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<aside class="right-rail__container right-rail__container--ad"><div class="right-rail__ad__wrapper right-rail__module"><div class="right-rail__ad" id="right-rail__ad-5929245"></div></div>
<div class="OUTBRAIN right-rail__outbrain right-rail__module" data-src="https://time.com/5929245/sea-shanty-tiktok-2021/" data-widget-id="SB_2" data-ob-template="timemag"></div></aside>
<p>While 2021 has already served up plenty of wretched bombshells, the best surprise of the past two weeks might be TikTok&#8217;s biggest new trend: sea shanties. As the world hurtles head-first into 2021, sea shanties are turning into a safe harbor for social media users looking to take their mind off the events of the day with some (very) old-timey entertainment.</p><p>It all started when Scottish musician Nathan Evans recorded a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@nathanevanss/video/6910995345421962498?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fboingboing.net%2F&amp;referer_video_id=6910995345421962498&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;sender_web_id=6893506072067212806&amp;is_from_webapp=v1"  target="_blank" rel="noopener" target="_blank">video</a> performing a remarkably catchy rendition of &#8220;Wellerman,&#8221; a 19th century shanty of New Zealand origin. It blew up online, garnering over four million views on TikTok alone. From there, it wasn&#8217;t long before other users were piggybacking on the trend by duetting the whaling tune alongside Evans or debuting sea shanty performances of their own. Thus, #ShantyTok was born.</p>
[time-brightcove not-tgx=&#8221;true&#8221;]

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
			<div class="time-embed time-embed__twitter" data-provider="twitter" data-url="https://twitter.com/Peter_Fries/status/1347402323950145537" ></div>
			</div></figure>
			<p>Despite the fact that the recent resurgence of sea shanties is owed entirely to the internet, their modern appeal certainly harkens back to their original purpose: synchronizing individual efforts to achieve a common goal.</p><p>In centuries past, the purpose of these call-and-response work songs was, of course, to maintain a ship crew&#8217;s focus on safely navigating often dangerous waters. Whether the task was rowing, hoisting sails or hauling nets, the hand-over-hand beat of sea shanties was intended to help sailors keep time with each other.</p><p>But amid a global pandemic that has kept many people at home and isolated for nearly a year, sea shanties can help foster a sense of community during a time when many are feeling lonely. As expertly noted by <a href="https://www.vulture.com/2021/01/tiktok-sea-shanties-explained.html"  target="_blank" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><em>Vulture</em>&#8216;s Kathryn VanArendonk</a>, at their heart, sea shanties are &#8220;unifying, survivalist songs, designed to transform a huge group of people into one collective body, all working together to keep the ship afloat.&#8221;</p><p>They&#8217;re also undeniable earworms.</p>
			<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
			<div class="time-embed time-embed__twitter" data-provider="twitter" data-url="https://twitter.com/jaynooch/status/1349007291559931906" ></div>
			</div></figure>
			
			<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
			<div class="time-embed time-embed__twitter" data-provider="twitter" data-url="https://twitter.com/joshgondelman/status/1349354146877550593" ><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I don&rsquo;t know why they call it a sea SHANTy when every time I hear one I think &ldquo;yes I SHALL sing along.&rdquo;</p>&mdash; Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshgondelman/status/1349354146877550593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"  target="_blank">January 13, 2021</a></blockquote></div>
			</div></figure>
			<p>Thanks to TikTok&#8217;s duet feature, which allows users to build on fellow TikTokers&#8217; videos with their own additions, Evans&#8217; solo rendition of &#8220;Wellerman&#8221; has been transformed into a complex split-screen harmony, complete with multiple vocal parts and instrumental accompaniment. It&#8217;s a group project that everyone in the video worked on individually, which makes its success all the more impressive.</p>
			<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
			<div class="time-embed time-embed__twitter" data-provider="twitter" data-url="https://twitter.com/TheRealHoarse/status/1348995617889132545" ><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">One of the cool things about TikTok is the way people can &ldquo;duet&rdquo; someone else&rsquo;s video and build on it.<br><br>There&rsquo;s a sea shanty trend going on over there. It started with one guy singing. Then someone &lsquo;dueted&rsquo; his vid&#8230; then someone &lsquo;dueted&rsquo; that one, etc. <a href="https://t.co/DAeqKpRQPc"  target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/DAeqKpRQPc</a></p>&mdash; The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealHoarse/status/1348995617889132545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"  target="_blank">January 12, 2021</a></blockquote></div>
			</div></figure>
			<p>Affirming that the traditional shanty format possesses a timeless quality, some people have even begun turning popular songs of today, like Smash Mouth&#8217;s &#8220;All Star&#8221; and Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion&#8217;s <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hunterevenson16/video/6913598763613539589"  target="_blank" rel="noopener" target="_blank">&#8220;WAP,&#8221;</a> into sea shanties in their own right.</p>
