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10 Meme Songs That Broke the Internet (and Still Make Us Laugh)
Whether you call them novelty songs, viral songs, or meme songs, light-hearted pop tracks can have a massive cultural impact. Put simply, a meme is an idea that acts as cultural currency. Along with videos, images, and GIFs, memes are often transmitted through the medium of music. These meme songs are always catchy, they’re often very funny, and many of them have a poignant quality that’s impossible to define.
From nostalgic favorites to new viral jams, let’s take a look at some of the best meme songs to shape 21st-century culture.
Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley
If you had to choose one song to define online culture, it may be “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Released by Rick Astley in 1987, this classic pop record had a second life in the aughts. The popularity of this track is due to the practice of “Rickrolling,” where an innocent link is redirected to the music video for this song. This simple form of online pranking was incredibly effective, and it led to the song having over 1.6 billion views on YouTube. Funny meme songs don’t get any bigger than this.
Shooting Stars – Bag Raiders
This track was originally recorded in 2008 by Australian electronic producers Bag Raiders. It was fairly successful Down Under at the time of release, but it certainly didn’t break any records. “Shooting Stars” became an international sensation years later in 2017, when it was used to soundtrack an internet meme. It originally featured on a Reddit video called “Fat man does amazing dive,” with countless versions released of people falling against spacey backgrounds. One famous version was a mashup of Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl LI halftime performance.
Crank That – Soulja Boy
This track by Soulja Boy was a meme from the start, and the accompanying dance routine made it go viral. “Crank That” was the lead single from the album souljaboytellem.com, which came out in 2007. The song spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, with Soulja Boy’s moves becoming the biggest dance trend since the Macarena. The looping steelpan riff was the perfect background for the dance, with people on socials bouncing back on their heels, rippling their hands, and cranking their wrists before lunging into a Superman pose.
Gangnam Style – Psy
If you were alive in 2012, you’d be well aware of “Gangnam Style.” This K-pop track by Psy was absolutely massive, with its catchy beat and funny dance routine quickly becoming a meme. The song and music video went viral in August 2012, going well beyond the borders of Korea to influence global culture. “Gangnam Style” peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100, which was pretty incredible for a South Korean artist. The meme currency of this track was largely due to Psy’s dance moves, including his iconic pelvic thrust during the elevator scene of the music video. This is one of the most popular meme songs of them all.
Take On Me – A-ha
A-ha’s “Take On Me” is a slice of synthpop heaven that encapsulates the ’80s sound. This catchy track combines electronics with acoustic guitars and vocals stretching over two and a half octaves. The meme from this song comes directly from the music video, which blends pencil-sketch animation with live action in a style called rotoscoping. In the meme image, A-ha singer Morten Harket is found in compromising situations, while the stencil proclaims “AHA.” TV series Family Guy also parodied the song in 2005 in the episode “Breaking Out Is Hard to Do.”
Sandstorm – Darude
“Sandstorm” is an instrumental dance track by Finnish DJ and producer Darude. This piece of music originally gained traction on radio stations and dance clubs, but it received global recognition as an internet meme. Due to the upbeat nature of this song, it was often used in films and during sporting events. “Sandstorm” was also popular among online gamers, who often chose it as their background music while streaming on Twitch. Over time, due to its ubiquitous nature, it became the perfect joke response for “every song in existence.”
Astronomia – Vicetone & Tony Igy (Coffin Dance)
“Astronomia” is a famous meme song by Russian DJ/producer Tony Igy and Dutch electronic music duo Vicetone. Like many of the meme songs on this list, it also comes with an accompanying dance. The original version of this track came out in Russia in 2010, and the remix responsible for the meme was released in 2014. During the global pandemic, this song was used to soundtrack the “Coffin Dance” internet video. The remix played while a group of African men danced and carried a coffin, which is a common funeral tradition in Ghana.
The Gummy Bear Song – Gummibär
This track by Gummibär is a great example of funny meme songs. Released in 2007, “I’m a Gummy Bear (The Gummy Bear Song)” is a musical homage to the iconic gummy bear candy. It quickly became a ringtone hit, making it one of the most popular meme songs of all time. The producers behind this song saw its potential, releasing a music video on YouTube and Myspace. Over time, it was recorded and released in 43 languages. The English version has over 3.4 billion views on YouTube, which puts it in the top 50 most-viewed videos of all time.
What Does the Fox Say – Ylvis
This track was recorded and released by Norwegian comedy duo Ylvis. It was originally released as part of the duo’s Norwegian TV show, I kveld med YLVIS (Tonight with Ylvis). The comedians uploaded the song to YouTube as a teaser, and it became an overnight viral sensation. The music and video are in typical electronic dance style, with humorous lyrics performed with deadpan seriousness. After delivering classic lines like “Dog goes woof” and “Cat goes meow,” Ylvis offers several increasingly strange possibilities for the fox. From “gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!” to “fraka-kaka-kaka-kaka-kow!,” this song is an absolute blast.
X Gon’ Give It to Ya – DMX
The last meme song on this list is “X Gon’ Give It to Ya” by DMX. This was the lead single from the soundtrack to Cradle 2 the Grave, a not-so-critically-acclaimed film from 2003. The meme from this song is based around the track’s title, with the online community delivering thousands of absurd jokes about “X” and how he or she is going to “Give It to ya.” The aggressive energy and memorable lyrics of this track make it one of the best meme songs of all time.
Final Thoughts
Since the birth of the internet, people have gone online to start conversations and spread ideas. Memes are a novel, efficient, and fun-filled way to share meaning while also having a laugh. Whether it’s through humor, nostalgia, or just plain weirdness, memes are a viral phenomenon that shapes the collective culture of the world. If you want to get lost in some of these crazy ideas, the meme songs on this list are a great place to start.