If you are a fan of the TV show, Jersey Shore, you likely know all about the “fist pump” dance move. Outside the club scene, the fist pump may seem like a Jersey Shore creation, but the truth of the matter is that clubbers have been fist pumping for a long time.

It is hard to trace the exact origin of the fist pump, but the move had a big year of popularity in 2004. Belgian performer Danzel released the smash hit “Pump It Up” that year. This hot track had clubbers pumping their fists all night long. Club scene regulars in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia took to the hit in a big way. Although the song never made a splash on the main stream pop charts, it was a star of the dance charts.

New Jersey residents in particular took to the song, making it almost an anthem of sorts. It was nearly impossible to go out to a Jersey night club in 2004 or 2005 without hearing the song. These Jersey clubbers had their fists in the air long before the Jersey Shore TV program graced MTV.

Danzel continues to make beats and gain momentum in a few European countries, but “Pump It Up” remains his biggest U.S. hit to date. While “Pump It Up” is considered old news to true dance music fans, the song and the dance move it promoted will always have a special place in nightclub history. If you have never heard the song, download it today. It is a great jam to dance and work out to. Pump it up!