Have you heard of the Harlem Shake?
Have you seen the Harlem Shake?
This latest viral video meme is hard to miss, as it’s hit the Internet with full force this February as it’s made it’s rounds on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and blogs abound.
But how is it a ‘game changer’?
First, let me explain what the Harlem Shake is for those that don’t know:
The Harlem Shake
The Harlem Shake video meme is a 30-32 second video that has an excerpt from the song “Harlem Shake” by electronic musician Baauer. The video starts with one person–usually wearing a helmet or mask–dancing alone while those around are unaware of what’s going on.
When the bass hits–about half way through the video–an entire crowd (or those in the room) are dancing like crazy. Often times, people were a minimum of clothes, wear crazy costumes and have odd props in hand.
This is the original Harlem Shake video that started it all:
[tentblogger-youtube 384IUU43bfQ]
From Wikipedia:
“The form of the meme was established in a video uploaded on February 2 by five teenagers from Queensland, Australia known on YouTube as The Sunny Coast Skate. The video started a viral trend of people uploading to YouTube their own “Harlem Shake” videos.”
Here’s the viral timeline:
- Feb 2nd – Five teens upload their Harlem Shake video
- Feb 10th – 4,000 Harlem Shake videos uploaded per day
- Feb 11th – 12,000 total uploads of Harlem Shake videos–totally 44 million unique views
- Feb 15th – 40,000 Harlem Shake videos uploaded–175 million views.
Game Changer
Unlike musicians of the past, the musician of the Harlem Shake video didn’t issue a takedown. Because of this, Baauer’s Harlem Shake made its debut to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 21st! That’s less than three weeks from when the YouTube video was first uploaded!
Baauer didn’t just let things lay, however, “his label, Mad Decent records, instead made use of YouTube’s Content ID database to assert copyright over the fan-made videos and claim a proportion of advertising revenue in respect of each one.”
A few other things are different about this video meme, too:
Gangnam Style, like other videos that preceded it, was a corporate, top-down traditional campaign. By contrast, the grassroots, bottom-up Harlem Shake has been described as a symbiotic viral meme, where open culture and business coexist. The short length of the video, 31 seconds in most cases, impacts directly on the duration of advertisement that can precede it, which in turn limits advertising revenue.
In addition, the comparatively short life cycle of this kind of video meme means that by the time a traditional advertising agency or brand has put together its response to a current trend, it is likely that the trend will have long since peaked.
The Internet, in all of it’s viralness, is quickly changing. What we consider to be “strategy” and “how to do it” is rapidly evolving. I think the Harlem Shake phenomenon laughed in the faces of all those “Internet Gurus” out there.
The bottom line: Create. Share. Repeat.
If you do this, the Internet will take care of the rest.
WWJM?
What would Jesus meme?
The general nature and first blush of the Harlem Shake is not necessarily fitting for Christ followers to join in with. Maybe I’m too much of a prude, but the general hip thrusting is just a little too far for my taste, but can’t we jump on this meme train with our own slant and style?
Liberty University attempted to do so:
[tentblogger-youtube NfLWaxArXEk]
I’m sure they’re are many other Christian schools, universities and youth groups who did their own version of the Harlem Shake.
What do you think the Church’s response to something like this should be?
Ignore it? Join in? Remix it?
***UPDATE***
If you’ve done your own Harlem Shake video, be sure to leave a link in the comments!
[via Wikipedia]
Mark Robinson says
Considering we discussed doing one during a church service at our staff meeting last week I think my opinion is certainly that we should join in!
We eventually decided against because of the logistics but next week I’m leading the youth session so who knows…
Eric Dye says
You HAVE to leave a link to it, here!
Jeremy Reger says
this needs to happen..
Mark Robinson says
Amen! – Will do my best!
Jeremy Reger says
unfortunately, some popular harlem shake videos took the hip thrust into new levels and just pushed the videos a little too far..
but.. the goodness of the video is that one person is just dancing, in the beginning, then everyone goes nuts when the beat drops.. so.. yes.. We did one..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtmcr3oaDvw
Enjoy!
