What Is The Story Behind The Shimmy Shimmy Ya Meme? Why Is It So Popular?
The internet has a way of giving old songs new life—and the Shimmy Shimmy Ya meme is proof of that. What started as a catchy line in a 90s rap track somehow became the soundtrack for spinning animations, dancing McDonald’s boxes, and a ton of looped TikToks that don’t make much sense—but that’s exactly why we love them.
If you’ve stumbled across a surreal video with the words “Shimmy shimmy ya, shimmy yay, shimmy yah” on repeat, you’re not alone. Here’s the story behind the meme, where it came from, and why it just won’t leave your head.
What Is the Shimmy Shimmy Ya Meme?
At its core, the Shimmy Shimmy Ya meme is a surreal, looping visual joke—often featuring dancing objects, spinning animations, or chaotic energy—synced to a catchy audio snippet. That snippet? It’s from Jason Derulo’s 2017 track Swalla, which itself references Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s 1995 classic Shimmy Shimmy Ya.
What Is The Story Behind The Shimmy Shimmy Ya Meme?
The Shimmy Shimmy Ya meme traces its roots to a lyric originally sung by Ol’ Dirty Bastard in his 1995 hip-hop hit, Shimmy Shimmy Ya.
But the phrase really took off in meme culture after being reused in Jason Derulo’s 2017 track “Swalla”, released on March 17, 2017. The video went viral and it now has 10 million likes and 1.8 billion views.
What Does the Shimmy Shimmy Ya Meme Mean?
On the surface, it’s a celebration—a playful way to say, “shake off the stress.” But in meme culture, it often carries a darker, ironic twist: a minimalist, surreal break from reality. When life feels glitchy or chaotic, you post the shimmy. It’s humor, therapy, and dance therapy rolled into one.
How the Meme Spread Online
Early versions of the meme appeared on June 24th, 2020, when iFunny user Spare_requiem_2020 uploaded a variation of the “Are You Going to Sleep?” meme featuring the lyric “Shimmy Shimmy Ya.” But the meme didn’t really explode until mid-2022.
That’s when YouTube channel Epic Gamer uploaded a low-res video of animated McDonald’s Happy Meal boxes dancing (shown below) to the Swalla audio.
Posted on July 12, 2022, the video struck a chord. In just two years, it racked up over 11.7 million views and helped launch a wave of similar clips across TikTok and Instagram. The video now has 30 million views.
From there, the sound took off on TikTok, especially in dancing animations, spinning edits, and “cursed” meme formats. The randomness of the visuals combined with the catchy chorus made it endlessly remixable.
TikTok creators like @glorp_aliencat looped the shimmy phrase over funny dance clips. Even cats got in on it. The video has 1.5 million views and nearly 300,000 hearts.
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Tiktok user @chickens__420 also used the meme sound in their video featuring 4 pole dancing chickens.
@chickens__420
Early adoption kicked off in June 2020 on iFunny, then Reddit threads /r/hiphopheads and r/animemes bubbled with nostalgic shout-outs .
Why the Shimmy Shimmy Ya Meme Still Works
This meme ticks all the boxes:
- The audio loop is instantly recognizable and weirdly catchy.
- The visuals are easy to remix or animate.
- It works both as comedy and catharsis—you’re laughing, but also feeling strangely seen.
- Nostalgic vibes—hints at 90s hip-hop while staying ultra-modern.
It’s the perfect template whenever you need to say, “let’s just vibe through the madness.”
Conclusion
The Shimmy Shimmy Ya meme isn’t just another dance trend. It’s a collision of internet nostalgia, looping absurdity, and the enduring charm of a good beat. Whether it’s a spinning cartoon character or a low-res happy meal breakdancing on your screen, this meme shows how the weirdest things can bring people together—one shimmy at a time.
