How the Alcorn State Golden Girls put a 40-year-old Fleetwood Mac song back on the charts

The Alcorn State University Golden Girls are finally getting the credit they deserve for their role in a viral meme that layered Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” over one of their performances and put the 40-year-old song back on the Billboard charts.

It all started last month, when a Twitter user/Fleetwood Mac “superfan” edited video footage of the dance team by overlaying the song in a tweet that quickly went viral.

https://twitter.com/bottledfleet/status/976864863329931265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnews%2Farts-and-entertainment%2Fwp%2F2018%2F04%2F04%2Fhow-a-black-college-dance-troupe-landed-a-decades-old-fleetwood-mac-song-on-the-billboard-charts%2F

Despite the tweet’s popularity, most people didn’t know who the dancers were or where they came from. Even 19-year-old Mark Villasana, who wrote the tweet, didn’t know the origin of the video, telling the Washington Post, “Whoever she was, she was very fierce.”

“She” is Elexis Wilson, captain of the Golden Girls, and the viral video clip was of her first performance as the team’s new leader.

“I was shocked that actually somebody watched that video,” Wilson told the Washington Post.

 

 

The meme has been viewed by millions, and digital streams of “Dreams” went up 24 percent to 1.9 million the following week, according to Billboard.

The Golden Girls have been trailblazers since their inception in 1968. They were the first dance team to perform choreographed routines set to the marching band’s halftime music.  Their debut performance at the Orange Blossom Classic in Miami was groundbreaking, as described by the Alcorn Campus Chronicle:

“As the young ladies took the field, a silence fell upon the crowd as these eight regal, African American females took the field. The capes were snatched off in a quick one, two motion, revealing Alcorn’s most prized possessions. As the young ladies danced to the tunes of the band, the crowd went ballistic, giving the band and the Golden Girls the approval that was needed.”

SportsPlus

News

17 months and counting … Mississippi Crime Lab delay threatens prosecution, release of attempted murder suspect

News

Trial set to begin two years after disappearance (and alleged murder) of University of Mississippi student

News

Mississippi officials searching for clues after body found in burned vehicle

News

Mississippi artist celebrates 25 years of Holiday Studio Sale and Open House — an event which attracts art lovers from across state, region

News

Mississippi siblings sentenced for arranging murder of stepfather in order to get life insurance payments

News

Largest Mississippi distillery under construction. You might be surprised where this $23 million project with 57 new jobs will be located.

News

MOO-ve over fine dining. Mississippi men choose this fast food favorite for first date outings on a budget

News

Pedestrian killed after being struck by two vehicles on Mississippi highway Thanksgiving morning

News

Upside-down American flag at Mississippi courthouse creates confusion. Officials assure there is no reason for alarm.

News

Man on the run for 2 days arrested for murder of 2 people, including wife who had filed protective order

News

Police: Mississippi woman used car as a weapon during gas station dispute

News

Mississippi police searching for ‘armed and dangerous’ double murder suspect who opened fire on victims inside house

News

Hunters find skeletal remains in Mississippi national forest

News

Mississippi man arrested for murder of 74-year-old father

News

Four arrested in Mississippi child exploitation cybercrime operation

News

Officials: Woman killed after father accidentally fires gun while loading it inside car

News

Former Mississippi police officer faces 10 years in jail after pleading guilty to making false statement while purchasing gun

News

Mississippi business owner found guilty of fraud involving thousands in COVID stimulus money

News

Texas social media influencer sentenced for plot to murder Mississippi woman over criticism on internet

News

Woman sitting in middle of Mississippi neighborhood street struck, killed by vehicle

News

Police chief: Mississippi officers under investigation after passing fiery crash without rendering aid

News

One of Mississippi’s iconic plantation estates — including seven buildings on 40 acres — sold

News

Deadly crash on Mississippi highway claims one life, injures five

News

Iconic Mississippi restaurant sentenced in seafood misbranding scheme