Harlem Shake

The absurdity of the sudden transition from a single dancer to a wild group party triggered joy and laughter, making it irresistible to share.

A viral dance meme where a group transforms from a calm scene to a chaotic dance party, set to Baauer's track.

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Do the Harlem Shake!

— This phrase is sampled from the song and became a catchphrase for the meme, often used in video titles and captions.

People create their own versions by starting with one person dancing alone before cutting to a group dance party. For example, a typical caption might be, 'When the beat drops, and the squad goes wild!'

The meme originated from Baauer's song 'Harlem Shake,' released on August 23, 2012. It gained traction when Filthy Frank uploaded a video on January 30, 2013, featuring a masked dancer that sparked the meme format.

1. 2012-08Baauer releases 'Harlem Shake' on YouTube, setting the stage for the meme.
2. 2013-01Filthy Frank uploads a video that introduces the meme format.
3. 2013-02-05PHL_On_NAN's parody video goes viral, reaching 300,000 views in 24 hours.
4. 2013-02-07Maker Studios uploads their version, amassing over 7.4 million views in a week.

The meme exploded in popularity after several parodies were uploaded on YouTube, particularly after a viral video by PHL_On_NAN on February 5, 2013, which garnered 300,000 views in just 24 hours. By February 7, Maker Studios' version amassed over 7.4 million views in its first week.