Bauuer, Harlem Shake | 1 Hit WONDERful

In the 6^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2024), we highlight “Harlem Shake” performed by DJ/producer, Baauer.

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy 💯! On 1 Hit WONDERful, we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  To be fair, it is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, it’s that ONE hit that earned them recognition. So, in the 6^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2024) we dive into “Harlem Shake”,  the one hit wonder by Baauer.

“Con lost terroristas!” And so, begins a hit for the ages, “Harlem Shake”! In 2013, the viral song by DJ/producer, Bauuer (Harry Bauer Rodrigues), spent five weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.  That’s the good news.  The less positive news is the fact that Bauuer has yet to chart another song on the pop charts.  In other words, Bauuer and “Harlem Shake” earn the distinction of one-hit wonder.  Still, the success that Rodrigues earned with “Harlem Shake” is impressive.

Following the memorable Spanish intro, Bauuer gives us a sick, electrifying build-up via synths and the beat. It leads to the centerpiece of “Harlem Shake”: the chorus and of course, the drop! “Then do the Harlem Shake (Shake!) / Ey (Shake!).” That’s about the size of it, lyrically.  “Harlem Shake” is a vibe, built on an infectious, minimalist sound, and of course, its ability to make you dance randomly (the YouTube videos were out of control).  Essentially, this song/viral dance could be likened to the popularity of “Macarena” (Los Del Rio) in the 1990s, though not as dominant. What more is there to say? “Harlem Shake” needs no extensive analysis or commentary – it speaks for itself.

🎙 Bauuer • 🎵 “Harlem Shake” • 🏷 Mad Decent • 🗓 2013

Bauuer, Harlem Shake: 1 Hit WONDERful No. 6 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Mad Decent; Elias Souza from Pexels; OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]