Eric Dye says
LOL! That’s awesome.
Mark Robinson says
LOVE this!
Tony Dean says
It needs to happen? Christians should join in? Whatever happened to “Have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them”? (Ephesians 5:11) Oh… silly me, you morons don’t read the Bible … not relative enough for you…
Idiots!
Jeremy says
You watch TV bro? How about eat at a fast food restaurant? You get on Facebook? All of these can be debated that they are unfruitful.
Mark Robinson says
Feel free to disagree with other peoples opinions but take care not to make assumptions about how they read or interpret the bible as this can only lead to foolhardiness.
Calling people Morons and Idiots is just not wise nor does it show off the nature of Jesus.
Who knows – If Jesus had come in our day and not in the period of history that he did – I wonder if he and the disciples would have done their own version of the Harlem Shake and posted it to YouTube.
Dave K says
Wow Mark, Really?
You know Jesus would never have taken a demonic song created by the world to use it for His glory. How can the works of darkness (this demonic video) coexist with works of righteousness? Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Rom 12:2
jeremy says
You watch TV bro? How about eat at a fast food restaurant? You get on Facebook? All of these can be debated that they are behaviors and customs of the world.
Mark Robinson says
Hi Dave – Yeah – I really do honestly and justly believe that Jesus would have been inclined to take part. I base this on several ideas from the bible.
1 – Is the Harlem shake a demonic song? This concept needs to be broken down before we can deal with its questionable demonic status. I fail to see how people can really label this song as demonic. Labeling anything as such leaves no room to turn the things of the world to His glory. It leaves no room for redemption which is one of the biggest things that Jesus taught us about.
Is it because of the over-sexualised nature of the way some people choose to dance in the videos? If so then this is an issue of unhealthy sexual attitudes derived from a lack of a good relationship with Jesus. Is this Demonic? No It’s showing signs of a sinful nature. This then does not make the song itself “demonic” but the act of acting out the “meme” in an over-sexualised way in which case all the versions that have not taken part in such virile hip-thrusting actions should in theory be safe but notice we are getting very legalistic here and we know Jesus was not a massive fan of those who got legalistic Mark 7: 1-23, Matthew 23, Luke 11:37-54.
It it because the song is not a specifically Christian song thus following the thinking that “if it’s not of God then it is the work of the enemy”.
This again is a really unhealthy line of thought as ultimately this leads to Christians not engaging with non-christians and teaching them the gospel(but that’s a debate that would need unpacking all on it’s own).
God created us in his own image and part of that is as creative beings. He gave each of us gifts and talents and free-will to use those how we please. The Fall resulted in many choosing to use those gifts for things other than the His glory – is this demonic? No it’s a sad result of the Fall.
When we read about the background of the song and we see that Baauer who wrote the song was being creative and trying out some ideas.
If you actually listen to the song it doesn’t actually have any lyrics to get concerned over. – It gets very repetitive and annoying after 2 minutes but that doesn’t make it demonic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk1_DbbzSdY
2 – You questioned the idea that (A) Jesus would never have taken a demonic song created by the world to use it for His glory. and went on to ask (B) How can the works of darkness (this demonic video) coexist with works of righteousness? I’m surprised by both of these statements as they seem to go against the principal of the Gospel itself.
All the stories in the bible of Jesus healing people and casting out demons show explicitly the idea that he would use such situations and turn them around to glorify the Father. This is what he seemed to do day to day. So whether its a song or a sickness or an actual demon or a bad choice – I firmly believe that God uses everything for His glory.
This bit I thought was really disappointing as it seems to completely miss the point of the Gospel. To answer the question directly How can the works of darkness (this demonic video) coexist with works of righteousness? –
It already has done and continuously does! Jesus lived and walked on this earth among us. He met with the sinners and scumbags of his community and he spent time with them doing what was culturally relevant. He hung out with them. He ate with them. (Luke 19-:1-10, Luke 7: 36-50, John 4, John 8, Matthew 9:9-13)
There’s also the fact that we are all sinners. And as much as we may try not to – we all constantly sin. Jesus dying on the cross redeems our sin and allows us to live in relationship with him. Jesus very presence in our lives cleans us of our sin but our sin does NOT defile him.
