It all begins with one person who is usually wearing a helmet or a hat while everyone around is oblivious to that person dancing, until the beat drops and everyone appears to be dancing in a comical way; that is the Harlem Shake.
The song by Baauer, born as Harry Rodrigues, 23, reached first in iTunes singles chart and is currently third. The dance is being performed by fraternities, sports teams, TV shows casts and even CSUN.
CSUN CTVA major, Konrad Sedochenkoff organized the Harlem Shake that happened on campus and went on his bike around campus with a megaphone to get Matadors to join the CSUN Harlem Shake.
He also used social media like Facebook and Twitter to let students know about the event. He gathered about 150 people in front of the Oviatt Library on Feb. 19.
“It’s a way to have fun and represent your school and be part of that internet exploitation of fun in the internet,” said Sedochekoff. “We wanted to make sure that CSUN did not get left out.”
There are hundred of Harlem Shake videos including sports teams like the Miami Heat, Manchester City F.C., and the CONCACAF champions Sub-20 Mexico.
It wasn’t until the people of Harlem reacted to the shake and responded with disappointment and shame because they said that it doesn’t represent Harlem or the city of New York.
The real Harlem Shake requires you to move your shoulders up and down while you alternate between the left and right. You should move your arms side to side. People get creative with the dance but that is the basic Harlem shake.
Deana Momjian, 19, health administration major, said that everyone is doing it wrong because the real Harlem dance is actually difficult.
“It’s better than planking, it is not dangerous. I’ve seen people doing planking on the freeway and that’s dangerous. Doing the Harlem shake on campus at least shows school pride,” Momjian said.
But how long will this dance be trending? Remember Gangnam Style? The K-pop sensation that Psy brought to the world and now no one is doing. Or planking? When people would take pictures laying on the ground or on inappropriate places, that also has stopped. How long will the Harlem shake last? We are all waiting for the next YouTube video that makes everyone else on the globe imitate it.
Freshmen Kenny Pelaez, 18, predicts that the Harlem Shake will only last a couple of months before it dies down.
“Its not a dance, you just make crazy movements,” Pelaez said. “I was invited on the Facebook event but wasn’t able to go because I had class during that time. I would have gone if I could, though.”
Trends are fun to follow. There are several other trending topics that have happened. Planking’s nemesis, owling, which consists of someone keeping balance on an edge and posing in fetal position. Owling was also popular but eventually died down.
Tebowing was another trend that people were following. Someone would take a picture of a single person, or sometimes a group of people, who would kneel down on one knee and pretend to be praying like Tim Tebow commonly does.
Just like everything else in the world, it all has a beginning and an end. All cultural trends are ephemeral just like fashion; you have to keep moving with it.
[<a href=”//storify.com/dailysundial/csun-harlem-shake” target=”_blank”>View the story “CSUN Harlem Shake” on Storify</a>]<br /> <h1>CSUN Harlem Shake</h1> <h2>About 150 students gathered in front of the Oviatt Library Monday afternoon to participate in a viral YouTube sensation known as the Harlem Shake.</h2> <p>Storified by <a href=”http://storify.com/dailysundial”>Daily Sundial</a>· Tue, Feb 19 2013 07:55:10</p> <div>CSUN students dance ‘Harlem Shake’ in front of Oviatt Librarydailysundial</div> <div>Harlem Shake CSUN (Official)KonradShitsGold</div> <div>My prayers have been answered! #harlemshake #csun http://instagr.am/p/V0wvktC1Pg/???? ??????</div> <div>Had to head to class but the crowd is forming! Lol #CSUN #harlemshake #filming #letsgocsun #matadors #haha #LMFAO #funnyshit #oviatt #libraryAshley To</div> <div>@csunstarsonline about to do #harlemshake at #CSUN. #scholarships #MatadorDollarDay http://pic.twitter.com/oL1cA2TBJoey Ortega ?_??</div> <div>Harlem shake at CSUN @melinda27ramirez #tight #baller #harlemshake #CSUNbola913</div> <div>#HarlemShake at #CSUN lol #OviattLibrary http://pic.twitter.com/5y8E31D3Andrew</div> <div>#CSUN #HarlemShake hope it comes out good. Think it should! http://pic.twitter.com/sdiRoeEZRaffi Khechoumian</div> <div>The Harlem Shake just happened at CSUN! #HarlemShake #CSUN @ Oviatt Library http://instagr.am/p/V44R8ABLTJ/Toby Crafton</div> <div>Engaged in #HarlemShake at #CSUN, wearing #Morphsuit – good timesMathew Domenichini</div> <div>Harlem Shake: CSUN, President’s day editionKrista Parker</div> <div>#CSUN #HARLEMSHAKE #haha #wegetdown #igdaily #college #mondayMarlon Begue</div> <div>What the!! #harlemshake at #csun ! Wasn’t really that greatJuanito Ibanez</div> <div>Lol #csun #Harlemshake Marquis W</div> <div>The making of CSUN Harlem Shake video.Vince Palaganas</div> <div>I get out of class and all I see is people breaking it down to a Harlem Shake music video in front of the Oviatt Library on campus!!! #twerkteam #csun #NorthRage #ratchetswelcomed #cluboviatt #myschoolgetsdown #harlemshake #videogibbsmoney</div> <div>Csun "Harlem Shake" edition #csun #harlemshake #newcraze #howdoyouparty #igers #instadaily #iphonesia #party #hard #youtubeArielle Nadja</div> <div>@jennsy323 @sharonxbby Just did the Harlem Shake video at #Csun. lolLinda (????)</div> <div>@tauomegarho Rollin deep to #csun Harlem shake in front of the #oviattlibrary ! Catch the hotdog and cow running around campus! @m8b8 @top_johnny @alan_gately @brianm28 @a_medina14 @stephen3494 @tallguyroney @jon_jones_23 photocred to @natmichelle24 !!! #tauomegarho #fraternity #greek #aopi #deltazeta #phimu #axid #alphaphi #tridelt #kappakappagamma #harlemshake #video #brotherhood #strengthinbrotherhoodnotinnumbers #youmadJosh Lin(DJ Kamikaze)</div> <div>View from the library!! You know just doing the Harlem Shake! Making history! Catch me in the video! ASHLIE MODABBER</div> <div>Monday’s Harlem Shake video was not the first Harlem shake video made at CSUN, although it was the largest. </div> <div>Harlem Shake (Lounge Edition)jojogr2</div> <div>HARLEM SHAKE!!! [CSUN EDITION]dublininctv</div> <div>The craze seems to be catching on with CSUN’s Greek system as well.</div> <div>CSUN Sigma Chi Harlem Shakesebyplatner</div> <div>CSUN SigEp Harlem Shake_kDwX_LvrXeNHM8TxJVXFg</div> <div>Harlem Shake – ??? – Alpha Xi Deltacharlotte small</div> <div>What do make of the Harlem Shake viral video craze? Tweet us your thoughts @dailysundial #csunharlemshake .</div> <p>