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“Somebody Once Told Me” meme: meaning, origin and rare card

“Somebody Once Told Me” is a visual meme based on Smash Mouth’s All Star song.

MyMemeCards editorial teamPublished 9 min read
Somebody Once Told Me meme
The “Somebody Once Told Me” meme, 2013

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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Somebody Once Told Me” is a rare card of the Memes World series 70, number 20995 of the collection, and the 203rd best-known meme of its 243 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.

What does the “Somebody Once Told Me” meme mean?

This format plays on the gap between the anticipation of the first word (“some-”) and the sudden reveal of the second (“body once told me”). The emotion is one of abrupt surprise, often comedic, linked to immediate visual impact. It is used to illustrate moments where reality hits hard, invoking the iconic Shrek intro playfully. It marks a sharp turning point in everyday or fictional situations.

Where does the “Somebody Once Told Me” meme come from?

The meme stems from the song “All Star” by Smash Mouth, released on the album Astro Lounge on June 8, 1999. Its global fame surged due to the movie Shrek, released on May 18, 2001, which uses this track when the character opens a door in the opening scene. The specific text-splitting format appeared on Tumblr. On April 9, 2013, user jelly-fishes posted a series of images built around this concept: an image split into two, separating the syllables “some-” and “body once told me” around a strong visual event. The identity of the original person or video serving as the model remains unknown according to consulted sources. The comedic effect relies entirely on this audiovisual synchronization, unrelated to any specific character other than Shrek as a cultural catalyst.

  1. June 8, 1999Release of the song All Star by Smash Mouth on the album Astro Lounge.
  2. May 18, 2001Release of the movie Shrek, which massively popularizes the musical excerpt during the opening scene.
  3. April 9, 2013Post on Tumblr by user jelly-fishes featuring the split visual format.

How to use the “Somebody Once Told Me” meme

  • Insert an image of someone tripping right after writing “some-” to highlight an unexpected failure.
  • Use a movie screenshot where a character abruptly opens a cupboard, juxtaposing the two halves of the text.
  • Create a short video montage where the rapid transition between two scenes coincides exactly with the syllable change.

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  • Shrek door opening meme
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  • jelly-fishes tumblr all star

The “Somebody Once Told Me” card in MyMemeCards

Somebody Once Told Me card
NumberNo. 20995
RarityRare
CollectionMemes World series 70
Fame75/100 · #203 of 243
Recycle value10 MemeCoins (30 in Shiny)
Rarities of the Memes World series 70: 243 cards
  • Common197.8%
  • Rare197.8%
  • Epic19580%
  • Legendary62.5%
  • Mythic41.6%

How to get the “Somebody Once Told Me” card

Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Somebody Once Told Me comes out of the Memes World series 70 as a rare card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.

Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 10 MemeCoins.

Open your free pack

5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.

Free · no account needed

Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details

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Frequently asked questions

What is the somebody once told me meme?

It is a visual meme format that splits the opening line of the song All Star into two distinct images, synchronized with a shock or door opening.

What is the origin of the somebody once told me meme?

The specific format comes from a Tumblr post on April 9, 2013, by user jelly-fishes, inspired by the cultural association between the song and the movie Shrek.

Who created the somebody once told me meme tumblr?

Tumblr user jelly-fishes is credited with the first series of images using this precise split, although the musical inspiration is older.

How do I get the Somebody Once Told Me meme card?

Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Somebody Once Told Me” is a rare card of the Memes World series 70. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.

How rare is the Somebody Once Told Me card?

It is a Rare card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.

Sources: Somebody Once Told Me | Know Your Meme · [TOMT] [COMMERCIAL] All Star by Smash Mouth, but macaroni · meme.com · memes · all-starAll Star Meme: Smash Mouth, Shrek, and the Ironic Cover Era · checked on October 11, 2026.

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