'Harlem Shake' has taken over the interweb, and it's no surprise that the meme-inspiring track has topped the iTunes charts, taking over Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake. Bedrooms, offices, class-rooms - you name it - Harlem Shake has been caught on tape for over 33,000 times on Youtube in a week. Who's to blame for this funny as hell meme? Mad Decent signed Baauer (born Harry Rodrigues) is the man whose track has become the soundtrack, having been released already back in May, 2012. Mad Decent roster seems to have nack for inspiring memes, wonder why?
It's not easy to explain how memes are born, but it's easy to define one. It is something that goes viral and starts to spread rapidly within a culture. Mad Decent signees seem to be superb at just that. Just think of Diplo's 'Express Yourself' that got countless people twerking, and at least one teacher fired or Dillon Francis' I.D.G.F.O.S that's become as popular abbreviation as LOL or ROFL among some circles.
Update: Baauer and Mad Decent face copyright claims over the sampled 'Los Terroristas' line!A meme is about the best thing that can happen to an artist, as it can get you the desired recognition and widespread attention. So let's consider Baauer's success story. The single was released back in May, last year. And it did okay, getting support from top DJs like Brodinski and Flosstradamus. But I bet Baauer couldn't have thought it possible, that 9 months later he'll be overtaking the iTunes charts. Thanks to the 'Harlem Shake', Bauuer has gone from 7,000 Facebook fans to about 70,000. From a modest fanbase, he's gone to being one of the most talked about artists, with his track used over and over again. Trap finding new supporters by the thousands, there's no telling how big he's going to get.
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Mad Decent is a pioneering electronic music imprint. Surely, they've got all the internet magic to promote their artists. Right now, trap music is being released almost daily on Diplo's label. But the 'Harlem Shake' wasn't the management's idea. It was just something that was inspired by Bauuer's track. So it goes to show that it isn't all about the social media mumbo-jambo. Making music that acts in a certain way upon people - that moves them - is an art, and a lot of the artists at the Mad Decent house possess it.
The formula of a 30 sec 'Harlem Shake' video: Start with a group of people going about their daily endeavours in an office, shop or anywhere. Focus the camera on the one masked person doing his best humping motion, and once the bass drops have everyone go completely berserk in a new scene!
Check out the video that kick-started the meme - 7 million views in 2 weeks!
Baauer is taking the success story as he should, being happily suprised:
"It’s definitely a total shock, but I see it as a very positive thing now,” he told Interview Magazine. “But to me, it came out of nowhere, so to see all the things they’re doing… like to see the Dallas Mavericks doing one, it’s just blowing my mind. I keep having my mind blown. But it’s funny to see that song used that way, by so many people. It came out at like the end of summer, and now it’s like back again, nine months later.”
Listen to the original track, released back in May, 2012!