We shot a Harlem Shake at Bent Gate’s Silverton Sick Days this past Wednesday. It’s worth a socially creative review as this could be the fastest growing viral campaign ever.
“The Harlem Shake” Timeline of Events
1981 — The dance was originally coined in 1981 as a drunk dance by a Harlem resident and creator “Al B”
“it’s a drunken shake anyway, it’s an alcoholic shake, but it’s fantastic, everybody appreciates it.”
2013 — On January 23rd, 2013 – 2 weeks after Baaur’s “The Harlem Shake” dropped on iTunes, still unrelated FilthyFrank uploads this “How To Dubstep”video with his character PINK GUY. At this time, his facebook page which claims he “once tripped and had anal sex with himself” has less than 4,500 likes.
On January 30th he uploads his Compilation #6 – Smell My Fingers video with the Harlem Shake short introduction. This video still only has 322,347 views, but his viewers were asking for more shake. So on February 2nd – he gives them the original Harlem Shake which now has over 10,900,000 views.
“yall naughty fellas wanted the full separate version of HARLEM SHAKE SO HERE IT IS.
SHARE IT WITH YO FRANS XOXO
♥”
Over the next 2 days, 257 of Filthy Frank’s fans share the video, 908 like it and 84 people comment on his original post. A Filthy Remix even pops up and somewhere in the mix people start uploading their own versions. A few of the early videos gained even more views than Filthy Frank’s original, so he re-posted the original to his now growing facebook fan-base on February 6th…
“some swagfag guys made a harlem shake video right after ours and it’s obviously copied. and it’s getting crazy views. but we stand strong, because we have the power of each individual filthy character. don’t forget where you came from, and stay filthy.”
This repost gained another 105 shares, 1,239 likes and 116 comments to propel the Harlem Shake to the masses of the interManets. The competition was on and the creatives started uploading. ImAfricanJesus began a playlist of his Harlem Shake consumptions. CollegeHumor was #9 on the list. By February 9th ImAfricanJesus quit adding Harlem Shakes to his consumption playlist stopping at 47 videos.
On February 8th, the new york times posted an article relating winter storm Nemo + the Harlem Shake as a way to pass your time while being stuck indoors. Filthy Frank posts the article and it gains 38 shares, 858 likes and 150 comments from his fan base. The Chive, Break, Buzzfeed, and Maker Studios out of LA created job campaigns out of their versions of the Harlem Shake which proved the shake could definitely be used for marketing traction. Musical talent Matt and Kim even jumped into the mix.
A good friend of mine, Jason McWilliams, preached the Harlem Shake to Copper Mountain Ski Area on Saturday, February 9th. By February 11th, around 12,000 “Harlem Shake” videos had been posted with a collective 44 million views. One of my favorite and most creative versions was posted by the UGA Men’s Swim and Dive team on February 11th.
On February 12th, Copper Mountain dropped their Harlem Shake creation, which is when I first took notice of the completely random sensation. We recorded our random version on February 13th in Silverton, CO and nearly had the mountain convinced to shoot and upload what I still believe would be the most epic Harlem Shake ever. Conceptually you couldn’t beat a helicopter hovering behind a bunch of Bent Gate Silverton Sick Days skiers and riders dancing their asses off by the rental bus at Silverton. I blame myself, and partially Devin Rhinehart for not TSOIGDH’ng and following through with this one.
The Today Show ripped their own version on February 14th, officially killing the interManets viral meme formerly known as the “Harlem Shake”. To put an exclamation point on it, McWilliams walled me this one just to be sure. Filthy Frank now has over 47,000 likes and 125,000 YouTube Subscribers and overall he seems pretty modest about creating the sensation and actually makes fun of his post Harlem Shake audience.
This completes your Hydle write up and review of what catalysts enabled a creative meme to go Viral. I’m actually pretty surprised the Adelia Shake didn’t take off.
Get ready for another year of awesomeness. The USA Pro Challenge returns to Colorado this August 19th - 25th, 2013.
And don't forget, January 11th, is designated "Awesome Day” in Colorado. Get your…
“beautiful weather, good beer, incredible topography, exceptional sunsets, outstanding sports’ teams and fans, remarkable outdoor recreation and again, really good beer”
In lieu of the Broncos wildcard overtime win over the Steelers… lets take a look back at what we used to do in celebration of the very few bronco wins from 2010.
On March 23rd, 2011 we had a friend hit the hospital due to an unknown circumstance. Below is a transcript of our email conversations along with an artist’s conception of present Spencer vs. future Spencer by John Kelly.
Does anybody know how our friend is doing?
Besides the text last night I haven’t heard anything.
I have inquired…no response.
I did not recieve this text last night. What did it say?
All I remember is he can fart out his penis.
I got a text from him… He is feeling fine. He is going to have to have surgery and he will be in the hospital for a week and a half. I will try to find out which hospital.
St. anthony’s central
Here is a picture of present Spencer matched with an artist’s conception of future Spencer.
1. get drunk
2. cubs game
3. fireworks
4. get all of us laid-ies
5. play on a lake
6. go to a beach
7. golf
8. drink free beer at coors headquarters
9. top golf – wood dale
10. pee on the border of wis + illinois
1. get drunk
2. cubs game
3. fireworks
4. get all of us laid-ies
5. play on a lake
6. go to a beach
7. golf
8. drink free beer at coors headquarters
9. top golf – wood dale
10. pee on the border of wis + illinois
