The 'Holy Spirit, Activate' TikTok Audio Explained

A viral sound on TikTok can come from anywhere — a TV show, a movie, and even an original TikTok video. The "Holy Spirit, Activate" audio actually originated from an episode of the game show, "Celebrity Family Feud," which aired in September 2021. Chynna Phillips, a member of the band Wilson Phillips, made up that catchy little tune and danced to it right before she was about to answer the questions, per In The Know.

The song was just her way of asking the Holy Spirit to help her with answers, and it was an act that stunned everyone there, including host Steve Harvey. Harvey stated that in "11 years, this has never happened before" on the show, per Dexerto. Her group eventually won $25,000 for charity, so maybe the chant actually worked.

While that act was over in a moment, the chant would soon get a life of its own on TikTok as several users quickly hopped on the trend, using it in their videos for different scenarios including the ridiculous and the relatable. These scenarios ranged from a user's reaction to a friend ditching them to hang out with their boyfriend to another invoking the power of the Holy Spirit to help them go out and not see any unwanted faces, per YouTube.