			<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
			<div class="time-embed time-embed__twitter" data-provider="twitter" data-url="https://twitter.com/JennaGuillaume/status/1349241560936812544" ><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">All Star by Smash Mouth turned into a sea shanty is just the most perfect intersection of meme culture <a href="https://t.co/TAuPyyGksA"  target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/TAuPyyGksA</a></p>&mdash; Jenna Guillaume (@JennaGuillaume) <a href="https://twitter.com/JennaGuillaume/status/1349241560936812544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"  target="_blank">January 13, 2021</a></blockquote></div>
			</div></figure>
			<p>A video of one reluctant sea shanty fan discovering the allure of these nautical ditties has also gone viral. All it took was a car ride and an inspirational brother.</p>
			<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
			<div class="time-embed time-embed__twitter" data-provider="twitter" data-url="https://twitter.com/Beertheist/status/1348759849077714951" ></div>
			</div></figure>
			<p>The 45-second clip perfectly showcases how shanty sing-alongs have a way of drawing others in to the fold, or, as one commenter puts it, &#8220;I guess it makes sense when you think [about how] the artform originated as a way to provide pleasure, connection and entertainment during periods of sustained social isolation.&#8221;</p>
			<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
			<div class="time-embed time-embed__twitter" data-provider="twitter" data-url="https://twitter.com/RichDecibels/status/1348950082209644544" ></div>
			</div></figure>
			<p>So if you&#8217;re in need of a distraction amid everything going on right now, #ShantyTok is here for you. Keep calm and shanty on.</p>

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--- !ruby/object:Feedjira::Parser::RSSEntry
published: 2021-01-13 22:54:11.000000000 Z
entry_id: !ruby/object:Feedjira::Parser::GloballyUniqueIdentifier
  is_perma_link: 'false'
  guid: https://time.com/?p=5929245
title: In These Tumultuous Times, Sea Shanty TikToks Have Suddenly Become a Port in
  the Storm
categories:
- Uncategorized
- Explainer
- Social Media
- viral
carlessian_info:
  news_filer_version: 2
  newspaper: US general37
  macro_region: USA
summary: In centuries past, these call-and-response work songs maintained a ship crew's
  focus on safely navigating often dangerous waters
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url: https://time.com/5929245/sea-shanty-tiktok-2021/
content: "\n<aside class=\"right-rail__container right-rail__container--ad\"><div
  class=\"right-rail__ad__wrapper right-rail__module\"><div class=\"right-rail__ad\"
  id=\"right-rail__ad-5929245\"></div></div>\n<div class=\"OUTBRAIN right-rail__outbrain
  right-rail__module\" data-src=\"https://time.com/5929245/sea-shanty-tiktok-2021/\"
  data-widget-id=\"SB_2\" data-ob-template=\"timemag\"></div></aside>\n<p>While 2021
  has already served up plenty of wretched bombshells, the best surprise of the past
  two weeks might be TikTok&#8217;s biggest new trend: sea shanties. As the world
  hurtles head-first into 2021, sea shanties are turning into a safe harbor for social
  media users looking to take their mind off the events of the day with some (very)
  old-timey entertainment.</p><p>It all started when Scottish musician Nathan Evans
  recorded a <a href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@nathanevanss/video/6910995345421962498?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fboingboing.net%2F&amp;referer_video_id=6910995345421962498&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;sender_web_id=6893506072067212806&amp;is_from_webapp=v1\"
  \ target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">video</a> performing a remarkably
  catchy rendition of &#8220;Wellerman,&#8221; a 19th century shanty of New Zealand
  origin. It blew up online, garnering over four million views on TikTok alone. From
  there, it wasn&#8217;t long before other users were piggybacking on the trend by
  duetting the whaling tune alongside Evans or debuting sea shanty performances of
  their own. Thus, #ShantyTok was born.</p>\n[time-brightcove not-tgx=&#8221;true&#8221;]\n\n\t\t\t<figure
  class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div
  class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"time-embed time-embed__twitter\"
  data-provider=\"twitter\" data-url=\"https://twitter.com/Peter_Fries/status/1347402323950145537\"
  ></div>\n\t\t\t</div></figure>\n\t\t\t<p>Despite the fact that the recent resurgence
  of sea shanties is owed entirely to the internet, their modern appeal certainly
  harkens back to their original purpose: synchronizing individual efforts to achieve
  a common goal.</p><p>In centuries past, the purpose of these call-and-response work
  songs was, of course, to maintain a ship crew&#8217;s focus on safely navigating
  often dangerous waters. Whether the task was rowing, hoisting sails or hauling nets,
  the hand-over-hand beat of sea shanties was intended to help sailors keep time with
  each other.</p><p>But amid a global pandemic that has kept many people at home and
  isolated for nearly a year, sea shanties can help foster a sense of community during
  a time when many are feeling lonely. As expertly noted by <a href=\"https://www.vulture.com/2021/01/tiktok-sea-shanties-explained.html\"
