Baby Shark by Pinkfong
“Baby Shark” is a children’s themed song that introduces a family of sharks. Once they all make an entrance, they decide to go hunting. Then the focus shifts to the prey of these sharks, who have to “run away” in search of safety. Once they attain it, they are able to exclaim “safe at last” and finally “it’s the end” as the song concludes.
Accordingly, the original version of this song, which was released as early as 2007, tells the tale of a baby shark who grows into an adult and begins hunting smaller fishes.
The current, virally-popular version was produced by Pinkfong, a South Korean company that specializes in educational cartoons for children.
Facts about “Baby Shark”
- “Baby Shark” inspired an internet dance craze called the Baby Shark Challenge. This dance craze went on to become a global phenomenon. It was very similar to Drake’s “In My Feelings” dance craze.
- Famous K-Pop (Korean popular music) groups also helped make the song popular by covering and doing the dance associated with it on prevalent venues like television shows and concerts.
- The “Baby Shark” video is one of the most viewed videos all time on YouTube. As of 2018, it had received over 2 billion visits.
- There is a Korean version of this song. The lyrics of this version are a bit more complicated than the English version, giving one-word characteristics to the members of the shark family.
- This song has been used by a Korean political party for campaigning.
- In late 2018, this song charted in the UK Top 40, beating out the likes of Cardi B.
More “Baby Shark” Facts
The origins of this song are not definite in that one theory states it first started as a chant in US summer camps during the 1970s, while another set of people believe it was first sung in 1975. Fast forward to 2020, who would have thought that the music video for Baby Shark could become the most-watched video on YouTube globally.
As you may know, the catchy children’s rhyme has been around for some time but gained more popularity after a version was recorded by South Korean children’s educational brand Pinkfong!. The song has not ceased to climb the charts since then, competing with smash hit songs and top artists. Pinkfong’s version was recorded by then 10-year-old Hope Segoine featuring Elaine Johnston, and posted on YouTube in 2015. Baby Shark’s virality is widely attributed to its memorable lyrics. Its fun-filled dance moves and intriguing repetition also make it an enjoyable experience for children especially and the adults that love them.
Pinkfong! believes the song became hugely successful also because certain popular Korean bands (including BLACKPINK) incorporated some of its dance moves in their concerts.
As of November 2020, Baby Shark’s YouTube video had been played at least 7.04 billion times. In achieving this feat, it surpassed record holders Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yanke’s Despacito, to become the most-watched YouTube video of all time.
The Origin of Baby Shark
The original composer or lyricist for this song is unknown. There are speculations that it was first sung during camps and became popular following the release of Steven Spielberg’s 1970s movie titled Jaws.
The Lyrics were Initially Disturbing
Like most of the famous children’s rhymes such as Jack and Jill, Mary Quite Contrary and London Bridge is Falling Down, Baby Shark also had a very dark tone with disturbing lyrics attached to it. For instance, the song is basically about a family of sharks who go on a hunt. It originally contained lyrics of how people’s limbs would be bitten, eventually causing them to die. Thanks to Pinkfong, children don’t have to hear these parts.
Controversies
South Korean Newspaper Kyunghyang Shinmun condemned the Korean version of the song in an editorial published in January 2018. According to newspaper, the song’s lyrics are sexist.
Pinkfong threatened legal action against the Liberty Korea Party in May 2018, for using the song to promote their candidates. Meanwhile, the Party had earlier contacted Johnny Only for permission to use the song since he had published the song in 2011.
West Palm Beach officials in July 2019 were criticized for continuously playing the loop of the song all through the night to deter homeless people outside of the Waterfront Lake Pavilion.
Notable Performances and Usage of “Baby Shark”
The song has been performed by a number of artists prior to Pinkfong. Alexandra Muller titled her performance of the song Kleiner Hai (German translation for ‘Little Shark’) and uploaded it to YouTube in 2007. Johnny Only also released his version of Baby Shark on YouTube in 2011.
During the 2019 and 2020 Lebanese protests, the song was performed by anti-government activists.
Ellen DeGeneres released her version of the song on her show in September 2018.
James Corden also performed his version on The Late Late Show with James Corden.
Washington Nationals’ baseball player Gerardo Parra used Baby Shark as his entrance music on June 19, 2019 after discovering it through his daughter.
The children’s tune has been featured in a number of video games and films including the following:
- The Angry Birds Movie 2
- Just Dance 2020
NOTE: Baby Shark, now an established brand under the Pinkfong franchise has a dedicated YouTube Channel. It is also a cartoon character that teaches kids to do a host of things including arts and crafts, washing of hands, and how to practice good manners.
The song became even more viral in August 2017 with the #BabySharkChallenge which saw various people including celebrities Josh Groban and Cardi B having fun filming themselves doing the song’s fishy dance moves.
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