Originally deemed the \u2018Novelty hit\u2019, the concept of the meme song is a relatively new phenom which has taken on an entity of its own\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the rise of short form content platforms like \u2018Vine\u2019 and more recently \u2018Tiktok\u2019, we have seen the use of song become synonymous with pushing forward more niche memes \u2013 such as \u2018Mia Khalifa\u2019 by iLOVEFRIDAY<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are the top ten most iconic meme songs in recent history, based on how prominent they were online:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10) ‘Sandstorm’ by Darude, Released in 2009\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sandstorm was that one song that came so out of left field, so it made total sense that it became a part of meme culture <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I vividly remember this one clip of he-man running through the desert and this song going over and over and over…\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9)\u00a0‘Dragostea din tei’ by O-Zone, Released in 2004\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though this song came out in 2004, it went viral after a video entitled \u2018Numa Numa\u2019 was uploaded to entertainment site Newgrounds<\/em> the year after its release \u2013 it was viewed around 160 million times in three months <\/p>\n\n\n\n The video had a very low-quality feel to it, and featured a Gary Brolsma enjoying a very flamboyant lipsync\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8) ‘Mia Khalifa’ by iLOVEFRIDAY, Released in 2018\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who\u2019d have thought there would ever be a disstrack against a sex worker?! Certainly not me <\/p>\n\n\n\n Blowing up on TikTok, which was new at the time, the song became largely associated with e-girls and cosplayers in general with the iconic snippet that is forever tattooed in my brain \u2018Hit or miss… I guess they never miss huh?\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n The\u00a0outlandish nature of this song is why I think it had such staying power as a meme, and is it bad that I can still say with integrity that the hook is catchy…\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7) \u2018MOO!\u2019 by Doja Cat, Released in 2018 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking of outlandish tunes, this is one that more recent Doja Fans may not know about <\/p>\n\n\n\n With her cow print bando top and a dream, Doja Cat was writing music and just thought f it I’ll create a song about cows! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Her hilarious delivery of lines such as \u2018got milk b*tch, got beef\u2019, not to mention the poorly green screened music video, projected her to the level of superstardom she is at right now, and I have no beef with that<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6) \u2018Turn Down for What\u2019 by DJ Snake and Lil Jon, Released in 2014 <\/p>\n\n\n\n The element that made this song so meme-worthy was the music video… an unidentified character which kept on slamming through the ceiling of people’s apartments. I mean what’s not to love!? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The saying \u2018turn down for what\u2019 became its own meme regardless of the song. It’s a strange one as I’m not quite sure the song would have taken off without the phrase and vice versa\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5) \u2018Harlem Shake\u2019 by Baauer, Released in 2012 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Clearly the early 2010s was the time for dance infused songs, and the Harlem Shake was no different. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A full-blown dance craze collected around the song, and became a staple meme song because of its overly dubstep elements, making it perfect for MLG edits (MLG is a story for another time) <\/p>\n\n\n\n The random sounds that have no place on the song just take it to the next level of novelty, with samples of roaring tigers, baby sounds and more<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4) \u2018Shooting Stars\u2019 by Bag Raiders, released in 2008 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now this is one of those memes that continues to prove its longevity. If you haven’t seen the meme, you clearly have been living under a rock <\/p>\n\n\n\n Essentially, it features a character or any object really, falling endlessly into space because of how accessible the meme was to any niche it has become a staple of meme culture and even spilled over into mainstream pop culture <\/p>\n\n\n\n Katy Perry features a spoof of the meme in her music video for \u2019Swish Swish\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n More Recently, Australian artist Troye Sivan has borrowed the melody of Shooting Stars for his 2023 hit \u2018Got Me Started\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3) \u2018All Star\u2019 by Smash Mouth, Released in 2001 <\/p>\n\n\n\n With the wake of the new millenium and the dust settling when the world didn\u2019t end, enters All star by Smash Mouth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many meme worthy moments within the song, however the most used part is the opening line \u2018Somebody once told me\u2019, with bass boosted and nightcore renditions of the Smash Mouth Tune <\/p>\n\n\n\n I’ve always associated the song with Shrek personally…\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2) Crank That (Soulja Boy) by Soulja Boy, Released in 2007 <\/p>\n\n\n\n This song was a slowburn in contrast to a lot of other meme songs featuring on the list, as it only became viral in 2009, two years after its release. Nevertheless, it was the earworm of my childhood, constantly finding myself building up to that \u2018youuuuuu\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was cringy catchy and memeable all in one, and became one of the most prominent memes of the noughties, going into the 2010s <\/p>\n\n\n\n Though there is one more song that had more of an impact on meme culture as we understand it today \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1) <\/p>\n\n\n\n