A German rap known as “Barbaras Rhabarberbar” or “Barbara's Rhubarb Bar” has gone viral on TikTok
A German rap known as “Barbaras Rhabarberbar” or “Barbara's Rhubarb Bar” has gone viral on TikTok, with clips of influencers dancing to the song racking up millions of views.
Music, lip-syncing and dancing have always been vital to TikTok's culture, with classic songs finding new life on the video-sharing app and new releases soaring in popularity after partnering on TikTok trends: A study by MRC Data in 2021 found that 75% of users discover new musicians through the platform.
Earlier this year, creators began moving away from pop songs after TikTok's licensing negotiations with Universal Music Group collapsed, prompting UMG to pull much of its music from the platform
While it's still possible to find licensed music on TikTok, the missing portion of UMG's songs left a bit of a void, potentially giving creators a greater chance of seeing their own songs go viral.
What is TikTok's 'Barbara's Rhubarb Bar'?
The original song is a German tongue twister that tells an increasingly complicated story of a woman named Barbara and her legendary rhubarb pies.
Music comedian Bodo Wartke created the original video that sparked the trend. Although Wartke didn't write the lyrics, he turned the song into a swell rap and recorded his version with content creator Marti Fischer.
TikTokers found the song surprisingly catchy, despite not understanding a single word. TikTok creators @steph_who___ and @Christina Stasii created a routine for the song and filmed their dance in a public bathroom.
The duo filmed two separate videos of themselves dancing to the song, one in costume, which led to amusing confusion, with confused commentators under the impression that the two videos featured separate creators; some even believed that the dance had been “stolen”. ”, prompting a clarification.
The song soon spread across the app, powered by popular TikTok choreographers like @Cost n' Mayor and @KayCee Stroh.
Some commentators expressed hope that the routine would make it to Eurovision or Fortnite; many confirmed that the catchy song stuck in their heads, despite their inability to recite, or even understand, the lyrics.
The trend was finally completed after the dance routine was directed at Wartke and Fischer, the original duo behind the song.
What are the lyrics to 'Barbara's Rhubarb Bar?'
Several curious commenters asked for an English translation of the German tongue twister, and TikTokers were happy to oblige.
The song sees the titular Barbara open a “rhubarb bar” to sell her rhubarb cakes, which taste so good that they soften up a group of hardened “barbarians”, who subsequently agree to let the local barber cut their hair and the beard
The tongue twister's unexpected popularity highlights TikTok's unmatched ability to introduce new music to users through memes and trends.
The future of TikTok, however, is currently unknown, as President Joe Biden recently signed a bill into law that could force ByteDance to sell the video-sharing app to an American owner or potentially face a ban in the United States.
