
One striking example came in 2024 when Nigerian highlife and folk icon Mike Ejeagha saw a 41-year-old track, Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo, surge in popularity.
The sudden interest was sparked by skitmaker Brain Jotter’s viral dance, which introduced the classic to a new generation of music lovers.
It’s a reminder that in today’s digital world, no song is ever truly “old”—it just needs the right moment to catch fire again.
Another prime example of this delayed virality is CKay’s Love Nwantiti, which exploded on TikTok years after its initial release and went on to become a global anthem.
Skales’ experience with Shake Body fits neatly into this pattern of musical rebirth, showing how platforms like TikTok can redefine the life cycle of a song.
It’s not just about timing anymore—it’s about who shares your music and how deeply it resonates with online communities. For Skales, this unexpected success story has opened doors he thought had long closed.
With Dance Like Lamine Yamal, Skales is not only expressing gratitude but also strategically positioning himself to continue this momentum.
The tribute isn’t just symbolic; it’s a calculated step to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving music industry where virality can trump release dates. “This is more than a song,” he said.
“It’s a celebration of dance, youth, culture, and unexpected blessings. Lamine Yamal helped me score another global hit—and now it’s my turn to return the favor, one beat at a time.”