Don’t get me wrong – I know what you mean about the holiness of god being unable to co-exist with evil and I agree with the principal but I also realise that this is a principal we will never fully be able to understand until we sit with Him in eternity.
3 – Finally you quoted the beginning of Romans 12. I love this passage and I love the intent behind it. Paul was trying to affirm the thinking that as Christians we should not follow the ways of the world without thinking of whether this is God’s best for us. Partly this was because at the time Christianity was a very new religion coping with the pressures of conforming to politics, culture and other religions which directly contravened with the teaching of Jesus.
Done with the right intentions I don’t think that having fun with a silly dance is going against what the passage is saying..
If that was directed at me personally then I’m proud to be able to say that today I live with Jesus at the start and end of each day. I seek him in everything I do and I seek his guidance in every area of my life which is why I left a career in TV & Film to work exclusively with charities and christian organisations at the expense of a more comfortable lifestyle.
Dave K says
Good reply as to where you are coming from.
I kinda see how your thought process is.
I tend to see things very simply. I look at things and take them at face
value. If something has the appearance of evil, (and any Christian who has the Holy Spirit inside should be able to perceive that which
displeases God) then we should have nothing to do with it. We spread the Gospel of Jesus by the preaching of His Word. Why are so taken by the fact that we should bring unholy things in the church
To bring folks to Christ. Just the opposite we should be preaching the Word of God. Lost people can get entertainment anywhere. We should be offering them something different.
Most all of these church videos are portrayed the same way.
There is a pastor or leader delivering the word to people
in the congregation. Then someone with a mask appears
and tries to distract the person preaching. Then all of a sudden
person preaching either disappears or joins in with the congregation
in mass chaos. There is no more preaching and there seems to be mass irreverence and disregard for anything holy
To me this is the Apearance of evil the bible says to stay away from.
Maybe you can be the first or anyone reading this post to tell me how it’s acceptable to having fun with the lyrics “with the terrorists” blaring in church. Won’t somebody give me an explanation of “with the terrorists”
Mark Robinson says
Hey Dave,
Some well put points there. I think for me it comes down to how quick we are to judge things which history has shown – sadly we’re all a bit rubbish at! I’m guilty myself of jumping on things like this but I’m not allowing for God’s grace to work through me.
As you said yourself – Christians have the holy spirit which will guide them but I don’t think this is a “black & white” issue. I think some people will interpret things differently not based on the quality of their relationship with God but based on what God is showing them and calling them to do.
Some may see The Harlem Shake as demonic – some will see it as an opportunity to open doors and engage with people who they might not previously had the opportunity to engage with.
With regards to the “Con Los Terroristas” – I’m inclined to err on the side of caution here but it does require some context. – This is a sample. It’s not a promotion for a terrorist lifestyle and in the context of this tune – that is pretty obvious.
That said – I understand for some that this will be the preverbal back-breaking straw.
I think overall the the thing that gets missed in all this is that it’s supposed to be a bit of fun! If we all take things too seriously then the world would be in a very sorry state indeed. Jesus was fully human and fully God and fun, laughter and good times were also a part of his life. We have to appreciate that God has a sense of humor, he created us and we fart so he must do – and as such I really don’t think that God finds Christians doing the Harlem Shake to be displeasing.
Now – I could be wrong! (this is not an admission of such) and if I am then we have grace through Jesus.
mary says
As you say, we are suppose to have a bit of fun.I agree with this statement. in fact we are suppose to have a looooot of fun but, the question here is not about us having fun but, in what our fun his found in.
everything we need is found in God. our hope, our peace, our strength….why not our fun?
