Joeman's '4 AM Beef Noodles' Sparks Meme Craze, Soft Lipa's 'Epic' Gets New Version

A recent relationship controversy surrounding Taiwanese influencer Joeman has unexpectedly ignited a viral internet meme trend, with "4 AM beef noodles" becoming the central theme. The creative energy of netizens has led to increasingly elaborate online jokes, flooding social media with beef noodle memes. This phenomenon has now extended to a beloved classic by rapper Soft Lipa (known as "蛋堡" in Taiwan), whose song "Epic" has been humorously reimagined.

Netizens have cleverly adapted the opening lyrics of Soft Lipa's song, which originally read, "This poem was written ten years ago at a certain 4 AM." The new version playfully states, "This bowl of noodles was cooked at a certain 4 AM." This adaptation has amused many, with some joking that Joeman's scandal has inadvertently "nourished several wild Soft Lipas."

The particular resonance of this adaptation stems from the "4 AM" reference in "Epic," which is deeply familiar to Taiwanese hip-hop fans. The song, included in Soft Lipa's 2013 album "The Undisclosed Files of Du Zhenxi - Internal Renovation," reflects on his rap and creative journey over the past decade. Notably, the music video featured a significant gathering of Taiwanese hip-hop artists, including MC HotDog, Dabiz, members of MJ116, and Miss Ko, creating a snapshot of the genre's golden era.

"Epic" is more than just a look back at youth; it serves as a rap time capsule from Soft Lipa to his future self. Coincidentally, in the song, he imagined his future self being "around 38," an age he reached when he won the Golden Melody Award for Best Mandarin Male Singer and Best Mandarin Album for "Home Cooked Music" at the 32nd ceremony. The song not only chronicles Soft Lipa's personal creative journey but also captures a slice of Taiwanese rap's evolution from underground to mainstream.

Joeman's recent situation has not only popularized the "4 AM beef noodles" meme but also, by chance, led many netizens to rediscover "Epic." Beyond the amusement of these parodies, the trend invites listeners to revisit the original song, perhaps finding that the 4 AM of over a decade ago still resonates with a unique flavor.