The 'Big Things Coming' Meme: A 2025 Deep Dive Into The Internet’s Favorite Hype Machine

The "Big Things Coming" meme has cemented its place as the internet’s go-to phrase for both genuine excitement and, more often, satirical commentary on over-promising hype. As of December 2025, this simple declaration continues to trend across platforms like TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, serving as a versatile shorthand for everything from major life changes to the mundane reality of corporate life.

The meme's staying power lies in its ambiguity—it perfectly captures the feeling of perpetual anticipation in the digital age, where every announcement is a "game-changer" and every influencer is on the verge of a "massive drop." This article dives deep into the meme's viral origins, its most popular templates, and why this satirical jab at "hustle culture" remains one of the most relevant cultural touchstones of 2025.

The Undisputed Origin: The 'Jazz Emu' and Corporate Hype Parody

While the phrase "big things coming" is a common idiom, the meme's most recognizable and viral template is inextricably linked to a specific comedic character and content creator.

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The Man Behind the Hype: Who is Jazz Emu?

The most iconic visual representation of the "Big Things Coming" meme features a man in a pink shirt and glasses, often with a smooth, slightly unnerving intensity, delivering the phrase. This character is the creation of comedian and musician Archie Henderson, better known by his stage name, Jazz Emu. The meme template typically comes from one of his surreal, retro-styled comedy sketches, which often parody the self-serious, over-hyped world of smooth jazz and corporate motivational speaking.

• Real Name: Archie Henderson
• Stage Name: Jazz Emu / The Jazz Emu
• Profession: Comedian, Musician, Content Creator
• Content Style: Surreal, smooth-jazz-inspired comedy, often incorporating corporate jargon and self-help parodies.
• Meme Template: A close-up shot of the character in a pink shirt and glasses, often used as a GIF or short video clip.
• Key Entities: Archie Henderson, Jazz Emu, Smooth Jazz, Surreal Comedy, Viral GIF, Pink Shirt, Glasses.

The Meme's Conceptual Birth

The phrase's meme status is less about a single image macro and more about its function as a piece of meta-commentary. It became popular because it perfectly encapsulated the pervasive culture of over-promising and under-delivering, especially in two key areas:

1. Corporate Jargon: The phrase is a staple of office communication, often used in meetings to gloss over a lack of concrete plans or to hype up a minor internal initiative. It’s a classic example of business buzzwords and corporate speak that elicit an eye-roll from employees.
2. Influencer/Creator Culture: On platforms like Instagram and YouTube, "big things coming" is the default caption for a vague, attention-grabbing post designed to build anticipation without revealing any actual substance. It’s the ultimate clickbait for personal branding.

The Jazz Emu template, with its exaggerated enthusiasm and slightly off-kilter delivery, provides the perfect visual satire for both of these contexts, turning a mundane phrase into a viral joke.

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The 2025 Evolution: New Contexts and Topical Authority

In late 2024 and throughout 2025, the "Big Things Coming" meme has seen a resurgence, adapting to new social and economic realities. Its continued relevance is a direct reflection of current digital trends and anxieties.

The Parody of 'Hustle Culture' and 'Quiet Quitting'

The meme is now primarily used to mock the relentless pressure of hustle culture. In a post-pandemic world where burnout and quiet quitting are major workplace discussions, the meme serves as a satirical shield.

• Meme Usage 1 (The Promise): A user posts the "Big Things Coming" template alongside a caption detailing an incredibly minor or highly unlikely personal goal (e.g., "Me after buying a new notebook," "Me after opening a new spreadsheet"). This mocks the tendency to treat every small task as a major life pivot.
• Meme Usage 2 (The Reality): The meme is used to contrast the high-flown rhetoric of a company with the disappointing reality. For instance, a manager announces "Big Things Coming" (the meme), and the follow-up text is "The big thing is a mandatory 30-minute training video on how to use the new coffee machine." This highlights the gap between executive vision and employee experience.

The meme has become a key piece of labor commentary, offering a humorous outlet for frustration with vague management directives and the constant need to be "on the grind."

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The 'Big Things Coming' vs. 'Hopecore' Phenomenon

A fascinating development in 2025 is the meme's contrast with the trend of Hopecore. Hopecore, characterized by genuine, uplifting content that promotes small, achievable joys and positive anticipation, stands in direct opposition to the cynical, often hollow promise of "Big Things Coming."

• Big Things Coming (Cynicism): Implies a massive, external, and often corporate-driven change that may never materialize. It's about grandiose expectations.
• Hopecore (Authenticity): Focuses on internal, small-scale, and immediate positive changes (e.g., a nice sunset, a good cup of coffee). It's about micro-joys.

The contrast between these two online movements—the satirical hype of the "Big Things Coming" meme and the grounded optimism of Hopecore—perfectly illustrates the tension between digital performance and real-life satisfaction in the mid-2020s.

Topical Entities and LSI Keywords Driving the Meme's Authority

To understand the full topical authority of the "Big Things Coming" meme, one must consider the ecosystem of related concepts and entities that fuel its creation and sharing. These LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords are essential for SEO, but also for capturing the full cultural context.

List of Relevant Entities and Themes:

• Corporate Jargon: Synergistic, Action Item, Low-Hanging Fruit, Circle Back, Bandwidth, Moving the Needle.
• Social Media & Marketing: Influencer Marketing, Clickbait, Personal Branding, Engagement Bait, Teaser Content, Content Calendar.
• Workplace Culture: Quiet Quitting, Burnout, The Great Resignation, Work-Life Balance, Vague Management Directives, Executive Vision.
• Emotional/Psychological States: Anticipation, Procrastination, Over-expectation, Disappointment, Satirical Humor, Irony.
• Meme Formats: GIF, Image Macro, Video Meme, TikTok Trend, Reddit Humor (especially r/LinkedInLunatics).

The meme’s ability to effortlessly blend these disparate concepts—from synergistic strategies to procrastination jokes—is what ensures its longevity. It acts as a digital mirror, reflecting the collective weariness with corporate speak and the performative nature of online success.

Why the Meme Continues to Trend in 2025

The simple truth is that the "Big Things Coming" meme is timeless because the act of promising a grand future is a fundamental human and commercial behavior. In 2025, however, its use has become more knowing and self-aware.

It's no longer just a funny picture; it's a commentary on the economic uncertainty that makes people crave positive news, even if that news is just empty corporate rhetoric. It’s a nod to the fact that everyone is constantly waiting for the next big thing—the next paycheck, the next promotion, the next viral trend, or the next life upgrade—and the meme provides a humorous way to acknowledge that often, the wait is the only thing that's truly "big." By embracing the irony of the phrase, the internet is managing its own expectations, one satirical post at a time.