Harlem Shake (meme): Difference between revisions

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Elaborating the intro. I'm not sure it is a correct wording, but we need to explain clearly what the meme is in the lead.
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[[File:Harlem Shake Indonesian version.jpg|thumb|300px|Screenshots from a Harlem Shake video from Indonesia]]
[[File:Harlem Shake Indonesian version.jpg|thumb|300px|Screenshots from a Harlem Shake video from Indonesia]]
{{Distinguish|Harlem shake (dance)}}
{{Distinguish|Harlem shake (dance)}}
The '''Harlem Shake''' is an [[Internet meme]] that vent viral in February 2013. The meme is in the form of a video.<ref>{{web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504784_162-57568940-10391705/the-harlem-shake-phenomenon-keeps-going-strong-with-grandmas-and-military/|title="The Harlem Shake" phenomenon keeps going strong (with grandmas and military)|last=Goodman|first=Will|publisher=[[CBS News]]|date=February 12, 2013|accessdate=February 12, 2013}}</ref>
The '''Harlem Shake''' is an [[Internet meme]] that vent viral in February 2013. The meme is in the form of a video that began being replicated according to a similar concept by many people.<ref>{{web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504784_162-57568940-10391705/the-harlem-shake-phenomenon-keeps-going-strong-with-grandmas-and-military/|title="The Harlem Shake" phenomenon keeps going strong (with grandmas and military)|last=Goodman|first=Will|publisher=[[CBS News]]|date=February 12, 2013|accessdate=February 12, 2013}}</ref>


YouTube Trends attributes the [[Internet meme|meme]] to a video by a [[YouTube]] comedy [[vlogger]] named Filthy Frank, while recognizing that the art form of the meme was established in the first video response, uploaded on February 2 by The Sunny Coast Skate,<ref name="youtube trends" /> five teenagers from [[Queensland, Australia|Queensland]], [[Australia]].<ref name="sunshinecoastdaily20130215" /><ref name="cbc"/>
YouTube Trends attributes the [[Internet meme|meme]] to a video by a [[YouTube]] comedy [[vlogger]] named Filthy Frank, while recognizing that the art form of the meme was established in the first video response, uploaded on February 2 by The Sunny Coast Skate,<ref name="youtube trends" /> five teenagers from [[Queensland, Australia|Queensland]], [[Australia]].<ref name="sunshinecoastdaily20130215" /><ref name="cbc"/>

Revision as of 10:57, 17 February 2013

Screenshots from a Harlem Shake video from Indonesia
Not to be confused with Harlem shake (dance).

The Harlem Shake is an Internet meme that vent viral in February 2013. The meme is in the form of a video that began being replicated according to a similar concept by many people.[1]

YouTube Trends attributes the meme to a video by a YouTube comedy vlogger named Filthy Frank, while recognizing that the art form of the meme was established in the first video response, uploaded on February 2 by The Sunny Coast Skate,[2] five teenagers from Queensland, Australia.[3][4]

History

The art form of the meme was established by five teenagers known as The Sunny Coast Skate from Queensland, Australia.[2][3][2] After a while, more people started to replicate the boys' video and upload their own versions to YouTube, therefore Harlem Shake became what is called an Internet meme,[2] in this case a series of similar videos created accordingly to a similar concept.

The videos last 30-something seconds and feature an excerpt from the song "Harlem Shake" by electronic musician Baauer. Usually, a video begins with one person (often helmeted) dancing to the song alone for 15 seconds, surrounded by other people not paying attention or unaware of the dancing individual. When the bass drops, the video switches to the entire crowd doing a crazy convulsive dance for the next 15 seconds. The dancing style should not be confused with the original Harlem Shake dance.[5] Also, in the second half people often wear a minimum of clothes or crazy outfits or costumes while wielding strange props.[6][7] The success of the video was attributed to the anticipation of the breakout moment and short length.[8]

In the first nine days, over 11,000 versions of the popular Internet meme were uploaded, garnering over 44 million unique views, and averaging over 4,000 new variations each day.[2] By February 15th, 25,000 Harlem Shake videos had been uploaded to YouTube, receiving "over 120 million views."[4]

As a result of the popularity of the phenomenon, Baauer's single reached #1 on the iTunes America chart and #2 on iTunes in the UK and Australia on February 15th, 2013.[9]

