You know the sound. It’s haunting. It's airy. It sounds like a choir of ghosts trying to harmonize in a misty Pacific Northwest forest. If you’ve spent more than five minutes on TikTok or Reels lately, you’ve definitely heard it. People call it the hoa hoa hoa meme, and honestly, it has become the unofficial anthem of "Blue Filter Autumn."
But where did it actually come from?
It wasn't some random AI-generated loop or a bedroom pop snippet. It’s actually a piece of cinematic history that’s been stripped of its context and turned into a vibe. Specifically, it’s the song "Eyes on Fire" by Blue Foundation. If you were a teenager in 2008, you don’t need a DNA test to know this is from the original Twilight soundtrack. It’s the scene where Bella Swan walks into the school parking lot, looking moody, while Edward Cullen stares at her with those golden contacts.
The internet has a weird way of recycling nostalgia. We didn't just bring back the song; we turned a specific three-second vocal run into a shorthand for a very specific mood. It's funny how a song about obsession and heartbreak became the background music for people's "feral" cat videos and chaotic morning routines.
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Memes usually die in two weeks. This one? It’s a zombie. The hoa hoa hoa meme first started bubbling up as part of "Twilight Core" or "Hoagirl" culture. It’s a subculture that unironically (or maybe semi-ironically) loves the aesthetic of the Twilight films—the rain, the flannels, the blue-tinted cinematography that makes everyone look like they have a vitamin D deficiency.
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Why "hoa hoa hoa"? It’s phonetic. The opening vocals of "Eyes on Fire" feature a breathy, staccato delivery. It doesn't sound like actual words. It sounds like someone sighing in rhythm. When fans started typing it out, "hoa hoa hoa" just stuck.
It’s interesting because it represents a shift in how we consume nostalgia. We aren’t just watching the movies anymore. We’re sampling them. We’re taking the "vibe" and discarding the plot. Most people using the sound today probably haven't even watched the full movie in years. They just want their backyard to look like a moody vampire's hunting ground.
Why the blue filter matters
The visual side of the hoa hoa hoa meme is just as important as the audio. The first Twilight movie, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, famously used a heavy blue-green cooling filter. It gave the film a cold, damp, and slightly miserable look.
Social media users started mimicking this. They’d film themselves standing in the rain or just walking through a grocery store, then slap on a high-contrast blue filter while the "hoa hoa hoa" vocals played. It’s a parody of being "main character" material.
- It mocks the over-dramatic nature of 2000s teen dramas.
- It romanticizes mundane tasks, like making coffee or driving to work in the fog.
- It connects a massive demographic of Gen Z and Millennials who share the same core memories of the Twilight craze.
You've probably seen the videos where someone tries to act like Bella Swan. They stumble slightly, look confused, and tuck their hair behind their ear. The song kicks in. The screen turns blue. It’s a perfect loop of self-deprecating humor.
The "Hoagirl" aesthetic and consumerism
It isn't just about the videos. The hoa hoa hoa meme actually drives sales. Seriously. Go to Pinterest or Depop and search for "Twilight core." You’ll find thousands of listings for "Bella Swan sweaters" (usually thin, brown, or navy blue knits) and "Alice Cullen vests."
Retailers have noticed. This meme is part of a larger trend called "Whimsigothic" or "Forestcore." It’s about being cozy but also slightly edgy. The "hoa hoa hoa" sound provides the perfect soundtrack for "Get Ready With Me" (GRWM) videos where creators dress up like they live in a town where it rains 300 days a year.
It’s a weirdly specific type of comfort. There’s something about that specific vocal harmony that feels like a weighted blanket. It’s eerie, sure, but it’s also familiar. In a world that feels increasingly chaotic, retreating into a fictional, moody version of 2008 feels... nice? Sorta.
Breaking down the "Eyes on Fire" track
Let's talk about the actual music for a second. Blue Foundation is a Danish electronic band. When they released "Eyes on Fire" in 2007, they probably didn't expect it to become a meme two decades later.
