Every time you search YouTube, a new 'Harlem Shake' video is posted. The Internet meme phenomenon has been to most reproduced video perhaps in YouTube's existence. Since the first 'Harlem Shake' video appeared not even two weeks ago, hundreds, if not thousands, of imitators have posted their own videos, each one trying to outdo the last. But some now say that the 'Harlem Shake' sensation is already on its last breath.
For those of you who need to be brought up to speed, the 'Harlem Shake' is a themed 30-second video that people across the world are recreating with their own characters, locations, and costumes. They begin with one person (usually masked) rocking back and forth to the beginning of electronic producer Baauer's song "Harlem Shake," while everyone in the background sits idly. Once the beat drops halfway through, the camera smash cuts to a scene of complete insanity, where the people who had been sitting idly are dressed in crazy costumes and dancing across the screen.
But according to many commentators on twitter, the meme died when the cast of the Today show made its own 'Harlem Shake' Wednesday morning. And they weren't the first ones to drill it into the ground. T-Pain, the staffs of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and College Humor, players from the Dallas Mavericks, and a Norwegian army squadron are also among those to help bring it to its grave.
Some believe the Internet meme has simply been played out. It's everywhere. It was humorous and entertaining at first, but now it's nothing new or exciting. It can now be dubbed ordinary and played out. The 'Harlem Shake' has permeated its fun, cult aspect and is now being exploited by people who don't even understand or care for the music. And that's what it was originally all about.
Here's what people on Twitter have to say about the 'Harlem Shake.'
DaveMinella: "NBC's "Today" show; the meme serial killer"
Callme_matt: "Harlem Shake videos are the best thing to ever happen to the Internet"
RudoReels: "Once it hits the Today show, it's officially dead. It's time to stop talking about Harlem Shake"
JessTemby: "Can't. Stop. Watching. Harlem. Shake."
Unicorntastic: "Lots of ppl debate when a meme is 'dead' but I think the Today Show is the official barometer"
And here you can watch a plea to stop making Harlem Shake videos by Ad Age, which may be funnier than most 'Harlem Shake' videos out there.
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