Meme Songs are a fascinating phenomenon of the internet age. They’re not always songs created to be memes, but rather tracks that, for various reasons, get picked up by the online community and transformed into viral sensations. These songs often resurface in unexpected contexts, bringing older tunes to a new generation or giving a completely new meaning to familiar lyrics. Here are some meme songs that have stuck with us, blurring the lines between music charts and internet culture.
Bag Raiders – Shooting Stars
“Shooting Stars” by Bag Raiders experienced a massive resurgence thanks to the “Shooting Stars” meme format. While the original track is an upbeat electronic tune released in 2009, it became synonymous with comical and often disastrous falls or failures in videos. The meme, which started gaining traction around 2015-2017, ironically juxtaposed the song’s soaring melody with visuals of epic fails, creating a humorous and unforgettable pairing. Although the meme’s peak popularity has passed, the song itself has enjoyed a renewed appreciation, introducing Bag Raiders to a wider audience who might have otherwise missed this electronic gem.
4 Non Blondes – What’s Up
“What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes is a classic 90s anthem that has found new life as a meme, particularly associated with the “He-Man sings” meme. The song’s powerful vocals and relatable lyrics about frustration and searching for meaning have resonated across generations. The He-Man meme, featuring the cartoon character singing the song with exaggerated emotion, amplified the song’s dramatic qualities and reintroduced it to a younger online audience. Even outside of the He-Man context, the sheer singalong quality of “What’s Up” makes it a perennial favorite for meme creators and internet users alike.
Foster The People – Pumped Up Kicks
Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks,” with its catchy melody and dark lyrical content, became a meme song with a slightly more complicated relationship to internet culture. While musically upbeat and infectious, the song’s lyrics actually deal with the serious topic of school shootings. The contrast between the upbeat music and the dark subject matter contributed to its use in memes, often in a somewhat ironic or even unsettling way. Despite the controversial nature of some of its meme applications, “Pumped Up Kicks” remains a recognizable and popular song, forever linked to the early 2010s indie-pop scene and its unexpected journey into meme territory.
Gary Jules – Mad World
Gary Jules’ cover of “Mad World,” originally by Tears for Fears, is a somber and melancholic track that gained meme status through its use in emotional or dramatic video edits. Its stripped-down piano arrangement and Jules’s haunting vocals lend themselves perfectly to conveying feelings of sadness, reflection, or existential contemplation. Frequently used in montages or short clips aiming for an emotional impact, “Mad World” has become a go-to meme song for expressing a range of complex and often downbeat emotions online.
Chumbawamba – Tubthumping
“Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba is an unexpected entry into the meme song hall of fame. This 90s one-hit-wonder, with its repetitive chorus and anthemic feel, found new life in ironic and celebratory memes. The song’s lyrics about resilience and getting back up after being knocked down, combined with its somewhat cheesy and undeniably catchy nature, made it perfect for humorous online content. “Tubthumping” memes often use the song to soundtrack moments of unexpected triumph, clumsy resilience, or simply as a nostalgic nod to the 90s.
a-ha – Take On Me
“Take On Me” by a-ha is a synth-pop classic from the 80s, instantly recognizable for its iconic music video and soaring chorus. While always a popular song, “Take On Me” gained meme status thanks to its unforgettable synth intro and Morten Harket’s distinctive vocals. Memes often play on the song’s dramatic intro or the high notes in the chorus, using it for comedic effect or to emphasize moments of exaggerated flair. The song’s enduring popularity and meme-worthiness solidify its place as a timeless hit that continues to resonate with audiences across generations.
Darude – Sandstorm
“Sandstorm” by Darude is perhaps the quintessential meme song, almost becoming synonymous with internet culture itself. This instrumental trance track became a meme primarily due to its frequent use in gaming videos and its incredibly catchy and repetitive melody. The “Darude – Sandstorm” meme often involves jokingly asking for the song name in any online context, even when completely unrelated, or using it as a placeholder answer. This playful and persistent meme has cemented “Sandstorm” as a legendary internet anthem, far beyond its original trance music scene.
Evanescence – Bring Me To Life
“Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence, with its dramatic piano intro and Amy Lee’s powerful vocals, is a nu-metal anthem that found its meme niche in dramatic entrances and over-the-top moments. The song’s theatrical and somewhat melodramatic style lends itself perfectly to comedic exaggeration. Memes using “Bring Me to Life” often highlight moments of intense drama, mock-epic entrances, or simply as a soundtrack to overly dramatic situations, turning the song’s inherent intensity into a source of internet humor.
Conclusion
Meme songs highlight how the internet can breathe new life into music, transforming tracks into cultural touchstones in unexpected ways. From comedic fails to dramatic entrances, these songs have found new meaning and audiences through the power of internet memes, proving that a catchy tune can take on a life of its own online. What are some of your favorite meme songs? Let us know in the comments below!
