Harlem Shake

In November 2011 I posted a bunch of poems based on songs that were #1 on my birthday. Then I posted my 2011 and 2012 songs in May of last year.

This year Harlem Shake was #1 on my birthday. The week before it was Macklemore's Thrift Shop. Then after only another week Thrift Shop was #1 again.

That is the Backstreet Boys.

The song is inoffensive - though annoying as hell - but inoffensive. The weird viral-video crap of white people acting foolish...just NO.

This happened because Billboard changed the rules of how they calculate the #1 on the Hot 100. They have added in views on YouTube and other social media platforms. Harlem Shake would have NEVER been #1 otherwise.

I went to college with Macklemore. I wanted his song to be my birthday #1. It would have been right.

But...I made the rules and must live by them. So. Here is my 2013 birthday poem.


Harlem Shake

Con los terroristas

with those 9-5s - making dollars

do the Harlem Shake

Walk yourself to the 2 train

take yourself to that dead-end job

con los terroristas

History in the concrete

history in the basements

Do the Harlem Shake

This city forgets itself - breaks bread

with whomever has the dollars

con los terroristas

Dance your ass off

for the man? - or yourself

and do the Harlem Shake

Eventually everything blends

every block looks the same -

con los terroristas

and do the Harlem Shake