Memes are weird. One minute you’re listening to a critically acclaimed hip-hop masterpiece from 2010, and the next, you’re looking at a viral clip of a shirtless anime character standing on a mountain. If you've spent any time on TikTok or Reddit lately, you’ve definitely heard it. That soulful, soaring vocal hook—"Could we get much higher?"—has basically become the internet's universal soundtrack for moments of absurd triumph or total chaos.
It started with Kanye West. Or, more accurately, it started with Mike Oldfield in 1974, then got sampled by Kanye for "Dark Fantasy," the opening track of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. But the internet doesn't care about linear history. For a huge chunk of the population, those four words aren't just a lyric anymore. They are a signal. A vibe. A punchline.
Why does this specific snippet of audio keep coming back? Honestly, it’s because the song itself is designed to feel like a climax. When Justin Vernon of Bon Iver sings those words, it feels expensive. It feels legendary. It’s that exact sense of "grandeur" that makes it so perfect for the internet to tear apart and turn into a joke.
The Dark Fantasy Origins
To understand why people are asking "Could we get much higher?" in 2026, we have to look at the source material. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is widely considered one of the greatest albums of the 21st century. It was recorded in Hawaii under legendary "Rap Camp" conditions where Kanye invited everyone from Nicki Minaj to Rick Ross to push the boundaries of the genre.
"Dark Fantasy" was the mission statement.
The track opens with a spoken-word intro by Nicki Minaj (using a thick British accent) before dropping into that iconic piano riff and the choir-like refrain. The sample is actually from Mike Oldfield’s "In High Places." If you listen to the original 1987 track featuring Jon Anderson, it’s a synth-pop record that feels very much of its time. Kanye slowed it down, beefed up the drums, and gave it a weight that felt operatic.
It was meant to be serious. It was meant to be the pinnacle of art.
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But the internet has a funny way of taking the most serious things and making them ridiculous. The transition from high-art hip-hop to digital joke happened slowly, then all at once. It’s a classic case of a "prestige" song being recontextualized by a generation that views everything through a lens of irony.
The "The One Piece Is Real" Explosion
You can't talk about this phrase without talking about One Piece. Seriously.
Around 2022, a specific meme format took over the web. It featured a character named Whitebeard from the long-running anime One Piece shouting, "The One Piece! The One Piece is real!" Immediately after he says this, the "Could we get much higher" hook from "Dark Fantasy" kicks in.
It was nonsensical. It was loud. It was perfect.
The meme often featured "Cocking" (a term for edited images of characters in exaggerated poses) and was frequently used to mock the dramatic tropes of Shonen anime. It reached a point where you couldn't hear the song without expecting to see a giant, mustachioed pirate crying on a beach. This is what we call "associative audio." Just like how "All Star" by Smash Mouth is now inseparable from Shrek, "Dark Fantasy" is now inseparable from anime memes.
It’s a fascinating bit of cultural recycling. A British prog-rock song from the 80s gets sampled by a Chicago rapper in 2010, which then gets used by anime fans in 2022 to create a surrealist joke that survives into 2026.
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Why This Specific Hook Stays Rent-Free in Our Heads
There is a psychological reason why "Could we get much higher" works so well as a recurring motif. It’s the "ascension" factor.
Musicologists often point out that the interval of the notes in that specific hook creates a sense of literal rising. It sounds like something is lifting off the ground. When you pair that with the lyrics—which are literally about reaching a peak—it creates a powerful emotional trigger.
- It creates instant tension.
- The production is incredibly lush.
- The lyrics are simple enough to be applied to any situation.
Whether you’re talking about stock prices hitting an all-time high, a player hitting a ridiculous shot in a video game, or just a literal high-altitude drone shot, the song fits. It’s a "maximalist" sound. Kanye was obsessed with the idea of more—more instruments, more features, more ego. That maximalism translates perfectly to the "Extra" energy of modern social media.
The Kanye Factor and Modern Relevance
We have to address the elephant in the room: Kanye West himself. His public image has shifted dramatically since 2010. For many, his later controversies have made it hard to engage with his newer work. However, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy often exists in a protected bubble of nostalgia.
People separate the art from the artist more easily with this specific era of his career because it was his "redemption arc" after the 2009 VMA incident. "Could we get much higher" represents the last time the entire world was collectively on his side.
Because of that, the song carries a weird weight. It’s a reminder of a time when hip-hop felt like it was aiming for the stars. Even if you hate the guy now, it’s hard to deny that the opening of that album is one of the most effective pieces of music ever put to tape.
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Beyond the Meme: What the Lyrics Actually Mean
If you look at the actual verse that follows the hook, the song isn't actually about being "high" in a literal sense. It's about the "Dark Fantasy" of the American Dream. Kanye raps about the cost of fame, the superficiality of the industry, and the struggle to maintain a soul while becoming a god-like figure in the eyes of the public.
"The plan was to drink until the pain over / But what's worse, the pain or the hangover?"
When the hook asks "Could we get much higher?", it’s almost a warning. It’s asking if there is any room left at the top, and if it’s even worth being there. The internet mostly uses it for the "hype," but the original song is deeply anxious. It’s that contrast—the soaring music vs. the paranoid lyrics—that gives the track its staying power. It isn't just a happy song. It’s a song about the vertigo of success.
How to Use This Trend (Without Being Cringe)
If you're a creator or just someone who wants to understand the current landscape, you have to be careful with "Could we get much higher." It's a "heritage meme" at this point. If you use it straight, you look like you're out of touch. If you use it with just the right amount of irony, you're golden.
- Context is everything. Use it for things that are intentionally over-the-top. Don't use it for a standard vlog intro. Use it for the moment you finally find a parking spot after 40 minutes of circling.
- Lean into the "One Piece" aesthetic. If you're doing anything related to anime or gaming, the association is already there. You don't need to explain the joke.
- The "So High" variant. Keep an eye out for the "So High" chopped and screwed versions. These are often used for "liminal space" videos or more psychedelic content.
- Respect the build-up. The best use of this audio is when the "Could we get much higher" hits exactly at a visual reveal. Timing is the difference between a viral hit and a flop.
The Future of the Phrase
Will we still be asking "Could we get much higher" in five years? Probably. Some snippets of pop culture are just too "sticky" to die. They become part of the digital vocabulary.
Just like "Look at this photograph" or "I’m the one who knocks," this lyric has transcended its original medium. It’s no longer just a Kanye West song. It’s a way of expressing a very specific feeling of absurd, soaring elevation.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the history of the sample, check out Mike Oldfield’s Islands album. It’s a wild trip through 80s production that puts the Kanye sample in a totally different light. You’ll see just how much of the "soul" of that hook was already there, waiting for someone to find it and turn it into a legend.
Basically, it's a reminder that nothing in culture is ever truly "done." Everything is just waiting to be remixed by someone with a weird sense of humor and a TikTok account.
Actionable Next Steps
- Listen to the full track: Go back to the 2010 version of "Dark Fantasy" and listen to the production transitions. It’s a masterclass in layering.
- Track the sample history: Look up "In High Places" by Mike Oldfield on YouTube. Comparing the two tracks is a great way to understand how modern production works.
- Audit your content: If you're a digital marketer, realize that using this specific audio now signals "internet subculture" rather than "mainstream pop." Use it to target Gen Z and Alpha, not Boomers.
- Explore the "One Piece" connection: Watch the "Whitebeard" scene to see exactly where the visual meme started. It’s a textbook example of how a random visual can change the meaning of a song forever.