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2) “All your base are belong to us” from Zero Wing
This may be the grandaddy of all internet memes. It has lineage that traces all the way back to 1996 when an American living in Japan had a website dedicated to posting incredibly bad Japanese to English translations, also known as Engrish. The meme really didn’t start catching on until 2001 or so on the internet. About a couple years later, the meme became one of the earliest examples of a crossover meme in which even the non-video game fans could quote and understand. Well, sort of.
What makes this meme work is the fact that it’s Engrish but also has other iterations using the same bad translation. Other quotes include “Somebody Set Up Us The Bomb” or “What Happen” and “What You Say!” It also easily applies to several other things like in baseball, military stuff, and whatever else your heart desires. This may not be the oldest meme out there, but it’s definitely up there along the first to not only exist but cross over into the real world.
And now we hit number one… so what would outdo the immortal “All Your Base Are Belong To Us” or “Do a Barrel Roll”? Let’s find out. Here’s some anticipation music for you guys.
Great list! Good memories ; )
I haven’t heard of some of these (specifically #5 and #6).
Also, Zero Wing is not a Nintendo game and never appeared on any of Nintendo’s consoles.
I always quote #7. It is so much fun seeing the reactions. I usally get #3 thrown back at me by someone.
Number 8 is obviously the greatest meme– and the greatest video– in the history of the Internet.
This is so good, I wish I wrote it.
How could you forget the FALCON PAWNCH?!! I am disappoint.