Still haven’t heard of the Harlem Shake? Have you been living under a rock recently by chance? Don’t worry, you still have time to catch up, because the shake is taking over. But what’s with the new viral phenomenon of the moment, the funny YouTube video that has given rise to hundreds of parodies? Let’s find out…
[harlem]
What is it?
The Harlem Shake is a dance without rules, a kind of modern-day tribal dance to the tune of the original dubstep song “Harlem Shake” by DJ Baauer, a Brooklyn DJ and producer who is probably celebrating the sudden success of his beats in the streets of New York right about now.
How’s it work?
Here are the rules: the first part starts off with one person dancing (usually with a helmet on), while everyone else is non-chalantly doing something else. Then, the dancer’s lower extremities are taken over as if from a fit of madness, and all the others join in as well. How? In the most absurd, uncoordinated, craziest dance moves that come to mind.
How’d it start?
The original Harlem Shake video was posted on YouTube by Filthy Frank, a young Japanese vlogger whose videos consist of dancing in the midst of the people in a flashy pink costume. On February 2nd a group of 5 teens from Queensland, Australia, YouTube handle TheSunnyCoastSkate, uploaded their meme version giving rise to the virality of the dance video. Within a few days, thousands of parody videos were being added to YouTube everyday.
But we don’t want to bore you with explanations, because the video says it all! Here is a collection of the most hilarious imitations from across the web. But be careful, because you too may be caught by a sudden, irrational and uncontrollable desire to start dancing and make your own personal Harlem Shake video with friends, family, colleagues, or strangers…
10. The Original
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vJiSSAMNWw[/youtube]
9. Office Edition
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IJoKuTlvuM[/youtube]
8. Army Edition
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hpEnLtqUDg[/youtube]
7. Peanuts Edition
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqZc2dyClko[/youtube]
6. Saturday Night
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W52rnrwG9p0[/youtube]
5. UGA Men’s Swim & Dive
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkNrSpqUr-E[/youtube]
4. University of Guelph
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr6K3I8XLDE[/youtube]
3. Google Office Edition
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OiFb5O4fio[/youtube]
2. Nintendo Version
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NCEsWa7sUE[/youtube]
1. Firefighter Edition
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YETVpKSgV5U[/youtube]
What’s your favorite version?
