The Harlem Shake has taken over the internet; not the original Harlem Shake from 1981, but the new Internet meme where people dance wildly for thirty seconds to the song “Harlem Shake” by DJ Baauer.
For a year, the electronica dance song sat idly online. Then on Jan. 30, 2013 Filthy Frank-as he is known on YouTube-uploaded a thirty-six second video of four guys in Power Ranger costumes and lycra bodysuits dancing to Baauer’s song. The video went viral with over 21 million hits.
It has inspired thousands of people across the nation to make their own versions of the Harlem Shake dance, and now this pop culture phenomenon has infiltrated Southeastern. Painting instructor Michael Aldana gathered his class together after the Mardi Gras break to do one just for fun. The students danced with classroom props like a skeleton, arms and legs of a mannequin, paintings and other random objects.
“I just thought it would be a fun and funny experience, to get them to just make a ridiculous pop culture video,” said Aldana. “I think when these things just snowball, they become some of those landmarks on your timeline that you recall and link to this time in your life.”
Scott Harpster, a student in Aldana’s class, has been in countless other YouTube videos for his band and loves the Harlem Shake trend because there are no boundaries.
“Its not like some dances that are made up for certain songs nowadays. In this specific video, the Harlem Shake isn’t anything specific,” Harpster said. “You can be as crazy as much as you want and that’s what I love most about it.”
Back in 2011, the hot meme trend on campus was “Moving Like Bernie.” Even further back when there was no Internet, dancing a certain move-like the twist, the shimmy or the Macarena-was a way for everyone all over the country to partake in something together.
However, there is some backlash. Not all Americans think this is an acceptable meme. In a short Internet video by Schlepp Films, Harlem residents react negatively. Many of them are in shock and disbelief that people would disrespect their original Harlem Shake move from the 1980s.
One woman said in the video by Schlepp Films, “It’s interesting. I just don’t think it’s really closely related to the original Harlem Shake.” Other passersby continue their reply with, “That’s not the Harlem Shake.”
Southeastern’s baseball team jumped on the bandwagon too, and just like the painting class, the baseball team did it for fun.
Aldana said the Harlem Shake is one of those things people do just to do it.
“It’s just one of those crazy, for no purpose things that pop up every so often in popular culture,” said Aldana. “You usually get three types of people: those who don’t hear about it until a year later, those who are too cool to partake in ridiculousness and those who say screw it to inhibitions and just blow off some steam by being goofy.”