The song itself is actually quite dark. It’s about revenge and waiting for someone to make a mistake. The lyrics go: "I'll find your fingerprints and take / You to court / Believe me, I know you're a wolf in sheep's clothing." But the meme ignores the lyrics. It focuses entirely on the intro. Those wordless "hoas" are technically a form of vocalizing called "vocables"—sounds that don't have a specific linguistic meaning but carry emotional weight. In this case, the weight is "melancholy teen who might be dating a 100-year-old vampire."
The lifecycle of a viral sound
How did it get this big? It wasn't just one person. It was a slow burn.
Early 2023 saw a few Twilight fans posting clips. By autumn 2023, it exploded. Autumn is the "Twilight" season. As soon as the leaves start turning, the "hoa hoa hoa" sound starts trending. It’s seasonal content, much like "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey, but for people who like rain and flannel.
What’s wild is how it crossed over into different niches.
- The Pet Community: People filming their dogs staring intensely at nothing.
- The Home Decor Community: Showing off "moody maximalist" living rooms.
- The Comedy Community: Parodying the awkwardness of the original movie's acting.
Each group added a layer. By the time it reached the mainstream, "hoa hoa hoa" was no longer just a song; it was a vibe check. If you knew the sound, you were "in" on the joke.
Is the meme dead?
Actually, no. It’s become a perennial. Like "Pumpkin Spice Latte" culture, the hoa hoa hoa meme seems to hibernate in the summer and wake up the moment the temperature drops below 60 degrees.
In 2024 and 2025, we saw it evolve. People started remixing the "hoa hoa hoa" with other popular sounds. There are "Jersey Club" versions of the sound. There are slow-and-reverb versions. There are even versions where people try to sing it themselves in public places to see if anyone recognizes it.
It survives because it's easy to replicate. You don't need a high production budget. You just need a phone, a window with some raindrops on it, and that specific audio clip. It’s the democratization of the "indie movie" aesthetic.
Dealing with the "Twilight" stigma
For a long time, liking Twilight was considered "cringe." It was the ultimate "uncool" thing. The hoa hoa hoa meme flipped that. It allowed people to engage with the franchise through a lens of irony.
By making it a meme, people can say, "I know this is dramatic and kind of silly, but I actually love the way it feels." It’s a way to reclaim a piece of childhood media without having to defend the actual quality of the writing or the plot.
Honestly, the meme is more about the feeling of the 2000s than the movie itself. It represents a time before TikTok, when "viral" meant something completely different. It’s a digital sigh of relief.
How to participate (if you really want to)
If you’re looking to join in, there’s a bit of a formula. You can’t just use the sound; you have to understand the "cinematography."
- Lighting: Dim the lights. Turn off the "big light" (the overhead one). Use a lamp.
- Color: If your app doesn't have a "Twilight" filter, lower the saturation and increase the blues/shadows.
- Movement: Move the camera slowly. Think "handheld indie movie."
- Subject: Anything works. A cup of tea. A rainy street. Your cat looking out the window.
The goal isn't to be funny, necessarily. It's to be atmospheric. The "hoa hoa hoa" does the heavy lifting for you.
Actionable insights for the digital era
The success of the hoa hoa hoa meme tells us a lot about how social media works right now. It's not about newness; it's about re-contextualization.
For creators: Stop looking for the "next" big thing and start looking at what people used to love. Nostalgia is a powerful currency. If you can find a specific, 3-second window of a song that triggers a core memory, you’ve got a viral hit.
For brands: You can’t force this. If a brand tried to make a "hoa hoa hoa" ad in 2008, it would have failed. In 2026, it works because it's community-driven. If you want to use a meme, you have to use it with the same self-awareness as the users.
For the rest of us: Just enjoy the vibe. Sometimes a meme doesn't have to be a deep political statement. Sometimes it's just a bunch of people on the internet agreeing that a certain Danish electronic song perfectly captures the feeling of a rainy Tuesday afternoon.
To really lean into the trend, you should check out the original "Eyes on Fire" music video or the Twilight "parking lot" scene on YouTube. Seeing where the "hoa hoa hoa" starts—and how far it has traveled—is a fascinating look at digital evolution. Next time it rains, try filming a 5-second clip of your window, add the blue filter, and search for the audio. It’s the easiest way to feel like you’re starring in a 2008 blockbuster without the hassle of a glittery boyfriend.