Ylvis, a Norwegian comedy duo, created a viral hit about fox sounds. “What Does the Fox Say” became a global sensation. It challenged our understanding of animal noises and asked a unique question¹².

The song turned mysterious fox sounds into catchy phrases. “Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding” and “wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow” became instant hits. This comedic take on animal sounds caught millions of viewers’ attention¹.

The music video reached 100 million views in just 35 days. It broke internet records and sparked a worldwide conversation¹.

The track’s popularity soared beyond expectations. It gained over 1.1 billion YouTube views and topped music charts globally¹². This comedic experiment became a true pop culture phenomenon.

Key Takeaways

• Ylvis created a viral hit questioning fox vocalizations
• The song generated over 1.1 billion YouTube views
• Nonsensical fox sounds became a global entertainment sensation
• The track peaked at number 6 on Billboard Hot 100
• It sparked worldwide conversation about animal sounds

The Story Behind Ylvis’ Viral Hit “The Fox”

Norwegian comedy duo Ylvis created “What Does the Fox Say” as a quirky musical experiment. The Ylvisåker brothers intended it for a small Norwegian audience³. Their three-minute comedy sketch unexpectedly captured global attention.

Unexpected Musical Genius

Ylvis collaborated with production powerhouse Stargate to craft the track. They recorded vocals in under an hour, aiming for a “musical disaster”³. This unique approach to animal sounds in music became a viral sensation⁴.

Viral Phenomenon

The nonsensical fox noises quickly transformed into a global hit. The music video gained 31 million views in just two weeks⁵. USA Today called it the “next viral music-video sensation”⁴.

• Released in September 2013
• Peaked at No. 6 on Billboard Top 100
• Accumulated over 685 million YouTube views³

The song outperformed major hits like Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines”. It was compared to the viral phenomenon “Gangnam Style”⁴. Their comedic creation inspired a children’s book that topped the New York Times bestseller list⁵.

“We never expected this to become a global sensation” – Ylvis

The track’s impact was unprecedented. It transformed from a local comedy bit into an international musical phenomenon. Millions worldwide resonated with this unexpected hit.

“What Does the Fox Say” lyrics

The viral song “What Does the Fox Say” takes a whimsical journey through hilarious animal sounds. It challenges our understanding of fox vocalizations with 10 distinct sounds. The phrase “What does the fox say?” is repeated throughout, becoming a playful musical motif⁶.

The lyrics create comical fox sounds that differ greatly from real wildlife noises. They include funny sounds like “Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!” and “Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!”. These bear no resemblance to real fox sounds.

Jake Hindman, a naturalist, notes that real foxes use more nuanced vocalizations. The song’s unique approach to animal noises made it a cultural phenomenon². Released in 2013, it quickly went viral, gaining over 930 million YouTube views by 2021.

Its popularity led to a children’s book publication. This shows how a quirky concept can spark entertainment and wildlife curiosity². The song blends comedy and animal communication creatively.

It invites listeners to reimagine how animals might express themselves. By using nonsensical fox sounds, it highlights our limited knowledge of wildlife noises⁷. The result is an infectious, laugh-out-loud musical experience.

Source Links

1. The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fox_(What_Does_the_Fox_Say?)
2. Ylvis – The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?) Lyrics – https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/29973051/The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)
3. The surprising origin of ‘What Does the Fox Say?’ the YouTube hit you never forgot – https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/what-does-the-fox-say/
4. The Guy Behind “The Fox”—The Summer’s Funniest Music Video—Talks About Going Viral – https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/09/the-fox-viral-music-video-ylvis-interview/
5. 3 questions for Ylvis, the Norwegian duo that dared ask, ‘What Does the Fox Say?’ 10 years ago – https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/ylvis-what-does-the-fox-say-viral-music-video-norwegian-group-10-years-later-150000636.html
6. The Fox by Ylvis – https://www.lyricsgaps.com/exercises/view/2559/Intermediate
7. Ylvis – What The Fox Say? Lyrics – https://mail.lyricsondemand.com/ylvis/what_the_fox_say