21 Catchy Facts About Baby Shark

baby shark
Image: YouTube / PinkFong

If you know a kid under five, you know that Baby Shark is a big deal. Over 5 billion people watched all PinkFong versions of Baby Shark. And over 2.3 billion people watched the dance version of Baby Shark. You know, the one with the two kids dancing to the song. Pinkfong’s dance version is also the eighteenth most watched video on YouTube. This all shows how much this preschool song is taking the entire world by storm.

In January, Baby Shark made its debut on the list as not only Billboard Top 100 song, but also Top 40. When it placed #32 on the list, Twitter had a lot to say about its success. Some people were excited and others wondered how it became so viral that it made Billboard’s list. That’s an easy one, toddlers who play the song over and over are definitely responsible for this not-so-surprising news. Baby Shark is not the first children’s song to make it on Billboard’s list. Frozen’s ”Let It Go” made it to #5 on the list in 2014. And Sesame Street’s ”Rubber Duckie” song made it to #16 in 1970.

Will ”Baby Shark” reach the level that ”Let It Go” and ”Rubber Duckie”? Or is it just receiving its fifteen minutes of fame? We don’t know yet, but so far it looks like it just might be here to stay. Here are some more facts about this internet sensation.

A campfire song might have inspired Baby Shark

spongebob singing the campfire song
Images: Nickelodeon / Spongebob Squarepants

If you went to summer camp as a child, you might find the tune ”Baby Shark” familiar. Camp counselors were to first ones to teach campers about Baby Shark. Counselors sang and moved their hands like Baby Shark and his family. If you were a little bit older, you might have heard the Jaws-inspired version where the family of sharks attack and dismember a group of sailors. If you went to a Christian camp, you might have even heard an alternate ending, where dismembered humans go to heaven and party with Jesus. Who knew that a preschool song had such a gruesome history?

”Baby Shark” first gained popularity in Germany in 2007.

wow fintastic
Images: Discovery Channel / Shark Week

Even before PinkFong released their version of ”Baby Shark”, the concept of Baby Shark had star potential. The German version is titled ”Kleiner Hai”. It was performed by an artist named Alexandra Müller. The original music video is Jaws-themed and is about a baby shark who ate a swimmer when he grew up. Record label EMI published this song in May 2008. This single reached #25 on German charts and #21 on Austrian charts. The song was so popular that the YouTube community created a music video for the single. ”Kleiner Hai” is still popular in German youth groups, which foreshadowed ”Baby Shark’s” worldwide significance 10 years later.

The first child-friendly Baby Shark video came out in 2011.

boy wearing shark hat
Images: Giphy / NHL

Johnny Olds is a children’s entertainer from Upstate New York. He released his own version in 2011 titled ”Baby Shark Song (non-dismemberment version)” after seeing campers and counselors perform this song together. He considered Baby Shark to be a folk song that is ”as old as fairy tales”. Therefore he allowed the right-winged Liberty Korea Party to use his version of Baby Shark for their 2018 Candidate Campaign. He began to connect his version to the PinkFong one after they threatened to sue the Liberty Korea Party. Many people commented on his video to advise him to take legal action against PinkFong.

There is a #BabySharkChallenge.

baby shark challenge
Images: Giphy / NBA

The #BabySharkChallenge is a dance challenge similar to the one for Drake’s ”In My Feelings” where someone dances to ”Baby Shark” next to a car with an open door, shark costume optional. Do we really need another dance challenge for another viral hit? Maybe not, but it is kind of fun to watch people dance to the tune of ”Baby Shark” when you’re bored enough. And people love to watch these videos too. In fact, #BabySharkChallenge videos racked  396 million views on YouTube. If you want to take part in the #BabySharkChallenge craze, now is the time to do it. Just don’t jump out of your car while doing the challenge, according to experts. Just want to watch from your couch? ”When Mum Forces Dad To Do the Baby Shark” is a hilarious version that racked up over 797,000 views on YouTube.

