I came a little late to the "Harlem Shake". I kept seeing references to it, but had no clue what it was other than some video that went viral, and subsequently launched a whole meme of copycat videos. I finally watched what turned out to be one of the stupidest things I've ever seen. I'm not sure why it's so wildly popular or what the appeal is, or even why my local conservative talk radio station bothered to add theirs to the ever growing list of more than 12,000 Harlem Shake videos out there, but it's become a world wide phenomenon. It's even made its way to Egypt, however people over there haven't been quite as receptive. In fact, four students in Cairo
were arrested for committing "a scandalous act" after neighbours took offense to the lads filming themselves in their undies dancing to the "Harlem Shake", in public.
The four pharmaceutical students shocked residents of a middle class Cairo neighborhood when they removed most of their clothes and videotaped themselves performing the pelvis-thrusting dance, a police official said.
The hostile audience tried to assault the students, who are accused of committing “a scandalous act,” the official added.
Egypt has strict public indecency laws.
Some Egyptians have posted videos of themselves on Youtube doing the “Harlem Shake” in front of the pyramids. One of them, dressed in white underwear and a bow tie, dances while riding a camel.
If you are as clueless as I was, this blog gives you
a rundown of the evolution of the craze which was sparked by some
Australian kids, although
this one is the original that inspired the Aussies. All pretty dang stupid, if you ask me.
