Background · updated 2026-10-19
The Closed on Sunday meme, from song to AI choir
“Closed on Sunday” is a 2019 song by Ye (Kanye West) that compares Sunday rest to Chick-fil-A, the chain that closes on Sundays. Its music video ends with Ye standing still inside the Sunday Service choir, and in October 2026 that ending became the Closed on Sunday AI trend.
The song
- Album: Jesus Is King (October 25, 2019), GOOD Music / Def Jam.
- Single release: November 28, 2019, the second single from the album.
- Producers include Kanye West, Timbaland, Federico Vindver, Angel Lopez and Brian “AllDay” Miller.
- Sample: “Martín Fierro” (1970) by Grupo Vocal Argentino.
- Chart peak: No. 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100; No. 2 on US Gospel Songs.
Why it became a meme
The Chick-fil-A line was the most quoted part of the album in 2019, and most critics disliked the lyrics, so the song lived on as a joke. Years later the visual ending gave it a second life: the image of one calm person in a roaring choir is easy to remix without any words at all.
The music video and its ending
Directed by Jake Schreier and shot on Ye’s Wyoming ranch, the video follows the family across open country. It ends on higher ground where the Sunday Service choir in beige robes surrounds Ye as the final lines are sung. That closing shot, about 14 seconds of crowd motion around a still centre, is the one the AI trend copies.
The 2026 AI revival
In mid-October 2026 creators began remaking the ending with AI on TikTok under #closedonsunday: pets in the middle, cat choirs, skeleton choirs and people putting themselves in Ye’s spot. Read how the trend works.
Facts from Wikipedia and 2019 music press, read on 2026-10-19. We do not reproduce the lyrics; the song and video belong to their owners and this site is not affiliated with them.
Answers
Meme FAQ
01Why does "Closed on Sunday" mention Chick-fil-A?
The chorus compares keeping Sunday for family and faith to Chick-fil-A, the US fast-food chain that famously closes on Sundays. The line was mocked online when the album came out, which is a big part of why the song became a meme.
02Who directed the Closed on Sunday music video?
Jake Schreier. It was filmed on Ye’s ranch near Cody, Wyoming and premiered on November 28, 2019 (US Thanksgiving).
03What does the song sample?
"Martín Fierro" (1970) by the Argentinian folk group Grupo Vocal Argentino, which gives the track its acoustic, choral opening.
04Do your videos use the song?
No. Our videos come with an original gospel choir track so they can be shared freely. You can add the original from a platform’s licensed sound library when posting.