We need jungle, I’m afraid

 News 

We need jungle, I’m afraid: how a Bath Spa University lecturer went viral

Best-selling author and Bath Spa University BA (Hons) Creative Writing professor, Nathan Filer has unexpectedly found himself at the heart of a social media craze, after his post on X about the hit BBC 2 quiz show, University Challenge went viral. 

Catching up on the previous week’s episode via BBC iPlayer, Nathan was watching an installment of the show that featured Aberdeen versus Sheffield University.  

For one question, the BBC quiz show’s new presenter, Amol Rajan, asked the team: “What name is given to the genre of dance music that developed in the UK in the early 1990s out of the rave scene and reggae sound system culture?” Aberdeen’s captain, Emily Osborne answered, “Drum and bass” to which Amol said, "I can't accept drum and bass. We need jungle, I'm afraid." 

In a moment of inspiration, Nathan took to X, asking: “Please, please will someone sample @amolrajan saying: ‘I can't accept drum & bass. We need jungle, I'm afraid.’" 

That simple request led to a social media craze that set the jungle music scene ablaze. 

Amol reposted Nathan within the hour. Over the course of the week the post went viral, moving from X to Instagram to TikTok and obtaining what Amol referred to as a “cult following in the jungle scene.” 

Drawing international attention, the sound has been adopted by DJs from around the globe who have created mashups and mixes worthy of any jungle event and has been picked up by national press, broadcast by popular presenter Greg James on BBC Radio 1 and remastered by eminent music companies such as Ministry of Sound and MixMag. 

Aside from receiving multiple invitations to perform at festivals and club nights, Amol said that the experience delivered “a catalogue of genuinely surreal moments that show no sign of abating’ and that ‘It took Filer to do that.” 

Nathan discussed his view on X and his delight at making the platform a slightly better place. He said: 

"I can't say I'm a fan of X/Twitter. The brevity of posts strips discussions of nuance, too often leading to misunderstanding and conflict. I believe it's problematic for our mental health, fostering anxiety and a sense of inadequacy or frustration, particularly when users compare their lives to the curated highlights of others or feel pressured to conform to extreme viewpoints. Moreover, the platform's algorithm, which favours content that generates strong emotional reactions, amplifies aggressive discourse and creates echo chambers of outrage. I'm convinced the world would be better off without it.” 

He continued: 

“However, good things can happen in bad places. And I'm naturally pleased to have written a tweet that has prompted so much creativity and joy. Obviously, the real credit goes to all the people who made the music. Outstanding work. Jungle is massive." 

Amol publicly thanked Nathan for the post that elicited the trend, saying: “For @bbcnews, I wrote about a remarkable week, how #jungleimafraid went viral, what it reminded me about social media and my younger self - and why jungle is massive. With deep thanks to @nathanfiler who started it all.” 

After being reposted by journalist and broadcaster Ros Atkins, the trend developed a life of its own. David Rodigan, a radio DJ well-known for his selections of reggae and dancehall music tagged Goldie, a pioneering musician in 1990s UK jungle, who promised to sample the sound and Amol replied to users across the platform with the now iconic line, “We need jungle I’m afraid.” 

Discussing the whirlwind of virality on BBC News, Amol concluded his musings by thanking Nathan for sparking the international trend, saying: 

“I note Filer has updated his profile to say: ‘Unexpected player in a junglist revival.’ Me too, boss, and I'm grateful for the precision with which you used the term. Because I can't accept drum 'n' bass. 

We need jungle, I'm afraid.”