Gary Brolsma aka Numa Numa: "It is encouraging to watch all of the Numa videos that were created by others in the same fun-loving spirit regardless of what part of the globe they happen to live. Smiles are universal. Happiness knows no culture or geography. Joy is bipartisan. Be kind to everyone - for everyone is having a hard time." Brolsma's video, released in December 2004 onto the website Newgrounds.com, was the first Numa Numa-themed video to gain widespread attention.
Numa Numa has also received the "#1 Internet Celebrity" title from VH1 at the 40 Greatest Internet Superstars.
The New York Times wrote: "Mr. Brolsma, a pudgy guy from Saddle Brook, made a video of himself this fall performing a lip-synced version of "Dragostea din tei," a Romanian pop tune, which roughly translates to "Love From the Linden Trees." He not only mouthed the words, he bounced along in what he called the "Numa Numa Dance" - an arm-flailing, eyebrow-cocked performance executed without ever once leaving the chair."
"The question remains why two million people would want to watch a doughy guy in glasses wave his arms around online to a Romanian pop song."
"It definitely has to be something different," said Tom Fulp, president and Webmaster of newgrounds.com. "It's really time and place." "The Numa Numa dance," he said, sounding impressed. "You see it and you kind of impulsively have to send it to your friends."
His friends say Mr. Brolsma has always had a creative side. He used to make satirical Prozac commercials on cassette tapes, for instance. He used to publish a newspaper with print so small you couldn't read it with the naked eye.
