LeBron James 'You Are My Sunshine' meme, explained: What does TikTok trend mean and how did it start? | Sporting News (2024)

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Where did the You Are My Sunshine meme come from? ›

The trend originated in early 2023 as a way of mocking some of the most passionate fans of James. Super-fans of the Lakers star long preceded TikTok, as James has had no shortage of ardent supporters and defenders throughout his iconic career.

The trend features videos of fans in the crowd singing "You Are My Sunshine," poking fun at the extremes of fandom surrounding the basketball legend. By adding singing over videos and pictures of LeBron James, TikTok users sought to exaggerate the adoration for James to the point of parody.

The song also became part of a cultural phenomenon in 2024, surging in popularity after it was part of an internet meme featuring LeBron James, in which Christina Perri's cover of the song is played over a heavily edited portrait photo of James himself behind an extremely glaring background; James is referred to as the ...

After LeBron scored 40 points in Brooklyn, some TikTok videos show the crowd singing “You Are My Sunshine” to the superstar. It appears that a meme that began in January 2023 has blossomed into reality over a year later. LeBron lovers and haters are passionate. Most every superstar has passionate fans.

The lines “I dreamed I held you in my arms / When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken” reveal a story of love lost, a narrative of longing and heartbreak. The song also depicts the singer's jealousy and insecurity, as they suspect their lover of leaving them for another.

Johnny Cash was a good friend of his, and he coupled this twist with his own subverted storytelling when it came to his 2003 version of 'You Are My Sunshine'. He brought a new dark undercurrent about the predatory male desire to possess women as their own to the flowery surface of the lilting rhyme.

Holliday explains that, like the old Mid-Atlantic accent, this version of the TikTok voice is “devoid of many strong regional markers”. However, she notes that with TikTok voice there's also a “general pattern of hyperarticulation”, such as not flapping the “t” consonant.

TikTok, like many apps, requests access to your microphone, primarily for recording videos and adding voiceovers. But the burning question is: does it listen all the time? The straightforward answer is that while TikTok can access your microphone, there's no solid evidence to suggest it's continuously eavesdropping.

If you've ever read the lyrics to this sunshine song, it's not meant to be a happy song at ALL. It's about betrayal, loss, and loneliness.

It means you are the light of my life, you are dear to me, you are important and special, etc. It's from a little kids' song: You are my sunshine. My only sunshine.

What does the metaphor "You are my sunshine" mean? ›

So when you say somebody is your sunshine, what you are really saying is the person makes you feel warm, or brings light to your life, and puts you in a better mood. This is one of the most basic and powerful forms of figurative language.

I think it means that you make her happy, normally when someone says “you are my sunshine” it means you make them happy, or that you are their sun on their rainy days, etc… but its nothing to worry about. It's nothing more than terms of endearment, but if it makes you uncomfortable, tell him so.

Quite literally, users are referring to James as their "sunshine" with their use of the song. The song simply expresses love for a person, and proponents of the meme are ironically professing love for James in a way that pokes fun at some of his most passionate defenders.

What is the LeBron you are my sunshine mean? This is an extension of the LeBron glazing trend. And that trend. people are making fun of people who really support LeBron, talking about how protective they are over him and everything.

LeBron James (@lebronjamesofficial) | TikTok.

Development of the song began in January 1967 when Bruce and Clapton attended a Jimi Hendrix show at the Saville Theatre in London. Inspired by the likes of Richard Wetherell and rock drummer, Bruce returned home and wrote the now memorable guitar riff that runs throughout the song.

Two groups originally from the Atlanta area were the first to record “You Are My Sunshine,” both during the latter half of 1939. First of these was the Pine Ridge Boys, an old-time, close-harmony, two-guitars-with-yodels duo made up of Doug Spivey and Marvin Taylor; they recorded it for Bluebird (B-8263) on August 22.

Long about 1944, Davis decided to run for governor of Louisiana. He used the song during his campaign, and there are even references to Davis having a horse he named “Sunshine” that would stroll beside the well-loved songwriter and wannabe governor as he stumped along the back roads of the very rural state.