I think it will be impossible for anyone to tell me that in oder for christians to have fun we need to do what the rest of the world is doing or do what the rest of the world says is fun. What the world calles fun is discusting and displeasing to God. As the bilble clearly state ” we are in the world but we are not of the world” because everything that belongs to the world will be destroy.
The world needs to copy the church and not the other way round. yes, jesus was a man and he surely had fun;so, do you think he had fun in the ways of the world? the bible says that in everything we do we must give glory to God that include our fun. Do you really think that doing the harlem shake is having fun in God??? I seriously doubt it
Are you saying that if we don’t have fun in the world ways it makes us all serious and boring. cause I know that us christian have fun everyday with Jesus and with each other, and there is nothing all serious about that.
Are you trying to say that christians fun is boring and serious which makes all christian serious. cause the christians that i know today are many things but serious.
food for thought
Jimmy says
I wouldn’t call it “unfruitful works of darkness”. It is just dancing and having fun, there is no “darkness” or obvious sinful intentions. I’m sure there are some versions out there that do have sinful intentions, but most are just good clean fun.
Also, you need to settle down.
Liz says
I’m with you. God calls us to Holy lives, there is nothing holy about the Harlem Shake in the house of God. I am disgusted by it and would walk out in the event that my church would to allow such a thing.
Dale Best says
Our Junior High and High School ministries BOTH did Harlem Shakes videos. Decide yourself which is better…
Anthem (HS): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skqkbgK0UGQ
Crush (JrH): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYld7x0zxK4
Mark Robinson says
Just brilliant!
Scott Douglas says
Hip thrusting aside, considering that the repeated phrase: “con los terroristas” used in the song translates to “with the terrorists” no, I don’t think it’s an appropriate thing for Christians to be joining in on. That’s just my opinion…I could be wrong…but I doubt it. 😉
ThyWordisaLamp says
People! The song has the words, “With the terrorists” in it. What do they mean “with the terrorists?” I can’t figure that one out, but if you all are debating whether you should do it in church or not, clearly that’s a sign that you think it is inappropriate. Follow the Holy Spirits leading, not the world, which is dominated by Satan. When I think of terrorists I think of Osama Bin Laden and Hitler (and what was there fate). I don’t want to be dancing with them. We are to avoid even the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Instead of dancing with terrorists, we need to spend time praying for Israel and praying against “TERRORIST” regime in Syria.
Also, the song was inspired by a fist-fight one of the creators of the song had with a skateboarder. He ended the fight by dancing crazy as in the video. If you all think this is Biblical, you seriously need to put aside the filth of the world and read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and revaluatete your Christian faith. Also, when Jesus Christ returns while I am doing the Harlem Shake, I would be verembarrasseded. Case closed for me, I never argue over issues the Bible clearly speaks on. Most importantly, I love you all, see you in Heaven hopefully.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3,4
jeremy reger says
I hardly consider doing a video with my kids a “doctrine”
Mark Robinson says
that made me giggle!
Mark Robinson says
The problem with this way of thinking is in the way it ignores the full context of the bible passages and it serves up a judgemental call in black and white. Remember that Paul was writing to a bunch of new Christians forming a new church in Thessalonica. They didn’t have the context we now have 2000 years later. They also had a different set of social contexts to adhere to. If we are going to reference biblical passages we have to be able to see what the context of the passage is and see if it reflects the Father’s heart.
That said – do I think that doing a “Harlem Shake” is evil? No! I also think it’s rediculous to think it is evil also. Some of the aspects may not reflect Jesus’ best for us but if the fruit can help glorify him then it lends a different perspective to it. I think part of the fruit of this particular internet craze is that it has build community all over the world. If a church decides to do one and it builds bridges in the community through humour then it is a great thing. Building bridges in community is essential in helping us teach more people about Jesus. That to me is the end game and I’ll do anything and use any opportunity to get there.
