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

LeBron James' NBA career began 16 years before TikTok started to gain worldwide popularity, but the Lakers star has lasted long enough to see himself become a star on the social media platform — just maybe not in the way he expected.

James has gone viral on TikTok in recent weeks, but not directly because of anything he did on the basketball court.Videos of James set to the song, "You Are My Sunshine," are widely circulating, seemingly paying tribute to the NBA legend.

What does the trend actually mean, who is behind them and how did it start?

Here's what you need to know about the viral LeBron James "You Are My Sunshine" meme on TikTok.

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LeBron James 'You Are My Sunshine' meme, explained

The "You Are My Sunshine" meme is a trend of TikTok users posting videos with the song, "You Are My Sunshine," playing over images or video of LeBron James.

@lesunshine_james Lesunshine James is always watching ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️#lebronjames #sunshine #fyp ♬ you are my sunshine - christina perri

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. James also has no shortage of detractors who regularly mock the way his super-fans defend him.

By swooning over James to the point that it's obviously satirical, many users who post "You Are My Sunshine" videos are mocking just how passionate James' biggest fans can be.

The LeBron tiktok lore with the sunshine song is all over my fyp with different variations of him😭

— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) March 24, 2024

The meme has already evolved into different variations of James, including parodies of what was already a parody, and that includes "LeEvil James."

The trend took on new life when the Brooklyn Nets' official TikTok account posted a video of James warming up at the Barclays Center with the sound of a crowd singing "You Are My Sunshine" and a text overlay that reads "Why is everyone singing this song."

@brooklynnets Obviously for Cam Thomas #youaremysunshine #brooklynnets #meme ♬ original sound - cc.morant ®

The 15-second video, which pans back and forth from James to the Nets, also features the caption "Obviously for Cam Thomas," poking fun at the meme.

'Boy oh boy, LeBron' meaning

Videos aren't the only way users get their point across as part of this viral trend.

The videos often feature captions ironically professing love for James, often starting with some variation of, "Boy oh boy, LeBron, where do I even begin."

The caption is intended to add to the theme of mocking fans who might take their defense of James a bit too far, swooning over the Lakers star in a way that makes it clear the video is satirical.

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How LeBron James 'You Are My Sunshine' meme started

While the meme is going viral in 2024, the trend actually started in January 2023, according to Know Your Meme. It isn't known which user launched the trend — if it can even be traced back to one video — but the dynamic between James detractors and James supporters has existed throughout his 21-year NBA career.

Arguably no NBA star has as many haters as James, and it can be argued that no NBA star has as many passionate fans, either. That simply comes with the territory of being a world-famous athlete and one of the greatest players in a sport's history. James' biggest detractors often see his fans' support as being a bit over the top, and the meme simply emphasizes the hilarity of how passionate fans of James can be.

At the same time, trends evolve quickly. It's not far-fetched to imagine some actual fans of James might be getting in on the fun and posting "You Are My Sunshine" videos of their own just to be part of the meme.

LeBron James 'You Are My Sunshine' meme song

The song attached to most of the James memes is "You Are My Sunshine" by Christina Perri.

Perri's rendition is just one version of "You Are My Sunshine," which was originally released in 1940 and has been featured in everything from commercials and movies to TV shows over the years.

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.

You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You'll never know, dear
How much I love you
Please don't take
My sunshine away

The other night, dear
As I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you
In my arms
When I awoke, dear
I was mistaken
So I hung my head and cried

You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You'll never know, dear
How much I love you
Please don't take
My sunshine away

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

FAQs

What does the LeBron Sunshine meme mean? ›

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. This new image of LeBron's head has gone viral.

What is the meaning behind the You Are My Sunshine meme? ›

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.

Why are people singing "You are my sunshine" on TikTok? ›

LeBron James, the NBA legend whose infamous career has spanned the length of 21 years, finds himself an unexpected star on TikTok thanks to a viral trend. 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.

What is the meaning of you are my sunshine LeBron? ›

The "You Are My Sunshine" meme is a trend of TikTok users posting videos with the song, "You Are My Sunshine," playing over images or video of LeBron James. The trend originated in early 2023 as a way of mocking some of the most passionate fans of James.

What is LeBron TikTok? ›

LeBron James (@lebronjamesofficial) | TikTok.

What is the story behind You Are My Sunshine? ›

In later interviews, Rice said he wrote the song in 1937 and based it on letters he had received from a girl in South Carolina who called him her “sunshine.” Rice also said that many people have claimed to have written the song over the years, despite him saying he had written it.

Is there a dark meaning behind You Are My Sunshine? ›

The fear of abandonment and the pain of unrequited love are themes that run deep, making the song relatable to many who have experienced similar heartache. The song also hints at the singer's possessiveness and manipulation, as they threaten their lover with regret and blame if they ever leave.

What does it mean when someone says You Are My Sunshine? ›

Sunshine is typically warm. It also will usually put someone in a better mood. 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.

Is "You Are My Sunshine" a sad song? ›

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.

Who made You Are My Sunshine? ›

Written and recorded as early as 1939, the song was first published and copyrighted in 1940 by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell. Davis went on to be governor of Louisiana from 1944 to 1948 and again from 1960 to 1964, and used the song for his election campaign.

Who made turn up the sunshine? ›

"Turn Up the Sunshine" is a song recorded by American singer Diana Ross featuring Australian musician Tame Impala from the soundtrack to the animated film Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022). The song was written by Jack Antonoff, Kevin Parker (Tame Impala), Sam Dew and Patrik Berger.

What does the You Are My Sunshine meme mean? ›

This is the meme's satirical strike against some clout kings, who are die-hard LeBron admirers. Die-hard fans of James have attached to him as he grew and developed throughout his ever-lasting career. They are his army, defending him always, whatever happens.

What does the song tell us about You Are My Sunshine? ›

“You Are My Sunshine” is often called “heartwarming”, but a close look at the lyrics after the first verse shows that they're better described as “heartbreaking”. It's about unrequited love. This song has enjoyed enduring popularity for nine decades.

Why are the voices on TikTok weird? ›

The first thing to clarify: TikTok voices are heavily linked to the content of the video. A video of a skunk doing a handstand (yes, this exists) is going to be narrated differently to a video of overnight oats.

What does LeBron James symbol mean? ›

Elements that make the logo

Just like the previous logo, the new logo still makes use of the crown that indicates that James is and will remain the king of basketball. The two halves of the logo below the crown are Bron's initials “L” and “J”.

What does the basketball player emoji mean? ›

You can this emoji when you wanna play b-ball, cheering for your favorite NBA team, or just talking about how baller you are. This emoji depicts basketball plays with a variety skin tones and genders -- but not a variety of heights.

What do LeBron's tattoos say? ›

LeBron James has “What we do in life” tattooed on his right arm and “echoes in eternity” on his left arm. This phrase was inspired by the movie Gladiator.

What is Nike LeBron slogan? ›

Whether on the court or off, carry LeBron's motto of "Strive for Greatness" wherever you go.

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