Out with Gangham Style and In with the Harlem Shake
The viral video, Gangham Style, is now sporting over 1.3 TRILLION hits, but it’s popularity has waned. Rising to the top of the YouTube videos popularity chart dance craze is now the Harlem Shake. I love them because they’re only 30 – 35 seconds long. That’s it. And although they all feature the same format, each one is unique.
The overall theme for a Harlem Shake video is as follows:
• One person — often a helmeted man gently hip-thrusting — enjoys the sweet beats of Harlem Shake by Baauer in a roomful of oblivious people.
• Then, the bass drops. Jump cut.
• Everyone is Harlem Shaking, flailing, jumping, punching, immitating a dancing robot, doing the worm in a sleeping bag…. and so on.
Being unique and creative is what is making these videos fun to watch – and the fact they’re so short.
Here is the original Harlem Shake. The theme listed above in the bullet points has not yet been set. The videos do definitely get better after this one.
Do the Harlem Shake (Original)
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This is the next video which established the form being used now highlighted in the bullet points above.
The Harlem Shake v1 (TSCS original)
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Here is another one of the early editions with over 16 million hits…. A couple more early ones are here and here.
Harlem Shake v3 (office edition)
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Several of the humor websites decided to let their office staff join in on the fun. Now is when I start replaying some of these videos as many have turned into something not unlike “Where’s Waldo?” You have to look at nearly everyone as many feature something unusual about them. For example, look up on the balcony in The Chive’s video posted here. A couple more humor websites posted their office Harlem Shakes, such as CollegeHumor (love the Angry Bird dude), Break, and Buzzfeed.
Harlem Shake v4 (Official) The Chive
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On to the rest of the world…. The men’s diving team in the next video deserves it’s 18+ million hits….
UGA Men’s Swim & Dive Harlem Shake
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This is the very first one I saw, and no, I didn’t “get” it. Rather thought it was stupid, honestly. Someone commented in the YouTube comment feed about the guy falling out the window, so I replayed it. Again. And again. Each time watching someone different. Then I saw so many others in the thumbnail views in the sidebar that I began searching for more info and definitely found it. LOL… I also watched Gangham Style for the first time, too.
Harlem Shake (original army edition)
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There is also one from the Marines, and a different group from the Army.
The “Today” show anchors offered their Valentine’s Day version of the Harlem Shake. Then they ruined it by talking….
harlem shake today show
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Event the POTUS decides to do the Harlem Shake….
Harlem Shake (Barack Obama Edition)
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Gotta love these firemen’s sense of humor….
Harlem Shake v4 (Firefighter Edition)
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March Madness is just around the corner. Here are the KU Jayhawk’s Basketball Team….
KU Basketball Harlem Shake
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And with that, I’m done. I’ve heard this same 30 seconds of this song WAAAAAAAYYYYYYY too many times now.
Okay, two more I just found. 🙂 They don’t have to be real people….
Harlem Shake 8 Bit Style 80’s Arcade Version
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Harlem Shake V10 (Peanuts Edition) – Charlie Brown
……….. “con Los terroristas.”
References:
YouTube Trends Blogspot: ‘Harlem Shake’ videos stir up YouTube
USA Today: ‘Harlem Shake’ videos stir up YouTube
Mad Decent: Baauer – Harlem Shake The Youtube Sensation
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Sheesh, some people (a lot, apparently) have way too much time on their hands. I’ll still take Gangnam Style.
LOL.. I rather like the Harlem Shake. But I did turn the sounds way waaaaayyyy down there after I had watched so many. Just loud enough to hear the beat. There are some really creative videos made.
Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat.Com™ and commented:
These dance crazes are…..crazy!! Thank you Ms. Michelle for keeping us all up to date on the latest news and fads from the dance floor.
Harlem Shake videos are funny – but Gangham Style has WAY more style. And the spinoff videos, like Lo-Pan Style are terrific!
This was the first time I watched Gangham other than the clips on TV. I’ll have to check out the spin-offs.
Okay, here comes some fun! It really helps to have seen “Big Trouble in Little China” to appreciate the Lo Pan Style knockoff. And to see the Minecraft game for Minecraft Style.
Gangam Style
Minecraft Style
Lo Pan Style (Gangnam Style Parody) Official
Awesome, thanks! But the Minecraft has been blocked due to Sony copyright. At least blocked in the US.