What exactly is the 'Harlem Shake'? One Woman's Battle for Knowledge...

Right Now: 'Best It's Gonna Get Vs. Tainted' - Celldweller

As you may have been noticing on your newsfeeds, there is a new dance craze circulating the internet called 'The Harlem Shake'. Now, I have seen quite a few videos of numerous groups of people attempting their own version and I have to admit, it's funny! However, I have been confronted with the fact that for the first time in my life, I do not know anything about the origins of this viral dance epidemic and therefore, I have decided today that instead of studying for my exam on Sunday (It's multiple choice, Bite Me!), I will instead uncover the mysteries surrounding this craze and hopefully educate those who, like me, are in a permanent stage of confusion around this thing that 'seems cool'.

Step One: To Wikipedia!

My journey to infinite knowledge begins with Wikipedia (obviously). Whenever society is faced with the unknown, the first thing we turn to is a our good, free friend, Wikipedia. If Wikipedia was a person, he'd be the guy who'd let you borrow some sugar, who'd help push your car in the snow, who would offer you the last biscuit on the plate. The 'Good Guy Greg' of the internet, if you will. 

I have typed 'Harlem Shake' into Wikipedia and I have been greeted by three different pages. I was not aware that the 'Harlem Shake' had so much depth, so much history. Already, I can feel this is going to take some time. The first page is dedicated to the dance, which seems to be like a good place to start. Apparently, the 'Harlem Shake' originated in 1981 in... You guessed it, Harlem! It was based on an Ethiopian dance called the 'Eskista'. The 'self purported  creator of this dance, 'Al B' (which is a very lazy nickname) seems to be a bit too lively on the party scene, as he is quoted saying that the dance 'comes from the ancient Egyptians' and describes it as 'what the mummies used to do'.  Now, I'm not an expert on Ancient Egyptian history but I find it hard to believe that long-dead, saturated corpses could spontaneously 'get their groove on' and I don't think any evidence of this has been painted in hieroglyphics (unless that was the curse that killed Howard Carter and Lord Carnavan)...

Anyway, this 'Al B' nonsense is annoying me and I'm no closer to finding out what the virality of the 'Harlem Shake' is all about. I have fallen for the student trap that is Wikipedia once again. It's like my kryptonite. Therefore, it's time to try a different method of gathering information. 

Step Two: Yahoo! Answers

I love Yahoo! Answers. I'm not sure if that means I'm a sad human being or not but I find it useful (and amusing too). Sometimes. My question was simple: 'What is the Harlem Shake?' Here are some of the answers I received.

Helpful? I think not. Also, I find the top contributor's post the most terrifying. She's like fifty? What would her children say?  I'm horrified but I'm also digressing. So, according to the good (and rather strange) denizens of Yahoo! Answers, it's basically just a silly little dance where people go crazy (and get naked). Hmm, okay but how did it get so popular all of a sudden? (I think I'm onto a bigger philosophical discovery than Aristotle)

Step Three: YouTube

Perhaps it would have been wise to begin with YouTube but I'm a gatherer of knowledge, a hunter of wisdom. I want all the facts before I commit to something (even if the facts are from either a website that anyone can edit or a community where satirical answers reign supreme). Through sleuthing, I discovered that the original video was from an account called TheSunnyCoastState. Here it is in all its glory.

And now, I finally get it. 'Harlem Shake' is just another craze and a hilarious one at that. It involves one person in a room full of people dancing to the song. When the bass drops, everyone joins in. And that's the 'Harlem Shake'. The best part is that there doesn't need to be a point in it, everyone needs a little bit of crazy in their lives. It's popularity is marked by the fact that everyone can get involved, no matter where you come from. Gangnam Style was last year's fad but is this year's ultimate craze the 'Harlem Shake'? Only time will tell.

Tomorrow, HEC Montreal are holding their own official homage to the 'Harlem Shake' in the cafeteria. I feel the only way for me to truly become one with the 'Harlem Shake' is to experience it for myself. Watch this space.