In February 2018, Dua Lipa performed her breakthrough hit "New Rules" at the BRIT Awards. In the YouTube comments section, one fan wrote: "I love her lack of energy, come on girl give us nothing!" And in that moment, a new meme was born.
"Go, girl, don't give us anything" has become more than a shady but well-intentioned comment on YouTube. Today, it has become a rule of life, a lifestyle to aspire to, and an attitude that people embody at a certain moment in their lives. It has even been used to take a dig at politicians when voters feel they are not doing enough.
But at its core, it's still a joke that "Stan Twitter" (don't get me to say Stan
Lipa has since spoken out about the meme, saying it felt "really hurt" at the time. "I found it really painful because I thought, 'I can finally do something that I love to do, but I'm shut down and I can't seem to do the right things,'" she said. However, for many fans, she has always been doing something right.
The internet has come to adore and appreciate pop stars' moments of doing nothing, especially when they have the ability to give it their all , as evidenced by Lipa's joyous, sharp performance in her future-nostalgic era. This shows that they are only human and go through "boring" workdays like the rest of the world.
These girls will forever be remembered for their hit songs and extravagant performances. But now, it’s time to applaud those moments when they didn’t do us any favors. (BTW, "Give Nothing Girls" would be a really good name for a girl group.)
Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff embodied IDGAF's energy during her 2007 dance performance to "With Love," which TikTok video calls "the original Go Girl who didn't do us any favors." The performance of her underrated hit was happily recreated on TikTok thanks to Duff's simple choreography and her effortless performance. In fact, it was so popular that Duff himself remade it in 2022, just with a little more effort this time, and it's still as iconic as ever.
selena gomez
A video of Selena Gomez rehearsing her 2013 hit "Come & Get It" on " Dancing with the Stars " went viral in 2022, mostly because she couldn't find the dance. Instead, she just stood around the stage when the music started and didn't wake up until the final pose. In her defense, it was just a rehearsal, but the laissez-faire attitude resonated too well.
BLACKPINK GIRLS
BLACKPINK is probably the hardest working girl group right now. But even their fans aren't afraid to lovingly poke fun at the few moments one of them shows no signs of acting, from instances of Jisoo's lack of energy to times when Jennie looks bored and takes a break from her performance. At least they can support each other.
Taylor Swift
Yes, even Taylor Swift isn't immune to the "Give Us Nothing" meme, as seen in this viral clip of her performing "Blank Space" during her 1989 world tour. In her defense, Swift still delivered the dramatic energy the song required like a true pro. She simply chose to skip a high note in the middle of the song, resulting in one of her iconic meme-worthy tour highlights.
nicki minaj
The energy of "Go Girl Give us Nothing" was at its peak when Nicki Minaj performed her new single "Everybody" at a Jingle Ball concert on Dec. 16, lying on the floor with only the music playing in the background. Rap some lyrics. Basically, she's the one we all work on the last day before the holidays—and with a new album coming out just the week before, can you blame her?
