Where Did the Jon Hamm Meme Come from? the Exact Clips Behind the Viral Dance Craze
By Marcus Vance
Q1: What show does the Jon Hamm dancing meme clip actually come from?
The footage originates from a scripted character sequence in an Apple TV+ series featuring Jon Hamm, where his character unexpectedly breaks out into a celebratory, energetic dance routine.
Q2: What is the official title of the song used in the meme?
The song is "Turn the Lights Off" by Danish producer Kato, featuring vocals by Jon Nørgaard. It was originally released as a single in 2010.
Q3: Why is it often called the "turn it up meme"?
Because of the distorted, high-tempo vocal delivery during the chorus drop, casual listeners frequently mishear the lyric "Turn the lights off" as "Turn it up." This auditory illusion drove hundreds of thousands of searches under the misheard title.
Q4: Did Jon Hamm choreograph the viral dance?
Hamm improvised much of the routine's specific cadence during the scene's filming, leaning into loose, physical humor that fit the character's unhinged confidence in that scripted moment.
Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.
