# Electric Boogaloo

> Electric Boogaloo is a snowclone meme originating from the 1984 film 'Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo,' where appending the phrase to any title mocks unnecessary sequels.

Electric Boogaloo is a snowclone tacked onto sequel titles in the format 'X 2: Electric Boogaloo' to mock a follow-up as unnecessary, derivative, or bad. The template lifts its name from the 1984 breakdance movie Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo and jumped online in the early 2000s through blogs, YTMND, and mainstream entertainment writing.

## Origin
The meme traces back to the 1984 film *Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo*, directed by Sam Firstenberg and produced by Cannon Films' Yoram Globus and Menahem Golan[11]. The original *Breakin'* was a surprise hit that grossed nearly $38 million, so Cannon rushed a sequel into production with extraordinary speed. *Breakin' 2* hit theaters on December 21, 1984, just seven months after the first film[11].

The subtitle came from an unlikely source. Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers, one of the film's stars, recalls that Globus struggled to describe the breakdancing style to international distributors at Cannes. His solution was to shout "Look at Boogaloo dance electric!" and the producers ran with it as a title[9]. This was despite the fact that a real dance crew called the Electric Boogaloo Lockers had been performing the style on *Soul Train* since the late 1970s. Chambers says he's confident the producers had never heard of them[9].

The "electric boogaloo" itself is a legitimate funk dance style that emerged from Oakland, California in the 1970s. Boogaloo Sam founded the Electric Boogaloos dance crew in Fresno in 1977, blending popping techniques with earlier boogaloo forms rooted in Latin-American and Southern music traditions[15]. But the film completely ignored this history, and critics noticed. *Breakin' 2* received mostly negative reviews, scoring a 29% on Rotten Tomatoes[11]. Roger Ebert gave it three stars, and *Variety* called it a "comic book"[12]. It still pulled in $15.1 million at the box office, more than three times its budget[11].

The title's absurdity turned it into a punchline long before anyone had an internet connection. By the late 1980s and 1990s, film buffs and comedians were already using "[Movie Title] 2: Electric Boogaloo" as a running joke about bad sequels[10].

- **Platform:** Blogs and forums (early internet adoption), YTMND (early viral spread)
- **Creator:** Unknown (community-created from the 1984 film *Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo* by Yoram Globus and Menahem Golan)
- **Date:** 1984 (film), early 2000s (meme usage)

## Overview
Electric Boogaloo is a snowclone template that writers stick onto the title of a follow-up work to mock it as unnecessary, derivative, or just plain bad[1]. The construction usually looks like 'X 2: Electric Boogaloo,' where X is anything from a movie franchise to a random news event to a political scandal[8]. The joke leans on the fact that the phrase itself sounds ridiculous when pasted after almost any word, and the reference to a poorly reviewed 1984 dance sequel does most of the sneering for the writer[1].

The template shows up across blogs, forums, YouTube titles, music tracks, and news headlines whenever someone wants to flag that 'here we go again'[1]. Snowclone researchers noted that the phrase has a near-trochaic rhythm which helps it slot cleanly onto the end of almost any title[1]. Two loose rules govern the format: an original X has to exist first, and the sequel version cannot be treated as serious business[1]. Urban Dictionary describes the usage as 'somewhat dismissive of the original work and/or the idea of making a follow-up movie,' and notes the sequel referenced can be real, planned, or entirely imagined[8].

## How It Spread
The internet turned a niche film-buff joke into a global meme format. The earliest documented online usage came on October 2, 2001, when actor Wil Wheaton titled a blog post "Radio Free Burrito 2: Electric Boogaloo" about his internet radio show[13]. That same year, the Christian ska band Five Iron Frenzy released their fourth album as *Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo*, with the band explicitly confirming the title was "simply a reference to 1984's breakdancing film"[14].

Indie rock band Minus the Bear also adopted the format, including the track "Get Me Naked 2: Electric Boogaloo" on their album *Highly Refined Pirates*[12]. The joke was catching on in music circles and online communities at roughly the same time.

