Why Michael Bublé had ‘insecurity’ around becoming a Christmas meme
It’s the most wonderful time of the year — when Michael Bublé goes mega-viral for his Christmas memes.
Several memes of the “Haven’t Met You Yet” singer reemerge every holiday season, an annual occurrence that began after he released his first holiday album, “Christmas,” in 2011. The viral images both celebrate and tease Bublé as a Christmas symbol, suggesting he hibernates until the holiday season comes back around.
The most popular meme depicts the phrase “Christmas is coming” above an edited image of Bublé emerging from a cave, while another shows a frozen Bublé thawing for the holidays. The “Feeling Good” singer poked fun at himself while addressing the memes in an October 2021 TikTok.
“Did you ever wonder, ‘Why someone would spend that might time in a cave?'” Bublé asks, before the video cuts to him dressed as Batman.
But in a recent interview with TODAY.com, the “Home” singer explains that he didn’t find the memes all that funny at first.
“I think when it first happened … there was probably insecurity,” he says while promoting his new gig as a coach on “The Voice.”
The Canadian singer says “it would be really tough” if the viral Christmas memes were all he had to show for his success, but he’s grateful for having “so much work,” including his world tours, across his multiyear career.
During a 2018 interview with the BBC, Bublé shared his reaction to the memes for the first time, deadpanning that he didn’t “find that as funny as everybody else.”
He also explained that his friends send him the images and joke, “Look at the meme they have of you,” to which he said he responds, “I hate you.”
Whether you’re a Bublé fan or not, it’s abundantly clear that his reputation goes beyond being a meme: 11 studio albums, five Grammys and a Canada’s Walk of Fame induction, to name a few accolades.
Over time, Bublé’s feelings around the memes have ironically defrosted, and he now considers himself “lucky” to be viewed as culturally “relevant” every holiday season.
“It is the biggest compliment in the world because we live a cyclical life, and as human beings, we really look for patterns because they comfort us,” Bublé tells TODAY.com. “I honestly can’t believe how cool it is that it’s become like the new Christmas card.”
He says that he can now “enjoy” the annual viral fame, and if his “Christmas” album’s longevity is any indicator, there are no signs of it slowing down.
Bublé’s initial holiday album dropped in October 2011, and by the next month, it debuted on Billboard’s Top Holiday Albums in the No. 1 spot. The record has been on that chart for over 160 weeks.
