Harlem Shake

The "Harlem Shake" phenomenon began with the release of Baauer's track of the same name on August 23, 2012. This heavy bass instrumental piece was produced by Harry Rodrigues and initially distributed as a free download through Diplo's Mad Decent label. The song features a sample from the 2001 track "Miller Time" by Plastic Little, which includes the lyric "do the Harlem Shake." While the song itself received positive attention from various music blogs and artists, it wasn't until early 2013 that it became a viral sensation. The meme format that would define the "Harlem Shake" trend was popularized on January 30, 2013, when video blogger Filthy Frank uploaded a video featuring a masked dancer. The video begins with a calm setting, showcasing one person dancing alone before abruptly cutting to a chaotic group dance party. This juxtaposition of calm and chaos struck a chord with viewers, leading to a flurry of imitations. The absurdity and humor of the format made it highly shareable, and it quickly gained traction across social media platforms. By February 5, 2013, the meme had exploded in popularity, particularly after a parody video by PHL_On_NAN garnered 300,000 views within just 24 hours. Following this, on February 7, Maker Studios released their own version titled "Harlem Shake v3 (office edition)," which amassed over 7.4 million views in its first week. This rapid spread of parodies and variations solidified the "Harlem Shake" as a cultural phenomenon, inspiring countless users to create their own interpretations of the dance meme. The trend not only dominated YouTube but also spilled over into other platforms, becoming a staple of internet culture in early 2013.