By July 2005, the format had reached YTMND, where user Pandaman87 created the first site using the Electric Boogaloo naming convention as a sequel to one of his previous sites[12]. As of 2013, nearly 20 YTMND pages used the format in their titles[12].

The phrase crossed into journalism in November 2005, when the Huffington Post ran an article titled "Democracy Breakin': Ohio's Electric Boogaloo" about election reform[17]. In July 2007, the *New York Times* picked it up with the headline "Obama Girl 2: Electric Boogaloo" for the sequel to the viral "I've Got a Crush on Obama" video[14]. This marked one of the first mainstream media uses of the format in a mocking tone[12].

In August 2007, the Oxford University Press blog published an analysis identifying Electric Boogaloo as a "snowclone," a fill-in-the-blank phrasal template that writers use to generate new constructions from a familiar formula[5]. The Snowclones Database formally catalogued "X 2: Electric Boogaloo" in 2008, noting that the general requirement is simply that an "X 1" must predate the joke and "the work as a sequel is not to be taken too seriously"[15]. Urban Dictionary added its own definition on May 25, 2008[12].

By 2013, Reddit showed nearly 500 search results for "electric boogaloo," and YouTube had over 100,000 results[12]. TV Tropes named their entire trope page for oddly-named sequels after the format: "Oddly Named Sequel 2: Electric Boogaloo"[16]. The sitcom *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* titled a season 11 episode "Chardee MacDennis 2: Electric Boogaloo" as a direct callback[11].

In December 2013, Comedy Central's *@Midnight* ran a Twitter hashtag game called #BookSequels that generated a wave of Electric Boogaloo jokes: "The Bible II: Electric Boogaloo," "Do Androids Dream of Electric Boogaloo?" and similar riffs flooded the timeline[9].

A 2014 documentary about Cannon Films was itself titled *Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films*, completing a meta loop where the joke title became a real title about the people who accidentally created the joke[11].

## How to Use
The standard build is '[Name of the thing] 2: Electric Boogaloo,' where the first slot is whatever sequel, follow-up, or repeat event a writer wants to needle[8]. Common convention holds that the original X should already exist in some form, whether it's a real movie, a news story, or a personal project, and that the sequel framing should not be taken at face value[1]. Political writers often use it to mock a rerun of a familiar scandal, while music and YouTube posters typically use it for anything self-consciously derivative[6]. The colon punctuation is optional but common, and the '2' can be swapped for 'II' or dropped entirely when the sequel context is already obvious from the surrounding sentence.

## Cultural Impact
Electric Boogaloo crossed from internet joke to mainstream cultural reference faster than most meme formats. Major publications including the *New York Times*[14] and *Huffington Post*[17] adopted the format in headlines by 2007. TV Tropes built an entire trope page around the concept of oddly-named sequels, using the film's title as the page name[16].

Television shows embraced it directly. *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* titled a season 11 episode "Chardee MacDennis 2: Electric Boogaloo"[11]. The Pokémon graphic novel series used "Electric Pikachu Boogaloo" as the English title for its third volume[11]. In the film *Kicking and Screaming*, a character's post-breakup partners are collectively called "Jane 2: Electric Boogaloo"[11].

The phrase also caught the attention of linguists. The Oxford University Press featured it in a column about snowclones and phrasal templates, placing it alongside constructions like "X is the new Y" as an example of how writers constantly remix formulaic expressions[5]. The Snowclones Database formally catalogued it in 2008[15].

