If you were hoping that the Baby Shark craze would end by now, we’ve got bad news for you. That’s because it’s not going anywhere, anytime soon. As a matter of fact, the makers of the popular earworm are planning to expand their “doo doo doo doo doo doo” empire. Here’s what you need to know.
In case you have been living under a rock (or prefer not to engage in social media trends), "Baby Shark (Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo)" is the YouTube sensation that’s been viewed more than 2 billion times. No, that is not a typo, either. The jingle has also become such a popular jingle that late-night-show host Jimmy Kimmel proposed throwing those responsible in jail for life. And we stand behind that proposal, too.
The Chicago Tribune indicates that Seoul-based SmartStudy Co.’s Pinkfong is planning to expand by releasing short videos via Netflix, a cartoon series and a musical in North America this year, one of the company’s founders said in an interview this week.
Can we all say, “Yay!”? Maybe not.
"We’ve added the ‘K-pop factor’ into our songs, such as very trendy beats and upbeat rhythms," Seungkyu Lee, who’s also chief financial officer at SmartStudy said. "If you’ve ever heard of ‘Baby Shark,’ you might feel the importance of community. In a group, we should walk or swim together."
The start-up, which has recently signed various merchandising deals, may also develop games that work with Amazon’s Alexa and Alphabet’s Google Home voice assistants. Yes, that means that you might have to unplug your Alexa at one point if your toddler keeps asking her to play the Baby Shark song or play a game inspired by the tune. Some parents are already shivering at the thought of it.
One of the reasons why it’s become so popular in recent months is thanks to the rising popularity of Asian-based pop bands, or K-pop music. Baby Shark is building on South Korea’s emergence as an entertainment powerhouse, thanks to bands like BTS. They have managed to climb the charts worldwide with their hit song “Waste it On Me.”
But unlike BTS, SmartStudy has found its calling with 'kiddie' pop. They target children aged between one and four with highly addictive, dance along videos that parents just can't get out of their heads. Some of them include an animated version of the hit "Gangnam Style" by one hit wonder Psy. The original song has managed to rack up over a billion views on YouTube and yes, it’s still counting.