When a video goes viral

[watervole]

 I've had this video uploaded on  You Tube for about 9 years.

We used to go and visit my mother-in-law in Kent for Christmas, and stay on for the New Year. On New Year's Day, one or more of the local morris teams dance outside the local pub, the Checkers. It's a good dance spot - there's never masses of traffic, and there's a good audience who come to watch.

Being used to this tradition, my son Henry came down with morris kit and broom one year and asked the local team if they'd like him to do a broom dance - rather a speciality of his at the time.

They said yes, and this video was the result.  I'm guessing my husband recorded it, as I was playing the concertina for the dance.

It's attracted a reasonable number of hits over time, but over the last few weeks the numbers  have gone up and up, and the curve shows no sign of flattening out..  The last couple of days, it's been gaining 10K views per day!  Over a thousand likes now.

I've linked from it to the official Anonymous Morris playlist to see how many people follow over onto that.  Only a day's sample so far, so not statistically significant, but about 10 people subscribed yesterday, whereas 2-3 is more normal.

I wonder who/where was the post that started the snowball rolling - it seems to be going completely under its own momentum now.

 

Watch on YouTube

 

Comments

[replyhazy]

He doesn't even seem out of breath! It's amazing!

It really makes me think of The Astral Pole (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ia9O6oBIas&ab_channel=AlexHolden).

[watervole]

I've a vague feeling that Henry tried the Astral Pole once. It would be easy for him. Hypermobility runs in our family.

[vera_j]

Yes! I do remember this great video - it was actually one on my first ones after you introduced me to the morris! And no wonder it has so stabile position with followers - really, just look at the long legs and this easy swing - just amazing:-)

[watervole]

He still dances like that, even today. Very relaxed, long strides.

[pensnest]

It's certainly a very fine dance! Going viral is a mysterious and arcane process, but having watched this, I'm not surprised it is snowballing, even after quite a long time.

[watervole]

It looks like it's slowing down now. I'm guessing someone with a very large following linked to it, and that effect is wearing off. We 'only' gained a thousand views overnight...

I'm hoping we can hit the magic 100,000 before it wears off entirely!

[watervole]

I tell a lie, it's already passed 100K..

[eledonecirrhosa]

Oh that's awesome! Talented Henry.

[watervole]

Rubber legs! That's my son.

[igenlode]

He really is reminiscent of John Cleese and the Silly Walks :D

[watervole]

I know what you mean!

[feng_shui_house]

Awesome. That is a great video of your son being a marvelous dancer. :^)