Irish Children’s Rap Song Captures Global Attention
Sometimes a song’s lyrics are truly inspirational. That’s certainly the case for a hit rap song performed by Irish pre-teens that has gone viral. The song now has tens of millions of views and thousands of influencers have created reaction videos and covers, The Guardian reports.
Between the boundless energy and enthusiasm of the children performing the hit, the positivity of the lyrics, and the catchy tune that you can’t quite get out of your head, it seems that “The Spark” has become the song of the summer.
A youth rap project
How The Spark was created, written, performed, and released is an inspiring story. The project originated in Knocknaheeny, a Cork suburb, at the non-profit Kabin Studios in collaboration with government initiative Creative Ireland. The song was intended as an anthem for the annual Gathering of Youth (Cruinniú na nÓg) where Ireland hosts hundreds of free and fun events for children across the country.
The Spark features about 30 children between the ages of nine and 12, most of them Knocknaheeny residents, joined by several refugee children living in nearby Lisdoonvarna. It was created on a shoestring budget under the management of producer Garry McCarthy, who goes by the moniker GMC. Seán Downey, who goes by SwanIGuess, did the video edits.
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“We were looking to work with something upbeat and put on a drum’n’bass track. We found the beat and started coming up with chant and chorus ideas.” GMC tells the Guardian. “The response has been amazing. The kids’ energy and positivity has inspired people. It’s a really catchy song.”
Going viral
The Spark was first released in May, TIME reports, and it didn’t take long before it went viral both in Ireland and internationally. The song racked up six million videos after being interviewed on an Irish radio show. After sparking a viral sensation in Ireland, the song was picked up by the US’s National Public Radio and was a big hit across the pond.
In addition to radio exposure, The Spark made waves on social media when Kaban posted the video of the catchy kids’ song on TikTok which garnered 10 million views. This sparked a trend where TikTok users started creating their own dances and covers of the song as well.
GMC responded to the song’s popularity, telling The Guardian, “We do things quickly.“We’re doing this all the time – new songs every week. This one just happened to go a little bit further,”
The viral success of The Spark showcases the incredible potential of youthful creativity and collaboration. As the song of the summer, The Spark continues to light up the world with its joyful spirit, proving that when passion and talent converge, the results can be truly extraordinary.
