By Brynn Abernathy, Amber Antinora, Gracie Bacon, Kirsten Hernandez
Sterling High School Reacts to Popular Dance Fads
It seems there is always a popular song that fuels a new dance craze. Often these dances takeover social media, appear time and time again on television, and cannot be avoided when scanning through local radio stations. The artists behind these songs also experience jumpstarts in their careers and obtain huge chart and sales success. They may even become household names as a result. Some of these dances that have taken the world by storm include the “Chicken Dance”, “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”, “Teach Me How To Dougie”, “Harlem Shake”, and most recently, “Watch Me (Whip/ Nae Nae).”
In a short survey, SHS students were asked what their favorite and least favorite song to dance to is. The survey consisted of five popular songs: “Harlem Shake”, “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”, the “Chicken Dance”, “Teach Me How To Dougie”, and Crank That (Soulja Boy).” The freshman class’s favorite song to dance to was the “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).” Their least favorite was a tie between the “Chicken Dance” and “Harlem Shake.” The sophomore class agreed with the freshman class. Their favorite song to dance to was “Watch Me (Whip/ Nae Nae)” and their the most unfavored was the “Chicken Dance.” Unlike the underclassmen, the junior class’s preference of song to dance to is the “Chicken Dance.” Their least preferred song choice to dance to is “Harlem Shake.” Along with the juniors, the seniors’ number one song choice to dance to is also the “Chicken Dance.” The most unfavored song according to the senior class is “Teach Me How To Dougie.” A recent survey showed that Sterling High School students’ overall favorite dance to do is “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).” The least favorite dance is “Crank That (Soulja Boy).”
For more understanding on the answers given by each class, the Bengal Cry staff interviewed four people from each grade level. Along with each class, staff members were interviewed for their input.
Freshman Riley Bacon stated, “My favorite song is “Harlem Shake” because it is fun to do. My least favorite would probably be the “Chicken Dance” because it is stupid. I think these songs are so popular because you can dance to them.”
For freshman Sadie Holloway, her choice of song to dance to is the “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).”
“My favorite song would probably be the “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” because it is a fun upbeat song to dance to. I am not too fond of “Teach Me How To Dougie” because it is boring. These songs are popular because everybody knows them.” she said.
According to Isaac Harris, his most favored song out of the five songs is “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).”
“My most liked song would probably be “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” because it is a catchy song and a fun dance to take part in. My least favorite dance would be the “Chicken Dance” because all you do is act like a chicken. These songs are so popular because they have a catchy rhythm and are easy to follow.” he said.
The last of the freshman class, Makenna Perry, stated her opinion, “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” is my favorite because it is funny to do and funny to watch. I don’t like the “Chicken Dance” because it is random and boring. I believe that these songs are so popular today because of the music influences and people want to fit in.”
Sophomore Finnin Hayes expressed his thoughts on the five popular songs.
“My favorite song has got to be “Teach Me How To Dougie” because of the fun body movement. My least favorite is the “Chicken Dance” because it is stupid. These songs are popular because of the catchy rhythm and they are fun to do.” he said.
Kirstyn Fritzler stated, “My favorite song is “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” because it is fun to dance to. My least favorite sing is by far the “Chicken Dance” because it is dumb. These songs are probably so popular because they are fun to do.”
Brandon Locke agreed with Kirstyn Fritzler’s dislike of the “Chicken Dance.”
“My favorite song is “Harlem Shake” because it is random and different. My least favorite song is the “Chicken Dance” because it is not fun. I think these songs are popular because that are catchy and have a certain beat to them.” he said.
For Sydney Wright, her most preferred song is the “Chicken Dance.”
“My favorite song is the “Chicken Dance’ because it is fun to do and it is easy. My least favorite is “Harlem Shake” because it hurts. These songs are so popular to us because generally the student body likes the beat and rhythm the songs have to offer.” she said.
Despite the age difference between the lower and upperclassmen, their taste in music is almost the same. Junior Evan Kapps expressed his perspective on the five songs.
“My favorite song is “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” because it is catchy and fun to dance to. My least favorite is the “Chicken Dance” because it is boring and stupid. I think these songs are so popular because at one point they were all played on the radio and they have some specific type of rhythm.” he said.
Unlike Kapps, Brady Krier pronounced that his most-liked was the “Chicken Dance.” “My favorite song is the “Chicken Dance” because it is a classic. My least favorite is “Harlem Shake” because it is stupid.” Krier, a man of few words, stated his opinion on why they are so popular with “they just are.”
Jessica Holloway shares a most favored song with many other students.
“My favorite song would be “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” because it is fun to dance to and has a catchy rhythm. My least favorite song would be “Teach Me How To Dougie” because it is annoying and boring. I think these songs are so popular because they are all somewhat new, besides the “Chicken Dance”, and they are all fun to dance to.” she said.
“My favorite would probably have to be the “Teach Me How To Dougie” because it is fun and funny to watch,” revealed Kylie Chavez. “My least favorite would have to be “Harlem Shake” because it is stupid. I think these songs are so popular because they are easy to do,” she continued.