  \ target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Vulture</em>&#8216;s
  Kathryn VanArendonk</a>, at their heart, sea shanties are &#8220;unifying, survivalist
  songs, designed to transform a huge group of people into one collective body, all
  working together to keep the ship afloat.&#8221;</p><p>They&#8217;re also undeniable
  earworms.</p>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter
  wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"time-embed
  time-embed__twitter\" data-provider=\"twitter\" data-url=\"https://twitter.com/jaynooch/status/1349007291559931906\"
  ></div>\n\t\t\t</div></figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich
  is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div
  class=\"time-embed time-embed__twitter\" data-provider=\"twitter\" data-url=\"https://twitter.com/joshgondelman/status/1349354146877550593\"
  ><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\"
  dir=\"ltr\">I don&rsquo;t know why they call it a sea SHANTy when every time I hear
  one I think &ldquo;yes I SHALL sing along.&rdquo;</p>&mdash; Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman)
  <a href=\"https://twitter.com/joshgondelman/status/1349354146877550593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"
  \ target=\"_blank\">January 13, 2021</a></blockquote></div>\n\t\t\t</div></figure>\n\t\t\t<p>Thanks
  to TikTok&#8217;s duet feature, which allows users to build on fellow TikTokers&#8217;
  videos with their own additions, Evans&#8217; solo rendition of &#8220;Wellerman&#8221;
  has been transformed into a complex split-screen harmony, complete with multiple
  vocal parts and instrumental accompaniment. It&#8217;s a group project that everyone
  in the video worked on individually, which makes its success all the more impressive.</p>\n\t\t\t<figure
  class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div
  class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"time-embed time-embed__twitter\"
  data-provider=\"twitter\" data-url=\"https://twitter.com/TheRealHoarse/status/1348995617889132545\"
  ><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\"
  dir=\"ltr\">One of the cool things about TikTok is the way people can &ldquo;duet&rdquo;
  someone else&rsquo;s video and build on it.<br><br>There&rsquo;s a sea shanty trend
  going on over there. It started with one guy singing. Then someone &lsquo;dueted&rsquo;
  his vid&#8230; then someone &lsquo;dueted&rsquo; that one, etc. <a href=\"https://t.co/DAeqKpRQPc\"
  \ target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com/DAeqKpRQPc</a></p>&mdash; The Hoarse Whisperer
  (@TheRealHoarse) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TheRealHoarse/status/1348995617889132545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"
  \ target=\"_blank\">January 12, 2021</a></blockquote></div>\n\t\t\t</div></figure>\n\t\t\t<p>Affirming
  that the traditional shanty format possesses a timeless quality, some people have
  even begun turning popular songs of today, like Smash Mouth&#8217;s &#8220;All Star&#8221;
  and Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion&#8217;s <a href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@hunterevenson16/video/6913598763613539589\"
  \ target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">&#8220;WAP,&#8221;</a> into
  sea shanties in their own right.</p>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich
  is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div
  class=\"time-embed time-embed__twitter\" data-provider=\"twitter\" data-url=\"https://twitter.com/JennaGuillaume/status/1349241560936812544\"
  ><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\"
  dir=\"ltr\">All Star by Smash Mouth turned into a sea shanty is just the most perfect
  intersection of meme culture <a href=\"https://t.co/TAuPyyGksA\"  target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com/TAuPyyGksA</a></p>&mdash;
  Jenna Guillaume (@JennaGuillaume) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/JennaGuillaume/status/1349241560936812544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"
  \ target=\"_blank\">January 13, 2021</a></blockquote></div>\n\t\t\t</div></figure>\n\t\t\t<p>A
  video of one reluctant sea shanty fan discovering the allure of these nautical ditties
  has also gone viral. All it took was a car ride and an inspirational brother.</p>\n\t\t\t<figure
  class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div
  class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"time-embed time-embed__twitter\"
  data-provider=\"twitter\" data-url=\"https://twitter.com/Beertheist/status/1348759849077714951\"
  ></div>\n\t\t\t</div></figure>\n\t\t\t<p>The 45-second clip perfectly showcases
  how shanty sing-alongs have a way of drawing others in to the fold, or, as one commenter
  puts it, &#8220;I guess it makes sense when you think [about how] the artform originated
  as a way to provide pleasure, connection and entertainment during periods of sustained
  social isolation.&#8221;</p>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich
  is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div
  class=\"time-embed time-embed__twitter\" data-provider=\"twitter\" data-url=\"https://twitter.com/RichDecibels/status/1348950082209644544\"
  ></div>\n\t\t\t</div></figure>\n\t\t\t<p>So if you&#8217;re in need of a distraction
  amid everything going on right now, #ShantyTok is here for you. Keep calm and shanty
  on.</p>"
author: Megan McCluskey

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