This black and white attitude of what we should or shouldn’t engage in is massively flawed. We are in the world not of the world and I agree that we need to avoid what is potentially not good for us. Because we are in the world we can’t not engage with things of the world! It’s impossible! The only conclusion that can be drawn from such a way of thinking is that we should all become socialist hermits. If we are to stop partaking of things that are unGodly then we need to stop using any polluting entities such as cars, airplanes, boats, electricity (produced by fossil or nuclear fuels), mass manufacturing, large scale agriculture, scientific investigation and exploration etc. We should stop engaging in politics, and give up on music, film TV, all traditional cultural practices that are not explicitly written down ion the bible and ultimately as people living in the western world we need to quit capitalism but the only way to do that is to move to a desert island and look after our own small socialist community! – BUT the bible doesn’t say that either does it.
Jesus was quite explicit about us going out in to the world and telling all nations about him. Matthew 28:16-20
I think Christians doing the Harlem Shake is a good thing. Yes there are some questionable ethics around it (just like there are questionable ethics about fast-food consumption) but the fruit of it is positive and has the potential to help Christians engage with non-believers in a new and different way.
Is God going to damn us all to hell if we’re wrong? The bible doesn’t say he will so we’re good.
mary says
the question is about God damning us to hell ; the question is: is GOD happy with what we are doing. we are the the salt of the earth. we should not forget that. If jesus came in a church service or assembly.
do you really think he is going to say well done my children, you are doing exactly what i want you to do,you are giving glory to your father in heaven by doing the harlem shake.
do you really think that doing the harlem shake is really giving glory to our father. if yes then the all world at the moment is giving glory to God by doing the harlem shake. all the videos uploaded are giving glory to God.
God set us a part for a purpose not so that we can go back to who we were before him and do what the rest of the world is doing. cause we are slowly again going to become part of the world
Mark Robinson says
In response to your last four paragraphs:
Para1 – As Christians we are not damned to hell because we are saved by Grace through the cross – to question this makes a mockery of Christ. Personally I try to worship as if Jesus was in the room not as if he were about to walk in or not there.
Para2 – Yes! I think he would. I think he would say well done for coming alongside and meeting with the marginalised just the way I did.
Para3 – Yes I think doing a Christ focused Harlem shake is giving glory to God. At the same time I think building a website with all my skills and gifts is giving glory to God. Holding open a door for someone is giving glory to God.
I don’t agree with the idea that the whole world is giving glory to God by doing the Harlem Shake and to suggest so is missing the point. Doing the Harlem Shake in a Christian context and allowing it to bring Glory to God is what actually brings glory to God.
Para4 – I don’t think doing a harlem shake is going back to who we were before Him. The fact that the Holy Spirit lives in us means that will never be the same. We are saved by his grace and love. We might make mistakes and mess up in my life but it doesn’t change the fact that we are saved.
Jesus came in to this world and the people he hung out with were not like him. They were not the perfect bunch of prim & proper christians. They were scum-bags and vagabonds. He hung out with cheats, liars and prostitutes. He told us to go disciple ALL men. Not just the ones same as our nice lil christian club. This is mission. Mission is messy and uncomfortable and requires trusting in him for guidance and our needs.
We need to be careful about mixing up what it means to be “in” and “of” the world. Being in the world means that we are in it. We live in the world and we take part in the world and all its foibles. Being of the world means that we are the swayed/influenced/ruled by it. I can take part “in” a harlem shake but not be influenced by any “of” it’s aspects. The same goes for any music, movies, entertainment, pop culture, cultural, and political things.
Matthew Snider says
That is not the original or at least that other sites have covered it as being the original.
Here is the original http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8vJiSSAMNWw
Eric Dye says
This version came after:
2013-01-30 22:34: “Filthy Compilation #6 – Smell My Fingers” by Filthy Frank (channel DizastaMusic) uploaded to YouTube
2013-02-02 15:17: The Sunny Coast Skate’s version uploaded
2013-02-02 17:38: Filthy Frank’s version uploaded
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_Shake_(meme)#Timeline
jeremy reger says
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3rOzs1ZRVNE
NUFF SAID!
Eric Dye says
LOL! Amazing.