The #HarlemShake became one of the first massive viral video memes of 2013, spawning over 40,000 YouTube videos in just 3 weeks and temporarily making Baauer’s trap song the #1 track on iTunes.
Origins
While the original Harlem Shake dance dates back to the 1980s Harlem hip-hop scene, the 2013 viral phenomenon bore little resemblance to the authentic dance. The meme format was accidentally created by Australian teenager Filthy Frank (George Miller) on February 2, 2013.
Baauer’s 2012 trap track “Harlem Shake” provided the soundtrack, featuring a sample from Plastic Little’s “Miller Time” and the iconic vocal line “Do the Harlem shake.”
The Format
The standardized 30-second video formula:
- 0-15 seconds: One person dances alone while others ignore them, typically in a helmet or mask
- Beat drop at 15 seconds: Cut to entire group doing chaotic, spastic movements
- Videos often featured costumes, props, office settings, or unusual locations
The absurdist humor and easy replication made it perfect for viral spread.
Peak Virality
- February 9, 2013: College humor’s version kickstarted the trend
- February 10-15: “Harlem Shake Week” saw explosive growth
- 40,000+ variations created in under a month
- Major corporations (Pepsi, McDonald’s), universities, military units, and even the Norwegian Army participated
- Peak Googles searches: February 15, 2013 (300x baseline)
Notable versions included Miami Heat’s locker room celebration, Georgia swimming and diving team (reportedly led to coach’s firing), and Manchester City FC’s version.
Cultural Impact
The meme generated over 4,000 years of combined watch time on YouTube. Baauer’s song reached #1 on iTunes on February 15, 2013, and Billboard Hot 100 the same week—the first time a song achieved this through meme culture alone.
Real Harlem residents and hip-hop community criticized the meme for appropriating and distorting their authentic cultural dance. The original Harlem Shake involves intricate shoulder movements and was created by Al B in the 1980s.
Decline & Legacy
By March 2013, the meme was effectively dead—killed by oversaturation and corporate adoption. It became a case study in viral content lifecycle: rapid exponential growth, peak saturation, and sudden death within 6 weeks.
The Harlem Shake set the template for future viral video challenges and demonstrated how internet culture could propel obscure music to mainstream success overnight.
Sources:
Know Your Meme - Harlem Shake
YouTube Trends - Harlem Shake Phenomenon
Billboard - Baauer #1