Question 10: Who Wants to be an Internet Nerd!
What is widely considered to be the first viral video or meme?
- Hamster Dance
- Star Wars Kid
- Dancing Baby
- Dramatic Chipmunk
ANSWER
Dancing Baby (CORRECT) This 1996 animation of a 3D dancing baby is widely credited as being the first big internet meme. The “Dancing Baby”, also called “Baby Cha-Cha” or “the Oogachacka Baby”, is a 3D-rendered animation of a baby performing a cha-cha type dance to the intro of “Hooked on a Feeling” by the Swedish rock group Blue Swede. Originally spread by email, message boards and both commercial and private websites, it eventually crossed over to traditional television as a recurring hallucination on the TV series, Ally McBeal. And remember, this was in 1996 when there were only 257,601websites. – we liked everything that moved.
Hamster Dance (WRONG). Remember, the Internet was young and we were all easily entertained. Hamster Dance was a 1999 viral hit. Built on the free GeoCities website, the Hampster Dance featured rows of animated GIFs of hamsters and other rodents dancing in various ways to a sped-up sample from the song “Whistle-Stop”, written and performed by Roger Miller for the 1973 Walt Disney Productions film Robin Hood. The Hamster Dance became Internet famous and was one of the earliest Internet memes – but it was not the first.
Star Wars Kid (WRONG) This 2003 pre-YouTube video came seven years after Dancing Baby and has a sad back story. It was originally sent around the Internet without the knowledge of the kid that made it, Ghyslain Raza. Raza states he was a victim of cyberbullying, as online commenters responded with critical or bullying messages. However, according to Wikipedia, several fans related to Raza. “That’s why his video became so popular: It was funny and awkward but ultimately we connected to him.” In 2005 CNET listed the Star Wars Kid as #8 on its Top 10 Web Fads list. It also ranked #2 on VH1’s “Top 40 Internet Celebrities,” right behind Gary Brolsma (The Numa Numa Guy).
Dramatic Chipmunk (WRONG). This 2007 5-second video clip of a rodent is oddly entertaining if not mislabeled. We challenge you to watch it and not smile. Nonetheless, it was 11 years after Dancing Baby made its debut.
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