Amol Rajan discusses how a University Challenge question sparked a viral remix craze, serving as inspiration for the jungle music community.
The University Challenge host on how one question went viral and inspired the jungle music community.
Throughout the week, during my relatively scarce moments of idleness, I found myself pondering the intriguing sequence of events that led Nathan Filer, a renowned writer associated with Bath Spa University, to share his thoughts on University Challenge via Twitter. Interestingly, he was playing catch-up at the time.
On Monday night’s BBC Two quiz episode, Lincoln College, Oxford, faced off against Imperial. However, earlier that day, Filer was engrossed in the previous week’s match between Sheffield and Aberdeen, almost as if ensuring he wasn’t missing out.
It appears Filer is a dedicated fan, keeping up with the show on iPlayer, even during his lunch break. It was precisely at 13:29 that a stroke of inspiration hit him. During a bonus round for Aberdeen, a question about jungle, the dance music genre rooted in the sound system culture of the 90s, caught his attention. The ongoing debate about the distinction between drum ‘n’ bass and jungle added another layer of complexity to the situation.
When Emily Osborne, Aberdeen’s remarkably intelligent captain, responded with “drum ‘n’ bass,” Filer couldn’t resist reacting. He promptly posted: “Please, please will someone sample @amolrajan saying: ‘I can’t accept Drum & Bass. We need Jungle, I’m afraid.'” Little did he know, chaos ensued after that.
And what an enchanting chaos it turned out to be.
In the following three days, my response not only went viral but maintained its infectious spread across various social media platforms. It garnered a devoted following within the jungle scene, sparked a wave of remixes from renowned producers worldwide, secured invitations to perform at prominent club nights and festivals, earned write-ups in both musical and national publications, found its way onto radio stations, injected a dose of humor into otherwise dormant WhatsApp threads I’m part of, revived the raver in me that had long been overshadowed by parenthood and work, and delivered a series of truly surreal moments that show no signs of slowing down.
About 40 minutes later, I shared Filer’s original tweet once more. Lacking musical expertise, it fell on @jamro to provide the first sample, featuring the iconic tune “Incredible” by General Levy. Soon, others joined the creative fray: @jonesgarethp, @wordcolour, @spinscott, and @amygoodchild made their contributions; @dolandeclares added a fitting gif, and @EddeLacy crafted an exceptional video. At this point, the phenomenon had taken on a life of its own, with many others contributing – my apologies if your name isn’t included here.
When I joined University Challenge, I emphasized to the team that we had all the ingredients for regular viral success – the esteemed brand, the witty banter, and the brilliance of eight young minds. However, this week’s experience proved that planning for virality is futile; it truly unfolds organically.
Despite the unpredictability, certain key interventions can boost a viral moment. My friend Ros Atkins, known for his viral explainers on BBC News, is both a junglist and occasional DJ. His repost played a significant role. The music press also played a crucial part, elevating the moment further. The momentum then shifted to Instagram.
Enter another friend, the legendary David Rodigan, a reggae godfather with vast connections and a global following. He tagged the artist Goldie, who expressed interest in sampling it. This initiated a new wave of attention and engagement.
I ventured into the comments section of various posts, expressing the sentiment “We need jungle, I’m afraid,” and the overwhelming warmth and positive response I received were truly heartwarming. Before long, I started receiving messages from friends in Jamaica, and even prominent artists joined the cause. As posts from influential platforms like Hospital Records, Ministry of Sound, MixMag, and others began to surface, I found myself deeply moved by the emotional outpouring.
I believe the reason for this shift in my musical preferences is due to reconnecting with my younger self this week. Being a parent to four young kids is an incredible blessing, but it does limit my opportunities for indulging in the music scene. Nowadays, I find myself frequently listening to tunes from Frozen and Moana on Spotify, and my life seems more Jungle Book than jungle music. Back in the day, jungle music was a significant part of our daily lives.
During my student years in Cambridge, there was a memorable scene where my first musical love, reggae, took center stage. My fascination with the culture of 1960s Jamaica drew me to ragga jungle, a genre with its roots in reggae. Two of my closest friends, the illustrious – at least to us – DJ Hektic and MC Tappa, were avid drum ‘n’ bass enthusiasts.
I played the role of the third wheel in this cheerful trio, somewhat akin to Bez in the Happy Mondays, given that my musical talent was inversely proportional to my enthusiasm on the dance floor. The rare occasions when I showcased a reggae set as the warm-up act under the alias DJ Moley were truly unforgettable, mainly because there was hardly anyone in attendance to remember those nights.
Oh, the profound love we held for the jungle scene! Every icon, from the legendary Stevie Hyper D to the contemporaries like MC Shabba, DJ Hype, and Nicky Blackmarket, was akin to gods in our eyes. We even daringly invited them to our student nights, and astonishingly, they always accepted. Nostalgia intertwines my early 20s with my early 40s in a harmonious blend of euphoria.
Reflecting on the moment when I read that question and answer during the filming of the series last spring, I find myself questioning if I had any inkling of the musical gold it contained. Truth be told, I didn’t. While I did raise an internal eyebrow, I failed to recognize its potential.
It took Filer to unveil it. Looking back, it seems so apparent now: the authority of University Challenge, the succinctness of the phrase, and the profound weight of an iconic subculture captured in that subtle distinction between two terms.
This week has prompted me to reassess my perspective on social media. During my six years as the media editor for BBC News, I consistently highlighted the threats posed by social media to Western civilization. Undoubtedly, these threats are profound, and my recent experiences with platforms like Twitter have been disheartening. However, I acknowledge that my work in the media, particularly at the BBC, where I cover politics in an era of toxic culture wars, may contribute to this perception.
In reflecting on this week, I was reminded of the initial vision of social media, which aimed to be more social and less media-centric. Those of us in the media industry should bear in mind that these platforms have the potential to foster communities and flourish with kindness and creativity, rather than being dominated by conspiracy and contempt.
Throughout this period, I’ve encountered numerous surreal moments, such as Radio 1 playing it out (special thanks to Greg James and DJ Clipz). Additionally, I’ve received invitations from prominent DJs—although it’s prudent for me not to disclose their names just yet—to participate in sets at their festivals.
Hospital Records has expressed interest in a live PA performance, and in a recent post, I reminisced about the classic tune “Ghetto Dub” by DJ Probe & Sylo. To my surprise, @Samsylo, whom I’ve never met, responded to the post.
In another interesting turn of events, a delightful lady reached out to me on Instagram, seemingly just to convey that she had a crush on my brother during their primary school days at Hillbrook School, where he left in 1992.
It’s been quite a week, and amidst discussions about the nuances between drum ‘n’ bass and jungle, I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t have a definitive answer. I’ll leave that to the more influential jungle aficionados and the wise question setters on University Challenge to settle.
One thing I can confirm, though, is that jungle is undeniably massive. I noticed that Filer updated his profile, declaring himself an “Unexpected player in a junglist revival,” and I resonate with that sentiment. I appreciate the precision with which he articulated it because, truth be told, I can’t quite embrace drum ‘n’ bass. We need jungle, plain and simple.
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