I’m Doug Apple...and my heart is on fire! (Luke 24:32)
Do you know what is the all time most played video on YouTube?
It’s been played over 7 billion times. It’s called Baby Shark Dance.
That’s right. It’s a very simple and very catchy song for little kids, and it is now the most played video in YouTube history.
I have a granddaughter who talks about it, but I had never seen it. I was curious, in this day and age, what kind of weirdness they might be pushing into the impressionable minds of the youth.
Instead, I was pleasantly surprised, skipping over the fact that it’s about man-eating sharks.
It starts out simple enough, singing “Baby Shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo.”
I like that because kids and people in general have a soft spot in their heart for babies. People can become jaded over time, but this song has planted the seed seven billion times about the cuteness and happiness of babies. It’s new life!
Then it says, “Mommy Shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo.”
I like that because a child should be close to its mother, with all those loving bonds, and all the cuddly time and sweet words. Babies need to be with their mommy.
Next it says, “Daddy Shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo.”
I’m so glad that daddy made it into the most popular video of all time on YouTube. I’m glad daddy is in the picture. Daddy is with the family, with Mommy and with Baby, the way it’s supposed to be, the way God designed it to be. And Daddy has a big strong voice, a commanding presence. Daddy is here and it’s time to pay attention.
Next it says...what do you think it says? It says, “Grandma Shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo.”
I love that! I’m married to a grandma and we have 13 grandchildren. My wife is so in love with her grandchildren. She has such a mighty bond with them, and they love her completely. It is a wonder to behold. Grandmas are so important, and I was excited to see them make the list on the world’s most popular YouTube video.
Next up is “Grandpa Shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo.”
Man, that says so much. Grandma and Grandpa, still together, still involved in the family, still an important part of the close-knit family structure. It is the extended family providing a powerful foundation for the following generations to build on.
It all sounds traditional, doesn’t it? In a world today that wants to throw out tradition like some old stale tuna, it’s refreshing to see something so popular that in the most simple way is promoting a solid family structure into the minds of the young. The world will be a vastly better place if they can just hold onto that ideal.
Next the song takes a turn with the lyrics, “Let’s go hunt, doo doo doo doo doo doo.”
Soooooooooo many videos for kids talk about play and fantasy and fun, and that’s fine, but I’m so glad this most popular song talks about work. There’s work to be done. It’s time to hunt. You want to eat? We’ve got to work. And we’ll all work together as a team to provide for and support one another as a family. It’s time to hunt.
The song then takes another turn saying, “Run away, doo doo doo doo doo doo.”
Why would I like that? Because you know what? There is a time to run away. There are things in life we should run away from. There are dangerous people, dangerous places, dangerous situations and even dangerous thoughts. A big part of life is knowing when to run away.
And finally the song says, “Safe at last, doo doo doo doo doo doo.”
What an adventure! Life is an adventure! And there is a safe place to run to. There’s Mommy and Daddy. There’s Grandma and Grandpa. There’s home and safety and security, inside the fold of the family. You may venture outside to go on the hunt, but you always end up back home, safe and sound, surrounded by your loved ones.
Okay, yes, it’s a silly song for kids, and it has sharks, and I’m reading a lot into it, but like I said, in this day and age with so many strange notions being force fed into the minds of the young, I know the power of a seed, the power of a tiny thought repeated hundreds of times. And the seeds of this most popular video in YouTube history are solid:
Baby,
Mommy,
Daddy,
Grandma,
Grandpa,
Family,
Work,
Danger,
Safety.
If you get those things right, you’re gonna have a pretty good life.
May God bless you today.
I’m Doug Apple.
