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Library/Meme & format/Harlem Shake dance videos
Grade B21 sourcesHIS-00868

Harlem Shake dance videos

Meme & format · 2013 · Notable

53Editable slideCertificate

Google reported more than 1.7 million Harlem Shake video versions uploaded in a year.

Original · DizastaMusic / Filthy Frank
FILTHY COMPILATION #6 - SMELL MY FINGERS
DizastaMusic on YouTube
Screenshot from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWt0wHBXob4
Christopher Clabaugh / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
Worldwide Google search interest, February to April 2013; a public-domain chart made from Google Trends data.
Philpill691
Baauer
Billboard
Harlem Shake | Know Your Meme
Know Your Meme

Spread Score

How it works
ReachNo data yetContagion70Breadth60Velocity40Longevity3253

Numbers

YouTube versions uploaded in 2013, year-end lower bound
1.7M
As of Dec 17, 2013 · YouTube · Self-reported · Google
Peak date
Mar 2013
Jan 30 ’13 to Mar 2013
Platforms
7
Started on YouTube
Origin
Organic
Culture (no sector)

Mechanics

  • Remixable templatePrimary
  • Sound or audio meme
  • Platform jump
  • Press loop
  • Controversy

How it spread

Trace the origin

Filthy Frank posted the opening dance; Australian skaters supplied the jump-cut format. Creators, offices and broadcasters copied it. YouTube streams helped the backing song debut atop the Hot 100. Google reported more than 1.7 million uploaded versions that year.

Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.

Google searchesJan ’13FebMarAprJunAugOctDecPeakYouTubeXPressRedditAudioTVOpen web
YouTubeXPressRedditAudioTVOpen web

14 more events on this chart

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Timeline (17)

  1. January 2013

    DizastaMusic / Filthy Frank seed · Jan 30 ’13

    Filthy Frank opened a compilation with four costumed people dancing to Baauer’s track.[1][2]

    Harlem Shake | Know Your Meme
    Open the first post ↗

  2. February 2013

    TheSunnyCoastSkate platform jump · Feb 2 ’13

    Australian skaters established the solo dancer, jump cut and group dance format.[1][3][4]

  3. Diplo platform jump · Feb 7 ’13

    Diplo tweeted an early Harlem Shake video to more than 600,000 followers.[4]

    600K followers
Origin
Organic
Sector
Culture (no sector)
Region
JP
YouTube versions uploaded in 2013, year-end lower bound
1.7M
As of Dec 17, 2013 · YouTube · Self-reported · Google
Evidence
Grade B

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Google searchesJan ’13FebMarAprJunAugOctDecPeakYouTubeXPressRedditAudioTVOpen web
YouTubeXPressRedditAudioTVOpen web

14 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

  1. January 2013

    DizastaMusic / Filthy Frank seed · Jan 30 ’13

    Filthy Frank opened a compilation with four costumed people dancing to Baauer’s track.[1][2]

    Harlem Shake | Know Your Meme
    Open the first post ↗

  2. February 2013

    TheSunnyCoastSkate platform jump · Feb 2 ’13

    Australian skaters established the solo dancer, jump cut and group dance format.[1][3][4]

  3. Diplo platform jump · Feb 7 ’13

    Diplo tweeted an early Harlem Shake video to more than 600,000 followers.[4]

    600K followers

  1. owner response · Feb 12 ’13

  2. press · Feb 13 ’13

Join free to see the other 14 events and the full chart. Free, on every case.

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Why it worked

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