A decade after Skales captured the hearts of music lovers with his infectious hit single “Shake Body,” the track is experiencing an unexpected commercial resurgence.
Released in May 2014, “Shake Body” quickly became a staple in the Afrobeats scene, with its catchy pidgin lyrics and vibrant production that encouraged listeners to shake their bodies to the rhythm. For years, the song remained a favorite in clubs and parties, but in recent weeks, it has made an impressive comeback, particularly among a new generation of listeners.
This revival is largely due to new remixes by talented DJs, with one of the most notable being a remix by Dutch DJ Onderkoffer, which Skales officially uploaded to streaming platforms, breathing new life into the classic track.
Skales, visibly excited by the track’s renewed success, took to social media to share his joy and gratitude. “This is crazy!! With the momentum of Shakebody trending again, I decided to officially release this DJ remix I heard in Europe last year, and in 10 hours, it’s already almost 200k streams with no form of playlist support. That’s crazy… thank you, Jesus!!! God indeed works in mysterious ways,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
His post captured the excitement surrounding the song’s resurgence, showing just how powerful word-of-mouth and viral trends can be in today’s music industry. The rapid increase in streams, especially without the support of major playlists, speaks to the enduring appeal of “Shake Body” and its continued relevance in the digital age.
A significant driver behind this recent resurgence is the viral attention the song has received on TikTok, where influencers and celebrities have embraced it for dance challenges. One of the standout figures leading this charge is Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old football prodigy from FC Barcelona, whose dance videos to “Shake Body” have taken the platform by storm.
Yamal’s moves, which showcase his own curated style, have quickly gone viral, garnering millions of views and further fueling the track’s renewed popularity. TikTok has become a central hub for music discovery, and songs like “Shake Body” are thriving thanks to its algorithm-driven virality.
The resurgence of “Shake Body” is part of a broader trend where older tracks are experiencing a revival, thanks to the influence of social media platforms like TikTok. In 2024, Nigerian highlife and folk musician Mike Ejeagha also saw a massive surge in streams after skitmaker Brain Jotter’s viral dance moves brought attention to his 41-year-old song “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo.”
This phenomenon is not unique to Nigerian music, as many global hits have also found new life years after their initial release, thanks to viral moments and nostalgic appeal. TikTok’s role in resurrecting songs from different genres and eras has reshaped how older music can still impact listeners, regardless of when it was first released.
Among the Nigerian songs that experienced similar revivals is CKay’s “Love Nwantiti,” which skyrocketed to global fame long after its release. The track’s popularity surged across various social media platforms, and it became a global sensation, particularly after it gained traction on TikTok.
These moments of resurgence demonstrate the lasting power of certain tracks, which can find new audiences even years after their original debut. For Skales, the resurgence of “Shake Body” serves as a testament to the timelessness of the song, the power of social media in shaping musical success, and the unpredictability of the music industry, where anything can happen when the right moment aligns.
