A now-reversed decision by Universal Music Group (UMG) to discontinue its artists’ songs on TikTok has given little-known music creators on the platform a boost.
You may have noticed an unusual German rap song in the background of an increasing number of videos on your TikTok feed.
But what is it – and how did it spread so fast?
What is Barbara Rhubarb Bar?
What sounds like a rap is in fact a German tongue twister written by musical comedian Bodo Wartke and his content creator friend Marti Fischer.
The pair posted a two-part video of them reciting the rhyme, entitled ‘Barbaras Rhabarberbar’, in December last year.
It begins: “In a small village there once lived a girl with the name Barbara. Barbara was known in the area for her excellent rhubarb pie.
“Because everyone liked eating Barbara’s rhubarb pie so much, they called her Rhubarb Barbara.”
The rhyme goes on to explain that Barbara realised she could monetise her famous rhubarb pie and set up the “Barbara Rhubarb Bar” to sell it to customers.
As the tongue twister gets more complex, it mentions “three barbarians” who had “beards” so they “went to the barber”.
@bodowartke Part 2 findet Ihr in der Playlist unten! Dass die Barbaren und der Barbier neben dem Bier auch bei Barbaras Rhabarberkuchen zugegriffen haben, liegt an der appetitanregenden Wirkung der im Rhabarber enthaltenen Apfel- und Zitronensäuren – denn: “Sauer macht gelüstig”. Vielen Dank an @Marti Fischer für die tolle Zusammenarbeit und den freshen Beat! #bodowartke#einversuch#onetake#rhabarber#barbaren#barbapapa#barbier#zungenbrecher#zungenbrecher4punkt0#tonguetwisters#zungenfertigkeit#reimkunst#sprechgesang#hiphop#hiphoptonguetwisters#rap#raptonguetwisters♬ Barbaras Rhabarberbar – Bodo Wartke & Marti Fischer
With a final piece of alliteration, the bearded barbarians who went to the barber liked to drink beer when at Barbara’s Rhubarb Bar to eat Barbara’s rhubarb pie.
Where did the dance come from?
At the end of March, two young Australian theater artists named Stephanie and Christina uploaded a TikTok of themselves dancing to Waldke and Fisher’s rap in a public bathroom.
The original version still has over 1 million likes on the app, most of them from German speakers, but thanks to the choreography, the girls quickly gained over 15 million likes worldwide. It received more than 100 likes. # babara #BarbarasRhubarbbar #dance #theatrekids #theatre #theatretok #batboy #babaradance #musicaltheatre #stephwho #dance #stephgraham ♬ Original song – Stephanie
When they recorded the follow-up version in the same bathroom – this time in their own clothes instead In the costumes – we had to make it clear that they were the same couple from the original dance clip.
Stephanie explained in a follow-up post: We did this 30 minutes before the performance. ”
“We appreciate it when people write to us and say, ‘They stole your dance, we even went to the same bathroom,’ but we don’t know that it’s okay because we’re actually the same person.” I guarantee it.”
@ steph_who___ Reply to @Arnhem Clothing I’m glad you guys are concerned, but this is really funny 😂 #babara #BarbarasRhubarbbar #dance #theatrekids #theatre #theatretok #batboy #musicaltheatre #stephwho #dance #stephgraham #babaradance ♬ Barbara’s Rhubarb Bar – Bodo Wartke & Marti Fischer
Surprised by the success of their routine, they went on to record a follow-up version for TikTok, while US-based influencer Austin and Marides Terenko (@cost_n_mayor) and actor-content creator Casey Straw recorded their own versions. After finding a trend.
@cost_n_mayor had to remove this from his system #barbarasrhubarbbar dc: @Stephanie ♬ Barbara’s Rhubarb Bar – Bodo Wartke & Marti Fischer
After millions of views each, the Barbara Rhubarb phenomenon has come full circle At the end of April, Waltke and Fischer posted footage of Stefani and Christina dancing.
Wartke writes in the clip: “Thank you @steph_who___ and @stasii777 for coming up with the amazing choreography for our song. Also, thank you to everyone around the world who is dancing to this song, especially @Cost_n_Mayor and @KayCee_Stroh ”It’s a worldwide phenomenon!
“@Marti_Fischer and I are already working on the sequel…!”
@bodowartke Thank you @Stephanie and @CHRISTINA STASII for coming up with the amazing choreography for our song. Masu. Thank you to everyone around the world who danced to this song, especially @Cost n` Major and @KayCee Stroh who made this song a worldwide phenomenon. @Marti Fischer ♬ Barbaras Rhabarberable – Bodo Wartke & Marti Fischer
@Steph_Who___ @Bodo Warten 🥧🫶🏻 #barbarasrhabarberbar #TheaTrekids #Theatretok #musicaltho #dance #Babaradance ut ♬ Original song – Stephanie
How did an unknown song become so popular?
It’s entirely possible for an obscure song to become a big hit on his TikTok, but recent developments on the app may have given a boost to lesser-known content creators.
In late January, Universal Music Group (UMG) decided not to renew its contract with TikTok over concerns that artists would not be paid for widespread use of their songs on the platform.
UMG is one of the world’s largest music companies and owns the rights to songs by countless famous artists, including Adele, Billie Eilish, and Bob Dylan.
TikTok has been accused of “attempting to build a music-based business without paying a fair price for music,” and in effect, by allowing the use of AI-generated recordings on its site, “AI-powered artist He was accused of “facilitating substitution.” .
Taylor Swift signed a deal with UMG in 2018, facilitating her now-famous decision to re-record her album to gain more rights.
After a dispute between UMG and TikTok, Swift’s songs disappeared from the platform for 10 weeks, but resurfaced last month.
This week, UMG reached an agreement to reverse its decision and make all artists’ songs available again on the app within the next two weeks.
The dispute allowed users to choose well-known artists for TikTok’s soundtracks, but UMG’s decision created a vacuum, allowing lesser-known artists to break through.
TikTok is also facing a ban in the United States after the Senate passed legislation that would require Chinese owner ByteDance to sell the app to a U.S. owner within nine months.
If this does not happen, the US may follow India’s lead and ban the platform completely.