The latest viral trend that’s been taking the Internet by storm is the #MannequinChallenge, where a group of participants are filmed remaining frozen in a certain action, while music is being played in the background.
Appearing motionless for a fun or for show isn’t anything particularly novel – freeze tag? Posing? – but there’s something about appearing motionless collectively while a camera is moving to capture your petrified party that looks super cool and captivating. Sometimes we just want to live the bullet time effect life, Matrix-style.
See also: 8 Craziest Production Riders of Your Favourite Artists
And it certainly adds to the cool factor when the challenge is taken on by our favourite artists. Here’s a rundown of the best 9 musician Mannequin Challenge videos.
1. Britney Spears
The pop princess took to Instagram to thank her fans for voting for her for the Best Resident Performer in the Las Vegas Review-Journal‘s 2016 Best of Las Vegas Awards. What better to celebrate her second year winning than a recording killer video on the very stage she puts on her residence shows?
2. Destiny’s Child
A video posted by kellyrowland (@kellyrowland) on
They don’t have to be singing. They don’t have to be dancing. The fact that Destiny’s Child, aka Kelly, Beyoncé and Michelle, are in the same room alone freaks us out. The ladies took on the Challenge at the birthday party of Kelly’s two-year-old son on November 4.
3. Adele
Leave it to Adele to brighten up your Instagram feed even if she uses a sepia filter. The British singer had a little frozen fun with her band while taking a time off rehearsing for a show in Houston, Texas. Naturally, everyone donned a cowboy hat.
4. Rae Sremmurd
This one just had to happen. Since it’s their song “Black Beatles” that’s in the background of most Mannequin Challenge videos, of course hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd joined in. While they can’t claim it’s them who started the trend (that would be the kids at Colony High School, Ontario), they can certainly expect loads of royalty checks coming their way.
5. Paul McCartney
Love those Black Beatles #MannequinChallenge pic.twitter.com/aAu9umHKI7
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) November 10, 2016
If there’s anyone who we wouldn’t associate with a fleeting social media trend, it’s Paul McCartney. But then the Rae Sremmurd song does give a major shoutout to him and the other three Liverpool legends.
6. Backstreet Boys, O’Town and 98 Degrees
Oh yeah. This happened. #MannequinChallenge (repost from @otownofficial) pic.twitter.com/bbDwAjEm9q
— backstreetboys (@backstreetboys) November 13, 2016
‘Tis the stuff your 90’s boy band dreams are made of.
7. Troye Sivan
THIS HAPPENED #MannequinChallenge pic.twitter.com/RvJn7EujIS
— troye sivan (@troyesivan) November 13, 2016
With a little help from his Boston audience, the “Youth” singer created a pretty solid concert Mannequin Challenge video. Hey, pop stars, more of this soon?
8. The Vamps
#mannequinchallenge with @TheVampsband – CHECK!! 💯https://t.co/nT6X8Tle47 pic.twitter.com/NJHeWtzGAG
— Spotify Singapore (@SpotifySG) November 14, 2016
British band The Vamps join Spotify Singapore during their visit to the Lion City this week. If any brand wants to jump on this viral marketing train, they’d better hurry up before the idea turns completely unoriginal.
9. Marshmello
Safe to say the mellogang did one of the biggest #mannequinchallenge yet last night 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/g89W2mHiv6
— marshmello (@marshmellomusic) November 13, 2016
From the EDM corner, we have trap and progressive house producer Marshmello and his “Mellogang”. We totally appreciate the nod to Harlem Shake towards the end.
