Miami Heat do the Harlem Shake |
Everybody is doing the Harlem Shake. Sports teams, clubs and other organisations are taking it upon themselves to perform their version of the viral Internet dance/pop song combination now being referred to as 'The Harlem Shake'. Effectively The Harlem Shake is an Internet meme in the form of a video of various groups of people performing a comedy sketch accompanied by a short excerpt from the song "Harlem Shake"
Here's the Miami Heat version. ESPN and other major sporting sites have been drooling all over this since it arrived late last week. They, including the Heat, are all missing the point entirely. If there was such a thing as a 'Harlem Shake' review team, they would take one look at this and shout 'wrong, wrong, wrong!'.
This may look hilarious at first viewing, however, it is absolutely wrong in terms of the spirit of the Harlem Shake. The Harlem Shake is colourful chaos. Somehow the Heat appear to have found a way to immunize it, label it and take all the good out of it. Note to LeBron, we know you are really trying to push your 'The King' label, however incorporating this into your team's version of the Harlem Shake just shows you simply don't get it.
Look at the spacing between the Heat players, it is as if they think it is a Nike advert or something, and we actually care who each player is. Check that spacing out and then check this incredibly awesome version of the Harlem Shake out, perfected beautifully by Fulham football club.
See the difference? Fulham, just a bunch of guys having a great time doing something awesome. Miami? A group of egos who are desperate for us to know exactly how much fun they are!
It is hilarious to note, by the way, that we are basically in a World where Dimitar Berbatov of Fulham is cooler, by far, than LeBron James. The above two videos are clear evidence of that. One, effortless cool, one insisting upon himself, screaming at us to love him (I am sure you can figure out which is which).
One final note to the Miami Heat on how to do the Harlem Shake. Just let go, Have fun, Stop trying to sanitize everything, sterilizing it for future merchandising prospectives. The Harlem Shake is meant to be colourful, crazy and chaotic.
Don't take it from me, take it from the likes of the below. First McGoverns, a small pub in Gorey, Wexford, Ireland. Imagine, these guys get it better than the Miami Heat!
Then, finally, the cherry on the cake. This is the single greatest, most terrifying Harlem Shake thus far. Let's drop the Mic on this, because really there is nothing to say after you have seen it. On one hand, above, you have the sterile, bland Miami Heat entry. Then you have the Omonia Nicosia football team supporting Gate 9 Ultras. Prepare to be both amused and terrified...
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