And a workout routine called ”Baby Shark Squat Challenge”.

baby shark squat challenge
Images: Giphy / Gymshark

If you are a stay-at-home mom and you want to find a way to work out in the comfort of your home, look no further! ”Baby Shark Squat Challenge” is a great way for you to incorporate your kids in your exercise routine. Instagram fitness influencer, Diary of a Fit Mommy, shows a video of herself squatting while doing the hand movements to the ”Baby Shark” song as her two young kids dance along with her. Not to mention, it is so cute to watch the kids dance to Baby Shark. If you would like to try something a bit more extreme, you can also try the ”Baby Shark Abs Challenge”, which was performed by a group of young gymnasts. And looks pretty much impossible to anyone who is not an athlete.

It isn’t the first children’s video to go viral on YouTube.

johny johny yes papa
Images: Make A Gif / Chu Chu TV

If you are a parent, you wouldn’t be surprised by Baby Shark’s overnight success. ”Johny Johny Yes Papa”, a song about a little boy who gets caught eating sugar by his father, became a hit months before Baby Shark. ChuChu TV’s version of the song has over 1.6 billion views. Loo Loo Kids version has over 1.5 billion views. They are both the third and fourth most viewed nursery rhymes on YouTube and among the top 100 most viewed videos on YouTube. However, its popularity was not entirely positive. Versions of this song by Loo Loo Kids and CVS 3D Rhymes are one of the 50 most disliked videos on YouTube for being ”unintentionally creepy”.

And there is a mash-up featuring the two songs.

Johny johny yes papa baby shark mashup
Images: Gfycat / Billion Surprise Toys

Just when you think you’ve heard it all, your toddler clicks a version that combines Baby Shark and Johny Johny Yes Papa (and it is as bizarre as you would imagine). Billion Surprise Toys is responsible for this masterpiece, which consists of Johny and his Papa dancing to Gangnam Style and the Baby Shark tune. This song has been made into internet memes after it became infamous on Twitter. If you didn’t see the video as yet, and you would like to check it out, you’re out of luck! Billion Surprise Toys took down the video after their video has received constant negative attention.

The lyrics to the original Baby Shark has less than 20 words.

short and sweet
Images: Giphy / @gemmasrph

It’s hard to believe that the most popular children’s song of 2018 (and possibly 2019) has only 18 words, proving that sometimes lyrical minimalism and a catchy beat is the best way to create a worldwide hit. And it might be best that way. The Korean version described Mommy Shark as ”pretty”, Daddy Shark as ”strong”, Grandma Shark as ”kind”, and Grandpa Shark as ”cool”. After Baby Shark became viral in South Korea, Kyunghyang Shinmun, a popular newspaper, called these lyrics sexist. Whether you agree with the newspaper or think that it is a reach, this controversy proves one thing. Sometimes, it is best to keep the lyrics simple and leave details to the audience’s imagination.

There are many different holiday versions of Baby Shark.

santa shark
Images: Giphy / Super Simple Rhymes

Baby Shark became such a major hit that several companies began to cash in on the madness. Bounce Patrol created the most popular version of Halloween Baby Shark in October 2018, which has over 296 million views. This video consists of people dressing up in Halloween costumes and doing the Baby Shark dance. PinkFong’s Christmas Sharks video has 64 million views. This version has the same beloved family of sharks with a special visit from Santa Shark. Pinkfong even released a Valentine’s Day version of the song that has 15 million views. Which version of Baby Shark will come out next? Maybe PinkFong will come out with an Easter Shark version of the song just in time for April.

Baby Shark is getting its own show.

baby shark dance
Images: Giphy / Alo7 Love to Learn

After creating Baby Shark, Halloween Shark, Christmas Shark, and Valentine’s Day Shark, you would think that PinkFong is all out of ideas. You couldn’t be more wrong. Smart Study, the startup behind Pinkfong, told Bloomberg that they will be releasing short videos on Netflix through a partnership with the streaming company. Now your toddler can watch Baby Shark on the big screen instead of their tablet (goodbye Netflix marathons!) They will also be releasing a musical in North America sometime this year. They also plan on creating a TV show for a slightly older audience, ages five to eight. Why did they choose penguins as the subject behind the show? Seungkyu Lee, the CFO of SmartStudy, ”really liked Madagascar”.

