THE 30-second clip begins with one figure, usually helmeted or masked, dancing to a catchy mix by Baauer called “Harlem Shake”. The surrounding people appear oblivious to the movement. Fifteen seconds in, the beat drops, a voice says “Do the Harlem Shake”, and everyone starts gyrating manically. Most are suddenly oddly costumed, and waving random objects. Filthy Frank, a video blogger, seems to have uploaded the first version a month ago. A group of Australian teens posted their response. Their version, with more than 20m views, also went viral. Already a parody, it was parodied. A lot. Searching “Harlem Shake” on YouTube now brings 330,000 results.

Some of the copycats have notched up even more views than the original uploads. One, posted by a Norwegian military squad (pictured), has had 52m views. Firemen, athletes (including Manchester City footballers), porn stars, Sports Illustrated models, newscasters, students, office workers and the Simpsons have all uploaded their own versions of the Harlem Shake.

Some have got into trouble for their silliness. According to the National Centre Against Censorship hundreds of American students have been punished for participating in the Shake, with many of them being suspended. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video made mid-flight. In Western Australia, 15 miners were sacked for filming at work.

But this is not the true Harlem Shake, say many in Harlem. Chef Jones, who is in her 50s, remembers the original version. “That’s not authentic. It can’t compete with the Harlem Shake I know,” she says as she moves her shoulders and arms to demonstrate the original move on Harlem’s busy 125th Street. A-tone, a hip-hop historian, says “they share the name but that’s it.” The original dance was created by the late Albert Leopold Boyce (Al B) on Harlem’s basketball courts three decades ago in the early days of hip hop. Sandra Boyce, mother of the original’s creator, bears no animosity toward the meme, however. “Let them do their thing.”

Others in Harlem are angry about it. One fellow, who goes by “CJ”, played on those courts and knew Boyce well. “It’s a disservice to him and to Harlem,” he says. Derek Watson and Patrick Johnson, two residents, concede the meme is funny, but also say “it is a mockery.” Some teenagers uploaded a clip of themselves performing the “Real, Real, Real Harlem Shake” to highlight the difference between the original and what people are doing now. It got a paltry 1.6m views.