Totally Meme-able
Think songs are just there to play in the background of TikToks and memes? Think again. From classic rock to ridiculous novelty, here’s a tour through iconic meme songs that conquered feeds and charts alike—none of them originally meant to be jokes.
“Dreams” By Fleetwood Mac
This 1977 Fleetwood Mac classic got a fresh lease of viral life thanks to a TikTok video featuring a man skateboarding and sipping cranberry juice. The meme triggered a massive spike in streams and even pushed “Dreams” back onto Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs chart decades after release.
Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (Official Music Video) [4K], Fleetwood Mac
“Lose Yourself” By Eminem
OK, this one’s pretty simple—Lose Yourself became a meme thanks to one incredibly dumb and incredibly iconic edit. Someone took the song and looped the line “Mom’s spaghetti” over and over, turning Eminem’s gritty anthem into a bizarre spaghetti-themed remix. Naturally, it spiraled into internet infamy with countless copycats, parodies, and even merchandise.
Eminem - Lose Yourself [HD], msvogue23
“Take On Me” By A‑ha
Ah, the era of Vine—where six seconds could make or break internet fame. A-ha’s 1985 synth-pop classic found a second life thanks to creator Chloe Woodard, who danced and snapped her head to the beat while rocking sunglasses in one perfectly timed clip. It was short, it was silly, and it was instantly iconic.
Eminem - Lose Yourself [HD], msvogue23
“Yo Voy” By Zion & Lennox Ft. Daddy Yankee
This one’s still bubbling under, but it’s got all the makings of a meme in motion. The clip? A six-second video of Euphoria star Alexa Demie vibing in the passenger seat, putting on lip gloss while Yo Voy plays in the background. That’s it—and somehow, it broke the internet. When you mix reggaetón, effortless cool, and a Gen Z icon, virality is basically inevitable.
Zion & Lennox, Daddy Yankee - Yo Voy (Official Video), Has
“Photograph” By Nickelback
If you’ve been on the internet in the last decade, you’ve probably seen the meme. It’s the clip from Nickelback’s music video where Chad Kroeger dramatically holds up a photograph—but in the meme version, the photo is replaced with, well…a graph. There are a few spinoffs, but nothing beats the sheer simplicity of that original edit.
Nickelback - Photograph [OFFICIAL VIDEO], Roadrunner Records
“Angeleyes” By ABBA
This time, the spotlight landed on Angeleyes thanks to the emotional lyric clip: “Sometimes, when I’m lonely, I sit and think about him…” At first, it was a sweet, wholesome trend—people used it for montages of friends, exes, and pets with real sentimental value. But of course, the internet being the internet, it quickly spiraled into chaos with users applying it to the Twilight cast, Tamagotchis, Furbies, and other highly questionable “exe”.
ABBA- Angeleyes (HD Music Video Montage), ABBA. FC
“Never Gonna Give You Up” By Rick Astley
The king of memes, “Rickrolling” transformed this earnest 1987 pop song into a prank masterclass: click a link, get a surprise dance‑face from Rick. It became the quintessential bait‑and‑switch meme, with countless versions, celebrity appearances, and even major events orchestrated around it. Even decades later, it remains shorthand for internet trickery and tongue‑in‑cheek joy.
Rick’s WORST Never Gonna Give You Up reactions - BBC, BBC
“Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” By Kate Bush
Thanks to Stranger Things, an entire generation suddenly discovered the ethereal brilliance of Kate Bush—and TikTok immediately ran with it. Running Up That Hill became the backdrop for countless videos, most of them hilariously over-the-top and melodramatic on purpose. Think: fake slow-mo, intense stares, and emotional chaos that’s clearly tongue-in-cheek.
“The Sound Of Silence” By Simon & Garfunkel
This is one of those meme songs no one really saw coming—especially considering it was released back in the 1960s. But somehow, its haunting melody and serious tone make it the perfect soundtrack for funny, tragic, or awkwardly silent moments.
The Graduate • The Sound of Silence • Simon & Garfunkel, HD Film Tributes
“Hide And Seek” By Imogen Heap
This one shares some DNA with The Sound of Silence in meme land—but trades melancholy for melodrama. After it was famously featured in a Lonely Island SNL skit, the haunting “Mmm whatcha say” line became the go-to soundtrack for over-the-top plot twists and sudden tragedies. It’s been used in everything from parody movie scenes to everyday fails with cinematic flair.