Senior Khalie Tidemann stated her opinion about two of the five songs.
“My favorite song is “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” because that is the dance I do most of the time. My least favorite is the “Chicken Dance” because it is hard to get into. I think these songs are so popular because they appeal to teenagers around the world.” she said.
Jason Ha said, “My favorite song is the “Chicken Dance” because when I was a kid, I danced to it all the time. My least favorite would be “Harlem Shake” because it is random and weird. These songs are probably so popular because they are family friendly songs and are also very catchy.”
Josie Blagg stated, “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” is my favorite because it is on all the time at practice and get me moving. My least favorite, I would say is the “Chicken Dance” because it is really repetitive. I think these songs are so popular because everyone can sing along, dance to and just have a great time all together!”
According to Zane Powell, “My favorite has got to be the “Chicken Dance” because who in their right mind wouldn’t like it. My least favorite is probably “Teach Me How To Dougie” because I don’t know how to do it. I think they are so popular because they are just go to dance songs.”
Librarian Becky Fritzler said, “My favorite song it “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” because it is upbeat and entertaining. My least favorite song would be the “Chicken Dance” because it is childish and boring. I think these songs are so popular because they are upbeat, fun and enjoyable.”
Art teacher Chelsea Scott had a different opinion on the song choices.
She said, “My favorite song is “Harlem Shake” because it is fun. My least favorite song is “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” because it is silly. I think these songs are so popular because they are easy to dance to.”
With a popular dance fad generally comes success for the song and artist behind the dance. The most recent dance fad is to the song “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” by the rapper Silento. The hit is currently number one on Billboard’s Rap Streaming Songs Chart, and peaked at number one on the Hot Rap Songs Chart on Aug. 8, 2015, after spending 22 weeks on the chart. It also reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart on July 18, 2015 after being released on May 6, 2015 by Capitol Records.
Artist Baauer’s 2013 hit “Harlem Shake”, was released in January of 2013 by Mad Decent Records. It spent 19 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart before reaching the number one spot on March 2, 2013. “Harlem Shake” also hit number one on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs Chart on March 2, 2013 after only two weeks on the chart.
The 2010 hit “Teach Me How To Dougie” by Cali Swag District reached number 28 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart on September 4, 2010 after spending twenty weeks on the chart. It also peaked at number nine on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart on July 24, 2010 before the full album was released on July 12, 2011 by 319 Music Group.
“Crank That (Soulja Boy)” by Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em topped Billboard’s Hot 100 Songs Chart at number one on October 6, 2007 spending 32 weeks on the chart. It also reached number one on the Hot Rap Songs Chart on September 29, 2007 before its full album release on October 2, 2007 from Collifark Music/Interscope Records.
Think of the first time you heard or danced to the “Chicken Dance” or “Teach Me How To Dougie”, or “Crank That (Soulja Boy).” How about watched a video of “Harlem Shake?” More recently, it is the impossible to go a day without hearing about “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).” So where did they all come from? Some of them are older than you think.
Although there is no Billboard charting history available for the Chicken Dance, it actually originated in Switzerland in the 1950s. The dance was popularized by YouTube user GODHELLY in 2009. “The Chicken Dance Song” now has close to 17 million views. Though it is the oldest of all the sampled dances, it has the least views and social media attention.
Second, “Harlem Shake”, uploaded to YouTube as just a song by the artist Baauer in 2013, has 29 million views. Although many stars did it like the Backstreeet Boys, Jimmy Fallon, and colleges like Washington State, Oregon State, Colorado State and practically every college with internet access. Not only that, the Fine Bros., famous YouTubers, uploaded a Kids React To The Harlem Shake video which has 32 million views. So many people know of the dance although it is rarely heard of nowadays.
Next, “Teach Me How To Dougie” by Cali Swag District. The original video uploaded in 2010, (currently at 32 million views) features the premade dance moves. Many people have made their own tutorial on how to do the dance. One video even has 10 million views. But even a collective 42 million views is nothing compared to “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” at 199 million views. The song was released in 2007, but the video with the dance was released in 2009. It has been featured in the video game Dance Central also.
Dominating them all, is the most popular dance of 2015, “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).” The song by Silento has 373 million (and counting) views. The song includes seven dance moves, some of which were already established. A countless number of Vines featuring this song are seen daily by all different types of people. One reason this could be is the popularity of social media; Twitter having 370 million monthly users, Instagram with 300 million and Vine with 200 million monthly users.
Everyone has a favorite dance craze they enjoy dancing along with. Dance fads are very prominent in today’s pop culture. Some of these fads include “Chicken Dance”, “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”, “Teach Me How To Dougie”, “Harlem Shake”, and “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).” Now with the increased presence of social media, these trends become phenomenons in an even wider scale in an even shorter amount of time. As the newest dance craze begins to wind down, there is no doubt, that another will soon come along and capture the world’s attention, and the chain of popular dances will continue to grow.
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