Overview
The Harlem Shake meme is a short-form video format synced to the first 30 seconds of Baauer’s 2012 track. A typical clip opens with a single dancer (often masked/helmeted) moving while everyone else ignores them; on the bass drop, a jump cut reveals the full group thrashing in costumes and props. The meme exploded on YouTube in early February 2013, then flooded other social feeds and mainstream media within days.
- FIRST SEEN January 2013
- PLATFORMS Facebook, X (Twitter), YouTube
- POPULARITY At peak (Feb–Mar 2013): 12k+ uploads / 44M+ views by Feb 11; ~40k uploads / 175M views by Feb 14; 1B+ views across versions within ~40 days.
- FIRST KNOW CREATOR George “Filthy Frank/Joji” Miller (seed video on DizastaMusic); Early format codifier: TheSunnyCoastSkate (TSCS).
- HASHTAGS #HarlemShake
How It Started
The seed is widely tied to George Miller (Filthy Frank/Joji), whose January 30, 2013 DizastaMusic compilation included the now-iconic setup. Within days, Australian teens TheSunnyCoastSkate replicated and formalized the template-helmeted loner → bass-drop mayhem-which the YouTube Trends team explicitly credited with solidifying the format. This sequence-from a sketch bit to a replicable structure-allowed thousands of near-instant remakes.
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Jan 30, 2013: Filthy Frank compilation segment that seeded the meme. Wikipedia
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Feb 2-10, 2013: TSCS “v1” replication and variants go viral. youtube-trends.blogspot.com
How It Spread
YouTube’s recommendation loop and the format’s 30-second, one-cut simplicity produced explosive replication: thousands of uploads per day, rapid cross-posting to Facebook/Twitter, and press coverage about the “overnight” surge. Musicians (e.g., Matt & Kim) and offices, campuses, and teams quickly staged their own versions, which turbocharged visibility and normalized the meme’s grammar for mass participation. WIRED
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4,000+ uploads/day at peak in mid-February. ABC News
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Matt & Kim concert version amassed 1.5M views in <2 days.
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Office/brand/university riffs multiplied reach across demographics.
Examples
These posts illustrate the early seed, the codified template, breakout crowd versions, and celebrity/sports adoption that cemented the trend globally.
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YouTube – DizastaMusic (Filthy Frank): “DO THE HARLEM SHAKE (ORIGINAL)” (Jan 30/Feb 2013). YouTube
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YouTube – TheSunnyCoastSkate: “The Harlem Shake v1 (TSCS original)” (Feb 2013). YouTube
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YouTube – hiimrawn/Maker Studios: “Harlem Shake v3 (office edition)” (Feb 7, 2013).
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YouTube – Matt & Kim: “Harlem Shake (Matt and Kim Edition)” (Feb 11, 2013). YouTube
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Miami Heat (team video): Players’ Harlem Shake (widely covered Feb 28-Mar 1, 2013). SB Nation
Variations & Spin-offs
While the core cut-on-drop format remained consistent, groups pushed it into office, campus, sports locker room, concert, and brand contexts; some staged largest-crowd attempts. The meme also triggered copycat stunts in risky environments-from airplanes to mines-which later figured into controversy and enforcement.
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Record crowd: 3,444 people at Matt & Kim’s RPI show (Feb 11, 2013). Guinness World Records
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Corporate/office riffs: e.g., Google office edition and numerous agencies.
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In-flight versions that drew safety probes. Los Angeles Times
Why It’s Popular
The meme pairs anticipation + payoff in a tight 30-second arc: a weird loner dance builds tension, the bass drop delivers a comedic reveal. It’s ultra-replicable (one locked shot + a single cut), letting anyone contribute without choreography skills. The sudden surge also intersected with chart methodology changes-YouTube streams began counting toward the Billboard Hot 100, turning a web in-joke into a chart-topping story.
By the Numbers
Contemporaneous platform snapshots capture the meteoric rise. YouTube Trends reported 12,000+ uploads / 44M+ views by Feb 11, 2013, accelerating to ~40,000 videos / 175M views by Feb 14. Independent tracking logged 1B+ aggregate views across versions by March 24-about 40 days from breakout. Meanwhile, Baauer’s “Harlem Shake” debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 after Billboard added YouTube to its formula.
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12k+ videos / 44M+ views (as of Feb 11, 2013). ABC News
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~40k videos / 175M views (as of Feb 14, 2013). VICE
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1B+ views across versions in ~40 days (by Mar 24, 2013). Net Imperative
Community / Ethics Notes
The meme’s name clashed with the original Harlem Shake dance (1980s Harlem), prompting critiques of misrepresentation and cultural appropriation from Harlem residents and commentators. Coverage and op-eds noted the disconnect between the meme’s convulsive jump-cut antics and the historical dance form. Separately, some executions raised safety/legal issues (e.g., an FAA investigation of an in-flight version).
How to Spot It
Look for a 30-second clip structured in two halves: (0-15s) one dancer (often masked/helmeted) moves while others act oblivious; (15-30s) smash-cut to full-group chaos with costumes, props, and frenetic movement. The audio is Baauer’s “Harlem Shake” intro and drop; many classic uploads end on the track’s “beast” growl with a brief slow-mo.
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Visual/audio markers: one locked camera, one jump cut, helmet/mask, Baauer intro → bass drop.
How to Recreate This Trend
For historical throwbacks or education pieces, plan a single fixed shot and a precise cut at the drop. Block costumes/props for the reveal, and keep energy high but safe (no hazardous settings). If you use Baauer’s track publicly, mind music licensing and platform policies; archival/transformative use may still trigger Content ID.
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Prep: outline 2 beats (solo → chaos), rehearse timing, keep to ~30s.
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Gear: tripod/locked phone; optional wide lens for crowded rooms.
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Safety: avoid risky locations (airplanes, worksites); get permissions.
Update Log
This section records significant revisions or new information (e.g., updated participation totals, new academic evaluations of impact, or notable anniversary revivals). We’ll adjust figures and attributions if stronger primary sources emerge or if platforms release new analytics.
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Jan 30, 2013 — Filthy Frank (Joji) posts “Filthy Compilation #6 – Smell My Fingers” on YouTube; opening skit establishes the seed Harlem Shake format.
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Feb 2, 2013 — Australian group TheSunnyCoastSkate uploads “The Harlem Shake v1 (TSCS original)”, codifying the now-replicable “solo → smash-cut chaos” template.
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Feb 10–11, 2013 — Upload rate hits ~4,000/day; by Feb 11 there are 12,000+ videos with 44M+ views, per YouTube Trends/press.
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Feb 11, 2013 — Matt & Kim stage the largest Harlem Shake at RPI (Troy, NY); Guinness records 3,344 participants.
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Feb 14, 2013 — YouTube Trends update: ~40,000 videos / 175M views.
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Feb 18, 2013 — The Verge publishes a definitive explainer on the meme’s breakout and iTunes surge.
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Feb 20–21, 2013 — Billboard adds YouTube streams to Hot 100; Baauer’s “Harlem Shake” debuts at #1 following the methodology change.
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Feb 28–Mar 1, 2013 — FAA investigation reported after Colorado College students film a Harlem Shake on a Frontier flight.
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Feb 28–Mar 1, 2013 — Miami Heat release their locker-room Harlem Shake; mainstream sports outlets amplify the meme.
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Mar 6, 2013 — The Verge documents meme-as-protest adaptations in Egypt and Tunisia, marking a political turn for the format.
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Mar 24, 2013 — Visible Measures tally cited: ~1B aggregate views in ~40 days across Harlem Shake videos.
