‘Harlem Shake’ craze takes campus by storm

A typical Harlem Shake video, such as this one by the EKU Gurus, starts with one person in a mask or helmet dancing alone. Once the beat drops, everyone in the room joins convulsively.

BY: MAYA JOHNSON
progress@eku.edu

In 2012, the world was introduced to the foreign sounds of “Gangnam Style” by PSY, which became an instant sensation. A new dance trend came about in February 2013, making PSY a thing of the past.

“The Harlem Shake” by Baauer is the latest dance sensation, and the craze has spread to Eastern’s campus.

Baauer’s album was released May 22, 2012 but didn’t start selling until recently. On Feb. 2, five teens from Queensland, AU posted an original Harlem Shake video on YouTube that went viral.

To basically explain the Harlem Shake phenomena, each video lasts around 30 seconds. It starts with one person in a mask or helmet dancing for the first 15 seconds around others who do not pay attention to them. When the bass drops, the video cuts to the entire crowd dancing convulsively for the next 15 seconds. Often times, many of the people will either be in a costume or not wearing a lot of clothes.

Different departments at Eastern have made their own videos and posted them on social networking sites, adding on to the meme and helping expand its popularity.

The EKU Gurus made a preview of their own Harlem Shake video.

“We thought it was a trend, so we decided to make our own,” said Sarah Larcade, 21, political science major. “We also got some students involved, too.”

At a recent Eastern basketball game, the Harlem Shake was played. The mascot started out by dancing in the middle of the crowd. Once the bass dropped, the entire crowd began to follow his lead by doing their own dance.

“Kara Kovert came up to me with the idea and said I’d be filmed in the crowd,” said the Colonel mascot. “The dance is fun and creative. More people can do the Harlem Shake than Gangnam Style.”

Ryan Parsons, a guard on the basketball team, says when he heard the music, he anticipated people doing the well-known shake. He enjoyed some of the videos others have posted and said the team had contemplated joining in on the craze after the line-up.

Dorms have also made their own Harlem Shake videos and posting them on YouTube. Criminal justice major Brittany Lawrence found the video on Facebook and thought it was a great idea to make one with the residence in Martin Hall. As a residence assistant, she did it as a program for her floor and got several other residences to participate as well.

However, this craze won’t last forever. Just like the Harlem Shake replaced Gangnam Style, something will come in the next year or even a few months and replace the Harlem Shake. All we can do is wait.