They have their own toy line.

baby shark toys
Images: WowWee / Baby Shark

If your child has a birthday coming up and loves playing ”Baby Shark”, we have the perfect gift for you! WowWee, the company behind Fingerlings (those sleepy looking monkeys that you wear on your fingers) created a line of Baby Shark toys that sell exclusively at Amazon and Walmart. These Baby Shark toys are battery operated plushes that sing the Baby Shark song. This product line ranges from $7.99 to $29.99. It includes a Baby Shark, Mommy Shark, and Daddy Shark plush, Baby Shark, Mommy Shark, and Daddy Shark singing cubes, and a dancing Baby Shark. Just be prepared to hear the earworm constantly if you choose to buy this toy for your little one.

Which sold out in three days over the 2018 holiday season.

baby shark safe at last
Images: Giphy / Alo 7 Love to Learn

Three days after WowWee announced their partnership with Amazon and Walmart just in time for the holiday season, the toys completely sold out. That was shocking news overall, but good news for parents who did not want to hear this earworm every second of their life. However, it was horrible news for children whose parents promised them the singing plush but was not able to browse online to get it on time. If parents were desperate enough to please their children, there was a light at the end of the rainbow. Third-party sellers, who stocked up on the singing plushes way in advance, sold the plushes for $80 for Baby Shark and Daddy Shark, $75 for Mommy Shark, and $50 for the singing cubes, all including free shipping.

Hasbro will be releasing its own line of Baby Shark Play-Doh.

baby shark play doh
Images: Hasbro / PinkFong

Due to the success of Baby Shark related merchandise, Hasbro decided to take a dip in this internet craze gone wild. Starting May, parents can buy Baby Shark Play-Doh which includes stencils where they can make their own figures shaped like the beloved shark family. They can even make a mustache for Grandpa Shark and glasses for Grandma Shark according to Hasbro’s press release. This is a great gift for older toddlers who enjoy doing arts and crafts but also loves dancing along to the catchy tune. The good news is that this set is a quieter alternative to ”Baby Shark” playing plushes.

Kylie Jenner invited Baby Shark to perform at Stormi’s 1st birthday party.

baby shark at stormi's first birthday party
Images: Instagram / @kyliejenner

In true Kardashian spirit, Kylie Jenner threw a huge party for her daughter, Stormi this February to celebrate her first birthday. Her party theme was StormiWorld, inspired by her boyfriend, Travis Scott’s latest album. It was complete with a huge replica of Stormi’s head, amusement park rides and games, a fort of giant teddy bears and monogrammed macaroni and cheese and french fries. However, what made Stormi’s birthday party most memorable was the performance by Baby Shark and the PinkFong character at her party. Not to mention, seeing Stormi dance to Baby Shark in her father’s arms is probably the cutest thing you’ll see all day. Kylie truly raised the bar for first birthday parties and inspired parents to want to invite Baby Shark to their tot’s birthday party as well.

Parents are throwing Baby Shark birthday parties for their children.

baby shark birthday party
Images: Giphy / Super Simple Rhymes

Now that Baby Shark has reached its peak, many toddlers are asking their parents to throw them a Baby Shark birthday party. Unfortunately, that they don’t sell any Pinkfong Baby Shark party decorations at your local party supply store. But parents are taking to Pinterest to find interesting ways to create their own Baby Shark themed decor for their child’s birthday bash. If you would like to have Baby Shark and the Pinkfong fox make an entrance at your child’s birthday party, it isn’t cheap. Baby Shark costumes by Pinkfong cost over $300 with expensive shipping costs. You might have to stick to your very own Daddy Shark dressing up as a traditional shark or shark head for something more frugal.

