What Happened to the Chocolate Rain Guy?

Know Your Meme

Tay Zonday became one of the internet’s earliest viral sensations with his 2007 hit "Chocolate Rain," a song that took over YouTube and was endlessly remixed, parodied, and referenced in pop culture. While many viewed it as a quirky meme, the song was actually a deeper commentary on racial injustice, a message that was largely overlooked in the frenzy of early internet virality. The unexpected fame was overwhelming for Zonday, who later revealed his struggles with autism and introversion while navigating sudden internet stardom. Over the years, he has shifted away from the limelight, dabbling in voice acting, music, and Twitch streaming, but his legacy as one of the first viral stars remains.  Check out our new MEME STORE: https://thememestore.com/  Subscribe to our channel to learn more about trending memes, hear interviews from meme personalities and more! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbrPqq29C9Q_TQP7OFFRzcw?sub_confirmation=1

Transcript

00:00Chocolate rain, some stay dry and others feel the pain.

00:05Chocolate rain.

00:07Remember Chocolate Rain?

00:08That grainy, yellow-tinted video from 2007

00:11featuring a young man with a deep baritone voice

00:13singing about chocolate rain while turning away

00:15from the mic to breathe?

00:16If you were around in the early days of YouTube,

00:18you know exactly what we're talking about.

00:20Tay Zonday became one of the first viral sensations.

00:23But the story behind his rise and where he is now

00:26is even more fascinating.

00:27Let's take a look.

00:28Before the fame, Tay Zonday was Adam Bonner,

00:30a Minnesota native juggling his academic pursuits

00:33and creative passions.

00:34By 2007, Bonner was three years into a PhD

00:37in American studies while moonlighting

00:38as a musician at local open mics in the Twin Cities.

00:41Recognizing YouTube's potential, he

00:43created the persona Tay Zonday to separate his music

00:46from his academic career.

00:47In April 2007, he uploaded Chocolate Rain,

00:50a self-produced song featuring hypnotic piano riffs,

00:52cryptic lyrics, and Zonday's unmistakable bass voice.

00:55The video's quirky delivery, complete with Zonday

00:58moving away from the mic to breathe, caught fire online.

01:01By the end of the year, Chocolate Rain

01:02had millions of views, an astounding achievement

01:04in the early days of YouTube.

01:06What started as a niche hit on 4chan

01:08quickly transcended the platform.

01:09Parodies, remixes, and celebrity covers

01:11flooded the internet, propelling Zonday to mainstream fame.

01:14He appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live,

01:16was parodied on South Park, and even remixed his song

01:19for a Dr. Pepper commercial.

01:20Tay Zonday became the face of a viral internet moment

01:23before going viral was even a term.

01:25I don't think so.

01:26Nothing takes priority over Chocolate Rain.

01:30At first glance, Chocolate Rain seemed

01:32like an eccentric, catchy tune.

01:34But beneath the quirky delivery, the song

01:36carried a profound message.

01:37In a 2021 interview, Tay described the song

01:39as an allegory for systemic racial injustice.

01:42Lines like, the same crime has a higher price to pay,

01:45highlight the inequalities that persist in modern society.

01:47Despite its serious undertone, the song's deeper meaning

01:50was often overshadowed by the humor of its presentation.

01:53As a self-described introvert with autism spectrum disorder,

01:56Zonday was unprepared for the overwhelming attention.

01:59While he embraced the opportunities

02:00that came with fame, including sharing a commercial

02:03with Beyonce during a 2010 Super Bowl,

02:05he also struggled with the pressure of public scrutiny.

02:08In his words, the experience felt

02:09like a kayak carried forward by a fast-flowing current.

02:12Today, Tay Zonday is a nostalgic icon

02:14from the early internet era.

02:16But he's embraced a quieter, more personal creative path.

02:19Over the years, Zonday has pursued voice acting,

02:21lending his voice to Gamer Setu Machu Picchu,

02:23an adult twin project.

02:25He also dabbled in Twitch streaming,

02:26playing video games under the handle Tay Zonday

02:29for his 40,000 followers.

02:30Zonday continues to post content on YouTube,

02:33though far less frequently than he did during his peak.

02:35To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Chocolate Rain,

02:37he posted a remastered version of the song in 2015,

02:40reminding fans of his enduring legacy.

02:43♪ Chocolate rain ♪

02:46♪ Some stay dry and others feel the pain ♪

02:49Nearly two decades after Chocolate Rain,

02:51Tay Zonday remains a beloved figure in internet history.

02:54His song, once a viral joke,

02:56is now viewed as ahead of its time,

02:58addressing themes of racial injustice

03:00that resonate even more today.

03:01While Zonday has stepped away from the viral spotlight,

03:04his impact as one of the first YouTube sensations endures.

03:07And if you're wondering, yes, he still looks the same

03:09in every birthday photo he posts on Instagram.

03:12Tay Zonday's journey from academic to viral sensation

03:15to nostalgic icon proves the internet's unpredictable power

03:18to make and redefine legends.

03:19Whether through his music, his message, or his memes,

03:22Tay Zonday's legacy will forever be linked

03:24to the sound of Chocolate Rain.

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