# 2Spooky > 2Spooky is a 2012 meme pairing skeleton imagery with Andrew Gold's "Spooky, Scary Skeletons" across image macros and video remixes, originating on 4chan and YouTube as a Halloween phenomenon. "2Spooky" is an internet shorthand for "too spooky," most often paired with skeleton imagery and Andrew Gold's 1996 novelty track "Spooky, Scary Skeletons." The phrase took off in early 2012 on 4chan and YouTube, becoming a staple of Halloween-season shitposting and ironic horror humor that still cycles back every October. ## Origin The roots of 2Spooky trace back to 4chan's /x/ (paranormal) board, where users had already been riffing on intentionally bad creepypasta tropes. According to Facepunch forum member Seed Eater, the abbreviation "2Spooky" drew inspiration from joke creepypastas like "And Then a Skeleton Popped Out" and "Mr. Bones Wild Ride"[3]. Facepunch members started using the phrase "2SPoOkY4U" after forum member Mr. Royzo shared the song "Spooky, Scary Skeletons," welding the catchphrase permanently to that particular track[3]. The meme's first major video appearance came on January 10, 2012, when YouTuber motdef uploaded "Train Simulator 2012: Trains Vs Zombies," showcasing DLC footage from the game *Train Simulator*. The word "2Spooky" appeared in glowing green text overlaid on the gameplay footage. Within eight months, the video pulled in over 394,000 views and 1,000 comments[3]. - **Platform:** 4chan /x/ (creepypasta inspiration), YouTube (viral spread) - **Creator:** motdef (earliest notable YouTube video), Facepunch Forums community (phrase popularization) - **Date:** 2012 ## Overview "2Spooky" is internet slang that playfully exaggerates mild creepiness into something supposedly unbearable[2]. The phrase almost always shows up alongside dancing skeletons, rattling bones, or other cartoonishly macabre imagery. Its signature soundtrack is "Spooky, Scary Skeletons," a campy children's Halloween song by Andrew Gold originally released on the album *Halloween Howls* on August 20, 1996[3]. The combination of low-effort skeleton visuals, the catchy song, and deliberately over-the-top "spookiness" made the meme a go-to for ironic Halloween content. ## How It Spread After motdef's video brought the phrase to a wider audience, 2Spooky spread quickly across several platforms in mid-2012. On July 12, 2012, an anonymous user posted a thread titled "2Spooky2Nite" on 4chan's /v/ (video games) board, which drew over 45 replies full of skeleton images before being archived[3]. Five days later, Steam Forums member mynga posted a thread linking back to motdef's *Train Simulator* video, bringing it to yet another gaming community[1]. The meme hit YouTube remix culture in August 2012. On August 20, YouTuber UberOfFP uploaded "Spooky scary style," a mashup blending "Spooky, Scary Skeletons" with Psy's "Gangnam Style"[3]. Eleven days later, YouTuber RavingKunaiX posted a video titled "2Spooky" set in a graveyard area from *Dark Souls*, tying the phrase to another beloved internet-adjacent franchise[3]. By September 2012, the meme had jumped to social platforms. The "2Spooky4U" Facebook page launched on September 9[3]. On Tumblr, the phrase picked up momentum fast. A post from the "Duke Prince of Heart" blog on September 16 featured an animated GIF of hands reaching from a wall with the caption "2Spooky," pulling in over 2,900 notes within a week[3]. On September 24, Tumblr user AberrantKenosis posted a dancing skeleton GIF tagged "2spooky" that racked up 1,100 notes in under 24 hours[3]. The meme's spread followed a clear pattern: gaming communities first, then video remix culture, then mainstream social platforms, all within about nine months of motdef's original upload. ## How to Use The 2Spooky format is loose and forgiving. The most common approach: 1. Find or create an image or GIF involving skeletons, ghosts, graveyards, or anything mildly creepy 2. Overlay the text "2Spooky" (or a variant like "2Spooky4Me," "3Spooky5Me," etc.) in a flashy or intentionally crude font 3. Optionally pair with "Spooky, Scary Skeletons" if making a video ## Fun Facts - The song "Spooky, Scary Skeletons" predates the meme by 16 years, sitting in relative obscurity on a novelty Halloween album until the internet found it[3]. - The *Train Simulator* video that popularized the phrase was about a zombie-themed DLC, not a horror game, making the "2Spooky" overlay an ironic jab at the game's attempts at being scary[3]. - The Tumblr post by AberrantKenosis that gained 1,100 notes featured a *Homestuck* character, Kurloz Makara, as a dancing skeleton, blending two distinct internet fandoms[3]. - Urban Dictionary defines 2Spooky simply as when something is "extra spooky and it sends shivers down your spine," keeping the joke deadpan[2]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is 2Spooky? "2Spooky" is internet slang for "too spooky," used ironically alongside skeleton imagery and the song "Spooky, Scary Skeletons" to mock exaggerated creepiness[3]. ### Where did 2Spooky come from? The phrase originated on 4chan's /x/ board and Facepunch Forums, inspired by joke creepypastas. It went viral after YouTuber motdef used it in a *Train Simulator* video in January 2012[3]. ### What does 2Spooky mean? It means something is comically, not genuinely, frightening. The humor comes from treating mild creepiness as overwhelming[2]. ### How do you use 2Spooky? Overlay the text "2Spooky" or "2Spooky4Me" on skeleton-related images or videos, often set to Andrew Gold's "Spooky, Scary Skeletons"[3]. ### Is 2Spooky still popular? The meme peaks every Halloween season but sees less year-round use than it did in 2012-2014. It still circulates in skeleton meme and spooky season posts[3]. ### What song is associated with 2Spooky? "Spooky, Scary Skeletons" by Andrew Gold, released in 1996 on the album *Halloween Howls*[3]. ### What creepypastas inspired 2Spooky? The joke creepypastas "And Then a Skeleton Popped Out" and "Mr. Bones Wild Ride" from 4chan's /x/ board[3]. ### What does the number pattern in 2Spooky mean? The "2" replaces "too," and users escalate it ("3Spooky5Me") to signal increasing levels of ironic horror[2]. ## References 1. [Steam Community :: Discussions]() 2. [2Spooky - Know Your Meme]() 3. [2Spooky - Urban Dictionary]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/2spooky Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library