Various groups that shot videos of themselves doing the Harlem Shake included the staff of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon[10], a squadron of the Norwegian Army[11], basketball players from the Dallas Mavericks,[12] and the colleagues of CNN newsanchor Anderson Cooper, the last of whom received a Twitter shout-out from Baauer himself.[7] Cooper showed video of his staff performing the dance, while declaring himself "horrified" and "uncomfortable" about it.[13] Other participants in the craze included the University of Georgia swim team, whose video received at least 7.8 million views,[9] "a senior community,"[14] musicians Matt & Kim,[11] musician Azealia Banks,[15][16][17][18] students of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (whose video received at least 277,000 hits),[19] the staff of The Daily Show,[20] Ryan Seacrest, and Stephen Colbert.[21][22][23]

The Atlantic magazine declared the "meme murder[ed]" when the mainstream Today television program broadcast their version of the Harlem Shake on February 13.[7]

Reception

Numerous commenters have compared the Harlem Shake to Gangnam Style.[24][25]

The business magazine Forbes cautioned companies against promoting themselves by making "yet another Harlem Shake video," saying that such publicity efforts could become "lost amidst all the noise."[26]

References

  1. ^ Template:Web
  2. ^ a b Muir, Kristy (February 15, 2013). "Copycat shakers tap into worldwide video hit by Coast teens". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Will the Harlem Shake viral meme ever stop?". 2013-02-15. Retrieved 2013-02-15. YouTube says more than 25,000 videos have been posted since the start of February, drawing over 120 million views....A group of teenagers known as The Sunny Coast Skate from Queensland Australia, were the first to respond and the rest, as they say, is history.
  4. ^ "Inventor of Harlem Shake Interview". InsideHoops. August 13, 2003. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  5. ^ Mallenbaum, Carly (February 13, 2013). "'Harlem Shake' videos stir up YouTube". USAToday. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c Wagner, David (2013). "The Harlem Shake Meme Is Dead". The Atlantic. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |day= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  7. ^ "YouTube:Here's How 'Harlem Shake' Went Viral". Mashable. Feb 13, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Harlem Shake challenges Gangnam Style on online dance floors". Articles.chicagotribune.com. February 15, 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  9. ^ "The Harlem Shake Is the New Gangnam Style!". E! Online. 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  10. ^ a b Watercutter, Angela. "Breaking Down the Harlem Shake Meme With Matt & Kim | Underwire". Wired.com. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  11. ^ Rodriguez, Salvador. "Eight things killing the Harlem Shake". latimes.com. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  12. ^ "Anderson Cooper Horrified By 'Harlem Shake' (VIDEO)". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  13. ^ "Harlem Shake Detroit Videos: Dance Craze Sweeps Motown - But Who Danced It Best?". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  14. ^ "Azealia Banks Calls 'Harlem Shake' Artist a Gay Slur, Reignites Beef With Perez Hilton". Billboard. 2012-09-22. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  15. ^ "Azealia Banks Takes On 'Harlem Shake' Producer And Perez Hilton (Again)". Rapfix.mtv.com. 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  16. ^ Kathy Iandoli. "Azealia Banks Delivers The Twerk In "Harlem Shake" Video: watch". Idolator.com. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  17. ^ "Azealia Banks – "Harlem Shake" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  18. ^ Silverstein, Brittany (2013-02-07). "Cal Poly Does the Harlem Shake! - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News". Kcoy.com. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  19. ^ "Jon Stewart Calls Out CNN's Carnival Triumph Cruise Ship Coverage: 'You're Not Heroes' (VIDEO)". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  20. ^ Hartwig, Gabe (2013-02-07). "Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert do the 'Harlem Shake' : Entertainment". Stltoday.com. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  21. ^ Catalini, Michael. "Play of the Day: The States (And Colbert) Take on The Banks". NationalJournal.com. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  22. ^ "Is it any wonder the Harlem Shake went viral?". Washingtonpost.com. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  23. ^ Template:Web
  24. ^ Template:Web
  25. ^ Kelly Clay (2012-04-18). "Forget The Harlem Shake And Do Your Own Dance". Forbes. Retrieved 2013-02-16.

External links

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