Ariana Grande‘s ex-referencing new bop ‘Thank U, Next’ might be a wholesome break-up banger, but while the ire and anger of old-school pop hits may have been sidelined, one thing’s remained – the memes.
Pop fandom is like no other, with fans of all things sugary usually the first to take to the ‘net with topical re-imaginings of their favourite songs. Case in point: the ‘love, patience and pain’ meme, which takes Ariana’s lyrics about her ex-boyfriends, and turns them on all manner of pop culture oddities.
“One taught me love / One taught me patience / And one taught me pain / Now, I’m so amazing” Ariana sings – an ode to her exes, and everything she learned from their time together. Now, people are turning that thought process towards more affecting things than relationships. Like, er, the Shrek series.
one taught me love, one taught me patience, one taught me pain pic.twitter.com/jcPkfsmHH4
— Ayo Edebiri (@ayoedebiri) November 5, 2018
Others, are using it to push politics, like veganism. To be fair, oat milk rules.
https://twitter.com/THerwees/status/1059571854183063552
Some hilarious jokers are getting punny with the term “ex” – enter the somewhat ropey X-Men film series.
One taught me love
One taught me patience
One taught me painI'm so fucking grateful for my X pic.twitter.com/ML5LVAURWw
— It's beginning to Luke a lot like Christmas ? (@LukeCB_) November 6, 2018
While, predictably, a whole bunch of people are turning the meme back on their favourite bands and musicians. Like Paramore.
one taught me love.
one taught me patience.
one taught me pain. pic.twitter.com/ye36a6Dc4J— James (@JeimarsonP) November 6, 2018
And wherever pain is involved, football fans will surely follow – Manchester United fans to the front, naturally.
One taught me love
One taught me patience
One taught me pain pic.twitter.com/XqdDzw0BIi— whiny bitch (@utd_mar) November 6, 2018
It’s this month’s hot new meme format, and it’s absolutely bloody everywhere – so expect it to run aground rather sharpish. Much like your past relationships. Ha!