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Another year gone, another slate of incredible memes to make you forget about the prison of mortality. And to help you celebrate the close of another year of living in Hell (also known as the internet), here are some of my favorite memes from 2018.

Zendaya is Meechee


I have been on the Gabriel Gundacker train since I first started watching his Vines in 2015. Now to see him finally get the recognition he deserves, for a true musical masterpiece, is heartwarming. Not only is “Zendaya is Meechee” an instant classic, the video itself is splendid, and makes me kind of want to see the movie Smallfoot, which it is advertising. Will I? Probably not. But I will continue to request “Zendaya is Meechee” at all parties and/or bars.

Gritty

Full disclosure: I hate the Philadelphia Flyers. I have always hated them. They’re in the same division as the Buffalo Sabres, played each other in the playoffs, and were a constant source of mockery in middle school. However, in 2018, the Flyers did something to make me love a part of their franchise: they introduced Gritty. Gritty is a trash demon prince and internet darling. Gritty is high art. Gritty transcends traditional beauty. Gritty has always been there, lurking in a dark alleyway or under the Wells Fargo Center. We are all Gritty.

thank u, next

thank u, next” is a certified jam about being independent, grateful, and full of self-love. It also inspired a pop culture reference laden music video, and a wonderful, versatile meme: “One taught me love, one taught me patience, one taught me pain.” Ariana, we can’t wait to see what you do… next.

Hot Duck

In 2018, a lot of things were bad. We as a society needed to find something we could all agree on. And in this case, it was the Central Park mandarin duck. Just look at how hot this duck is. His puffed out chest. His beautiful plumage. He’s hot, and he knows it. I hope this beautiful duck lives for one thousand years.

Big Cow

If you thought the Hot Duck was the only animal that lit up the Internet this year, boy, are you in for a rude awakening. Or should we say… MOO-de awakening? Yes, we must acknowledge the Big Cow, who isn’t really a cow… he’s a steer (semantics). Either way, he is majestic and inspired some wonderful memes. Long Live Big Cow (sponsored by Chick-fil-A or PETA).

Tide Pods

Taking it all the way back to January, the Tide Pod Challenge swept the nation, and a disgusting and amazing meme was born. Why would anyone want to eat a Tide Pod? I guess the bigger question is – why WOULDN’T anyone eat a Tide Pod? They look like a delicious, portable, poisonous snack. A disclaimer: PLEASE do not eat Tide Pods. They are not edible.

A Star Is Born

For awhile, no one knew that Bradley Cooper would be directing and starring with Lady Gaga in a remake of A Star is Born. And then, the trailer hit. The world would never be the same. From “I just wanted to take another look at you” to the iconic Gaga scream there were too many A Star is Born memes to count.

https://twitter.com/maddiewhittle/status/1047310595853357056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1047310595853357056&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vox.com%2Fculture%2F2018%2F10%2F5%2F17931256%2Fa-star-is-born-best-memes

The movie will probably win Best Picture. Bradley and Gaga will also win multiple Oscars. Memes are good, the movie is good, the combination is spectacular.

Surgery on a Grape

I have a serious issue with this. This meme originated with my family. We have been plagiarized. Many years ago, my whole family used to take trips to Duck, North Carolina. We’d all stay in one big beach house, go to the beach, and watch my dad and uncles light fireworks. One year, for whatever reason, we kept a grape. My dad literally sewed a grape with thread, and we kept it in one of those plastic bubbles you get from a vending machine toy. So, we did surgery on The Grape at least twenty years ago. Whenever I see this meme, I become enraged. YOU HEARD IT HERE — WE DID SURGERY ON A GRAPE FIRST.


And those are simply my favorite memes of the year. Which memes did I miss? Hit me up where I am always lurking, Twitter.

Erin Vail

Erin is the 2003 West Reading Elementary Geography Bee champion, a TV obsessive, and never not thinking about Buffalo sports.

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