Earrape edits became a staple of online meme culture in the 2010s, when creators deliberately distorted familiar tunes and sound cues to make them louder, harsher and funnier. Gag music, with its playful and cartoonish tone, was a natural fit because the contrast between the cheerful melody and the blown-out distortion creates the joke. The format spread through short video platforms, gaming clips and soundboards, where a seven-second blast is easy to drop into an edit. It remains popular because the effect is instantly recognisable and needs no explanation.