#Showbiz: 'Baby Shark' most-viewed YouTube video ever

KUALA LUMPUR: Super-catchy children's song Baby Shark has become the most-viewed video of all time on YouTube after chalking up a whopping total of over 7.04 billion views.

Produced by South Korean company Pinkfong, the colourful music video that was released four years ago also dethroned the 2017 hit single Despacito by Puerto Rican artistes Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

According to news reports, the sticky nursery rhyme tune became a global phenomenon after a recording of 10-year-old Korean-American singer Hope Segoine was unleashed to the world.

It went viral in Southeast Asia first before spreading to the US and Europe, where it sat at No.32 on the US singles chart and No.6 in the UK.

Driven by its sticky refrain and memorable dance movements, the 90-second earworm eventually led to a spin-off live tour, merchandise and books.

Several new adaptations of the song were also produced, with one promoting handwashing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last month, the song gained notoriety when news reports stated that three Oklahoma prison workers in the US were charged with prisoner cruelty after allegedly handcuffing inmates and forcing them to stand and listen to Baby Shark for two hours.

Apparently, district attorney David Prater said that the repeated song would have added "undue emotional stress on the inmates who were most likely already suffering".