And ”Baby Shark” cake smash sessions.

shark and cake
Images: Giphy / @kokonvzz

If you don’t want to create a Pinterest-inspired birthday party dedicated to the well-known shark family, there is another way to create an ode to the catchy song. Parents are participating in Baby Shark cake smash photo shoots. Their tot dresses up in blue suspenders and tutu skirts and eats blue smash cakes with Baby Shark and his family in the background. One mom took the Baby Shark craze to a different, more creative level. She dressed up her baby as a shark and took pictures of her digging into a boob cake that is red on the inside. This was to celebrate the end of her breastfeeding journey. This alluded to the fact that breastfeeding can be very painful, especially when your baby starts to sprout teeth. This is a photo shoot that breastfeeding moms can both relate and cringe at.

Science can explain why Baby Shark is so catchy.

Images: Nickelodeon / Spongebob Squarepants

Why is Baby Shark as popular as it is? Turns out that scientists may have the answer to this question. First of all, it’s repetitive, which makes it easy to remember and sing along to. No wonder kids as young as one year old are singing ”Baby Shark, doo doo doo doo…” all around the world. Second of all, it speaks of family and animals. Toddlers love to sing ”Finger Family” and can list many animals. Of course, combining the two together is a recipe for worldwide success. Third of all, it’s upbeat, which makes active toddlers want to dance along to the song. Lastly, it’s not just a song. The bright colors and hand movements appeal to kids and their parents.

Baby Shark has over 100 different versions and is in eleven different languages.

shark knows that it's fintastic
Images: Giphy / @lookhuman

Even though PinkFong’s Baby Shark is the most popular version, it is definitely not the only version of the popular song. If you have a toddler, you have heard all sorts of versions of the viral song. Some of the most popular versions are from Little Baby Bum, Chu Chu TV, Super Simple Songs and CocoMelon. PinkFong also translated their catchy song into eleven different languages including English, Spanish, Thai, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Ukranian, Russian, Indonesian, Tagalong, and French. If you would like to incorporate dual-language immersion classes into your toddler’s schedule, playing Baby Shark in Spanish, Chinese, Japanese or French can be a fun way to familiarize your young child with a second language.

A two-year-old went viral from asking the Alexa device to play ”Baby Shark”.

toddler dancing
Images: Reddit / @lovemesomereddit

This adorable video about a two-year-old Zoe Turner asking Alexa to play ”baby sherk” is sure to make your day! After the toddler asks Alexa to play the popular song a couple of times, the device plays the wrong song each time. She asks her mom to ask Alexa instead and when the Amazon device plays the song and she squeals with excitement. Her dance to the song was so cute and it included all of the Baby Shark hand motions. This video has over a million views on YouTube after it was uploaded in October 2018. Due to the video’s popularity, Zoe and her family are invited on the Today Show that month. Zoe asks Alexa for ”Baby Shark” once again, and this time the device plays the song for her. This video also received over a million views on YouTube.

Ellen DeGeneres danced to Baby Shark on her show.

ellen degeneres laughing
Images: Ellentube / The Ellen Show

Even talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres, wanted to feature the hit song on her show. In September 2018, Ellen created a Baby Shark inspired theme song for her show that featured herself and her DJ, DJ tWitch as part of the #BabySharkChallenge. This video received over four million views on YouTube, making it the most popular #BabySharkChallenge video on YouTube. For all of you who participated in the #BabySharkChallenge, I know, it’s not fair. It’s Ellen for goodness sake, of course, she was going to win the entire challenge just from being herself! Better luck next time, I guess, until Ellen creates a new hilarious video on the latest challenge.

Someone has a massive Baby Shark themed Christmas light display.

baby shark christmas lights
Images: Hinjosa Family / Boerne

When the excitement from Baby Shark and Christmas spirit are combined together, it creates a spectacular response. One Texas family, the Hinojosa family, created a huge display of up to 100,000 lights that blink to the beat of the hit preschool song playing on repeat. The Hinojosa family chooses a new song to match their holiday lights every year. This year they chose ”Baby Shark”, which was a great choice since their 4-year-old son, Liam, loved the song. The display took a few weeks to create and became viral after they posted a video of the display on the internet. While the lights are a beautiful sight, it must be expensive to light up 100,000 of them for the holiday season.

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