If you’re a TikTok user, you’re very likely to have come across the infamous and iconic meme dubbed only ‘very good, very nice.’ You know the meme, perhaps you’ve even started calling people nicknames like ‘chicken nugget’ or ‘sexy banana,’ because of it, but do you know what the meme is about – and who its creator is?
The ‘very good, very nice’ meme consists of a once-unknown man, later identified as Sengalese native Galass Gueye, wearing comical glasses and a party hat singing the phrase ‘very good, very nice’ in a high-pitched voice to those surrounding him on the Tenerife pier he works as a vendor at.
‘Very good, very nice’ is an essential part of the everyday TikTok user’s vocabulary, now it’s time to find out why. Let’s explore what the ‘very good, very nice’ TikTok meme is all about, how it came to be, who the man behind it is – and how his life has changed since he turned into a viral sensation practically overnight.
The Origins Of ‘Very Good, Very Nice’
Just in case you’re new to TikTok, or would like a quick refresher, here’s a brief history lesson on the ‘very good, very nice’ meme.
The meme, which first went viral back in 2021 when it was posted by a TikTok user called Richard Crawford, consists of a man wearing a pair of comical novelty glasses and a party hat while singing the words ‘very good, very nice’ in a high pitched voice.
It’s believed that he uses the words ‘very good, very nice’ to describe the quality of the goods he sells. What he is selling depends on the day, but it is mostly tourist-friendly garb such as sunglasses or beach hats. The man clearly knows his target market.
The naturally deep-voiced man, who was unknown for quite some time, is also prone to calling his would-be customers nicknames like ‘chicken nugget’ or ‘sexy banana’. The funny nature of his unusual yet successful sales tactic and his bright smile and enthusiastic personality turned the ‘very good, very nice’ guy into something of a social media sensation.
It’s difficult to say with certainty what it was about his video, or his now-famous catchphrase, that caught the attention of TikTok and its algorithm but the original sound from Richard’s video has been used a few hundred million times, with remixes of the sound being the most popular form of content.
Who Is The ‘Very Good, Very Nice’ Guy?
Though he’s known to many as simply the ‘very good, very nice’ guy, the man behind the meme is a gentleman by the name of Galass Gueye. For a while, his identity remained a mystery but as the video mentioned above gained more traction – and as fans began seeking him out – he revealed himself.
Galass hails from Senegal but he is currently based in Tenerife, where he works as a street vendor selling an array of tourist-friendly products ranging from sunglasses to stuffed animals and from T-shirts to tracksuits. He spends his time on the streets of Playa de las Americas’ main resort and Fañabé Beach, and tourists, particularly British ones, flock to these areas in the hopes of meeting him.
Galass has an Instagram page, a YouTube page, and, of course, a TikTok account. Little is known about Galass Gueye as he is relatively new to social media and – further than clips of him reenacting his iconic meme – he doesn’t share much on any of his pages.
How Has TikTok Changed Galass Gueye’s Life?
Despite his newfound fame, Galass has stuck to his day job and has chosen to remain in and around the Fañabé Beach area. This decision has served him well as tourists and fans specifically go to this area to seek him out and purchase the items he is selling.
In addition to his assortment of items for sale, Galass has also monetized his social media stardom. Since becoming a TikTok legend, Galass has reportedly begun charging those who approach him a $10 fee per video in exchange for him bringing the meme to life.
Aside from the success he now sees as a vendor and as an entertainer, Galass has also achieved some mainstream success. He was featured on BBC Radio 1’s Scott Mills Daily Podcast.