Synopsis
The Rolling Stones perform "Harlem Shuffle" inside a brightly colored, neon-style cityscape that shifts between live action and hand-drawn animation. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts play the song with exaggerated swagger as cartoon figures move through the same restless urban world. The animated sequences follow four mischievous cats competing for the attention of a glamorous woman, creating a playful, surreal counterpoint to the band's performance and the song's dance-floor energy.
Factoids & Trivia
- The video blends live-action footage of the band with hand-drawn animation, giving it the look of a comic strip brought to life.
- The cartoon sections feature four cats pursuing an animated woman, while the Stones appear in a highly stylized, neon-painted environment.
- The animation team included Lynne Naylor, Jim Smith, Bob Jaques, Vicky Jenson, and Pat Ventura. Vicky Jenson later became known for directing animated features including "Shrek."
- The song was the Stones' cover of Bob & Earl's 1963 soul hit. Their version appeared on the 1986 album "Dirty Work" and became a major chart success, reaching No. 5 in the United States and No. 13 in the United Kingdom.
- "Harlem Shuffle" was the first cover song released as the opening single from a new Rolling Stones studio album since 1965.
- The video remains notable for bringing together one of rock's most recognizable bands and prominent American animation talent during MTV's 1980s peak.