Autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, is a tingling sensation beginning in the head or neck that many claim to experience when listening to certain repetitive sounds.
Few could have possibly predicted it but the Cleveland Cavaliers occupy a small, albeit extremely popular, section of the ASMR world.
People who make ASMR-inducing videos, often called ASMRtists, draw from many subjects and methods to get the desired effect. YouTubers like TirarADeguello, Falcon ASMR and BrobotMC happen to whisper about the Cavs, because why not.
At over 20,000 views, TirarADeguello’s “Lebron James Destroys Cleveland Curse ASMR” is a 37-minute soft-spoken spiel about the YouTuber’s support for the Cavaliers. ASMRtists like Falcon ASMR take a more interactive approach by adding visuals to a quietly narrated video game version of the Cavs 2016 championship win.
In a roleplay video titled “Lebron James Shows You His Basketball Routine,” BrobotMC takes on the mighty task of embodying a whispering Lebron James, and it’s ridiculously soothing.
Besides covering the Cavaliers, the second most popular ASMR videos about the city focus on true crime stories like the unsolved cases of the Cleveland Torso Murderer and the murder of Amy Mihaljevic. Despite the unexpected content, Cleveland-themed ASMR may just soothe even the most agitated of Ohioans.
This article appears in Sep 19-25, 2018.