## Fun Facts
- The film's title came from producer Yoram Globus attempting to describe dancer Michael Chambers' moves to international distributors by shouting "Look at Boogaloo dance electric!" despite having no knowledge of the actual Electric Boogaloos dance crew[9]
- *Breakin' 2* was released just seven months after *Breakin'*, making the sequel rush that the meme mocks especially fitting for the film that inspired it[11]
- The original Electric Boogaloos dance crew received a Lifetime Achievement Award on January 25, 2012 at the 13th anniversary of The Carnival: Choreographer's Ball[19]
- The title track "Electric Boogaloo" by Ollie & Jerry reached #45 on the Billboard R&B chart[11]
- Despite being a critical punching bag, *Breakin' 2* grossed $15.1 million, more than three times its production budget[11]

## Frequently Asked Questions
### What is Electric Boogaloo?
Electric Boogaloo is a meme format where people add "2: Electric Boogaloo" to any title to jokingly propose an unnecessary or ridiculous sequel. It originated from the 1984 film *Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo*[10].

### Where did Electric Boogaloo come from?
The phrase comes from the 1984 breakdance movie sequel Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo, which was widely mocked as a weak sequel[1].

### What does Electric Boogaloo mean?
When used as a meme, it signals that something is an unwanted, absurd, or low-quality follow-up to a previous event or creation. The phrase is internet shorthand for "here we go again with another unnecessary sequel"[10]. The term also refers to a real funk dance style from the 1970s[15].

### How do you use Electric Boogaloo?
Write the name of the thing you're mocking, then '2: Electric Boogaloo,' as in 'Obama Girl 2: Electric Boogaloo' from a 2007 New York Times politics blog headline[4].

### Is Electric Boogaloo still popular?
Yes. The format is considered a classic internet snowclone that gets regular use across Reddit, Twitter, and other platforms. Its simple, infinitely customizable structure means it's applicable whenever anything gets a second iteration[5].

### What movie is Electric Boogaloo from?
Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo, a 1984 sequel about breakdancers Turbo and Ozone stopping a developer from demolishing their community rec center[8].

### When did Electric Boogaloo become an internet meme?
The earliest documented online use as a sequel joke was Wil Wheaton's October 2nd, 2001 blog post titled 'Radio Free Burrito 2: Electric Boogaloo'[2].

### Who first used Electric Boogaloo as an online sequel joke?
Actor Wil Wheaton's 2001 blog post is the earliest documented online use of the format, though he treated it as an in-joke already familiar to readers[2].

### What is a snowclone?
A snowclone is a fill-in-the-blank phrasal template. "X 2: Electric Boogaloo" is a snowclone because the "X" slot can be swapped for any title while the rest stays constant. The term was coined on the linguistics blog Language Log[5].

### Did any bands use Electric Boogaloo in song titles?
Yes, indie rock band Minus the Bear released a track called 'Get Me Naked 2: Electric Boogaloo,' and Christian ska group Five Iron Frenzy also used the format in their catalog[7].

### Was Electric Boogaloo used in political writing?
A November 2005 Huffington Post piece titled 'Democracy Breakin' 2: Ohio's Electric Boogaloo' applied the snowclone to a story about disputed Ohio election-reform results[6].

### Where did the Electric Boogaloo meme come from?
The meme comes from the subtitle of the 1984 breakdancing film *Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo*, produced by Cannon Films and released just seven months after the original *Breakin'*[9]. The title became a punchline among film fans in the 1990s before spreading across the internet in the early 2000s[10].

### How do you use the Electric Boogaloo meme?
Take any title, event, or concept and add "2: Electric Boogaloo" to mockingly frame it as a sequel. For example, a second blackout becomes "Blackout 2: Electric Boogaloo"[15]. The joke works best when the "sequel" is predictable or unwelcome.

### Was Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo a real movie?
Yes, it's a real 1984 American breakdancing film directed by Sam Firstenberg, starring Lucinda Dickey, Adolfo "Shabba-Doo" Quinones, and Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers, with Ice-T appearing as a rapper[11].

### What is the electric boogaloo dance?
It's a funk-oriented street dance style closely related to popping, characterized by fluid rolls of the hips, knees, and head. It was popularized by the Electric Boogaloos crew, founded by Boogaloo Sam in Fresno, California in 1977[15].