Imogen Heap - Hide And Seek (Official Video), Imogen Heap
“Sandstorm” By Darude
This 2009 trance track became a long‑running meme joke where internet comment sections challenge you to name the song—even in 2025—and everyone replies “Darude – Sandstorm”. The absurd persistence of the joke catapulted the instrumental into running meme status.
Imogen Heap - Hide And Seek (Official Video), Imogen Heap
“Moo” By Doja Cat
A comedic track literalizing bovine themes, “MOO” became a meme piece largely because of its playful exaggeration and intentionally absurd lyrics. The green‑screen video results and fan‑made edits turned it into a meme culture darling. It contributed to Doja Cat’s meteoric rise with meme‑powered virality.
Doja Cat - Mooo! (Official Video), Doja Cat
“Turn Down For What” By DJ Snake And Lil Jon
Known for its raucous energy and a video of a man destructively breaking through floors, this track became meme‑iconic in flashmob videos, gym fails, and animation mashups. The absurd visuals in the official video provide endless opportunity for remixing and unexpected comedic behavior.
DJ Snake, Lil Jon - Turn Down for What, DJ Snake
“Harlem Shake” By Baauer
In 2013, one user posted a 30‑second clip with a group dancing crazily after a beat drop—and suddenly the world had to make its own version. Thousands of copycats followed; each clip malevolent and fun, cutting between one lone dancer and full chaos over Baauer’s track. It reached No 1 on Billboard Hot 100 thanks purely to viral sharing.
BEST HARLEM SHAKE COMPILATION ! (BEST VIDEOS), ENERGYLIVEHD
“Shooting Stars” By Bag Raiders
Originally a dreamy electronica track, “Shooting Stars” became meme-famous in surreal “falling through space” video edits. Internet users paired epic fails with floating cosmic landscapes, synced to the soaring synth melody. The meme’s bizarre humor made the song explode on Reddit, YouTube, and Twitter in 2017.
TRAMPOLINE FAIL SHOOTING STARS MEME, Attraction to Distraction
“All Star” By Smash Mouth
Smash Mouth’s catchy pop‑rock anthem transformed into an evergreen meme thanks in large part to Shrek and fandom mashups. Online creators remix the song into absurd contexts—from karaoke fails to film edits—and cheerfully lean into its cheesy optimism. GQ called its meme longevity “endless obsession” rooted in nostalgia and silliness.
Shrek - All star | Intro HD (1080p), M0vie
“Crank That” By Soulja Boy
Back in 2007, Soulja Boy uploaded “Crank That” on Myspace and YouTube, inviting fans to dance along—and they did, creating viral routines and home‑made videos. This grassroots user participation set the precedent for song‑based meme culture. It became a template for dance‑driven memes and social media participation long before TikTok existed.
“My Heart Will Go On” By Celine Dion
The iconic Titanic ballad became a meme through comedic parodies, mis‑sync jokes, and ironic covers. People pair it with clips of dramatic crashes, cute pets, or sad farewells—even when the connection is absurd—a prime example of meme‑irony. The real emotion meets absurd context, and the result is hilarious contrast.
Céline Dion - My Heart Will Go On (Official 25th Anniversary Alternate Music Video), Celine Dion
“Gangnam Style” Psy
This 2012 global smash was already a viral sensation—but it became meme fodder for parody videos, dance talent shows, and endless re‑enactments. PSY's horse‑riding dance moved from YouTube to mainstream thanks to online sharing, influencing how memes and music charts interrelate.
PSY - GANGNAM STYLE (Official Music Video), WeAreTheMusicBosses
“A Thousand Miles” By Vanessa Carlton
From 2002 earworm to meme revival, this song resurged thanks to its instantly recognizable piano riff and use in parody videos. People humorously layer that riff over absurd clips—a cat staring wistfully, a dramatic commute, or slow fade edits—making it iconic meme audio. The emotional earnestness amplifies the joke.
Vanessa Carlton - A Thousand Miles, Vanessa Carlton
Final Thoughts
There you have it: twenty irresistible songs that transcended their original release and became internet legends in their own right. Memes may be fleeting—or immortal—but these songs prove that once a track becomes part of the meme lexicon, it never really dies.
PSY - GANGNAM STYLE (Official Music Video), WeAreTheMusicBosses
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