### Who coined the Electric Boogaloo meme format?
No single person coined it. The joke emerged organically among film fans in the 1990s. The earliest documented online use is Wil Wheaton's October 2001 blog post titled "Radio Free Burrito 2: Electric Boogaloo"[13].

### What is the boogaloo movement?
Starting around 2012, some right-wing activists co-opted "boogaloo" as coded language for a desired second American Revolution. This usage is entirely separate from the comedic meme and gained widespread attention in late 2019[11].

### Did any real albums use the Electric Boogaloo name?
Yes. Five Iron Frenzy titled their 2001 album *Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo* as a direct reference to the film[14]. The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza and Dig Circus also used the format for album titles[11].

## References
1. [https://snowclones.org/2008/05/15/x-2-electric-boogaloo/](<https://snowclones.org/2008/05/15/x-2-electric-boogaloo/>)
2. [https://wilwheaton.net/2001/10/radio_free_burrito_2_electric/](<https://wilwheaton.net/2001/10/radio_free_burrito_2_electric/>)
3. [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/electric_boogaloo_breakin_2/](<https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/electric_boogaloo_breakin_2/>)
4. [https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/16/obama-girl-2-electric-boogaloo/](<https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/16/obama-girl-2-electric-boogaloo/>)
5. [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/electric-boogaloo](<https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/electric-boogaloo>)
6. [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/democracy-breakin-ohios-e_b_10856](<https://www.huffpost.com/entry/democracy-breakin-ohios-e_b_10856>)
7. [https://www.last.fm/music/Minus+the+Bear/_/Get+Me+Naked+2:+Electric+Boogaloo](<https://www.last.fm/music/Minus+the+Bear/_/Get+Me+Naked+2:+Electric+Boogaloo>)
8. [https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Electric%20Boogaloo](<https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Electric%20Boogaloo>)
9. [Obama Girl 2: Electric Boogaloo - The New York Times](<https://archive.nytimes.com/thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/16/obama-girl-2-electric-boogaloo/>)
10. [electric boogaloo | Pop Culture | Dictionary.com](<https://www.dictionary.com/culture/pop-culture/electric-boogaloo>)
11. [» How ‘Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo’ Became a Movie and Then a Meme](<https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/how-breakin-2-electric-boogaloo-became-a-movie-and-then-a-meme/>)
12. [Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakin%27_2%3A_Electric_Boogaloo>)
13. [Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Iron_Frenzy_2%3A_Electric_Boogaloo>)
14. [Electric boogaloo (dance) - Wikipedia](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_boogaloo_%28dance%29>)
15. [Urban Dictionary: electric boogaloo](<https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=electric%20boogaloo>)
16. [The Electric Boogaloos - Wikipedia](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Boogaloos>)
17. [Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo - Wikipedia](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakin%27_2:_Electric_Boogaloo>)
18. [Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo - Wikipedia](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Iron_Frenzy_2:_Electric_Boogaloo>)
19. [The Origin of the Electric Boogaloo Meme](<https://visualfoodie.com/explaining-the-electric-boogaloo-meme-origin/>)
20. [Phrasal Patterns 2: Electric Boogaloo | OUPblog](<https://blog.oup.com/2007/08/patterns/>)
21. [Oddly Named Sequel 2: Electric Boogaloo - TV Tropes](<https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OddlyNamedSequel2ElectricBoogaloo>)
22. [ytmnd - you're the man now dog! | search](<https://ytmnd.com/search?q=%22electric+boogaloo%22&o=7%7Call%7CD%7CA%7C1>)
23. [Electric Boogaloo Explained: How a Flop Movie Became the Internet's Favorite Meme - Thelightshot](<https://thelightshot.com/electric-boogaloo-explained-how-a-flop-movie-became-the-internets-favorite-meme-new>)
24. [Examples of the Electric Boogaloo Meme in Modern Culture](<https://eathealthy365.com/the-electric-boogaloo-meme-used-in-pop-culture/>)

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