Damn Schnappi. You'll try to forget him. Or her. Whatever. You'll try to get his horrible, hackneyed siren song out of your head. But you won't be able to. And you'll just keep pressing repeat. Over. And over. And over again. And to top it all off, unless you were raised in a house where beer steins outnumbered plates or actually paid attention in German class, you won't have a clue what he's saying. But you'll still love him. And you won't be alone.
Schnappi, "The Little Crocodile" made popular by a German TV show,
topped the music charts in Germany, in Austria, in Switzerland and the Netherlands -- in too many countries to count (seven). Now, thanks to
Frederator, Schnappi has
begun his invasion of America. If our kids see this wee reptile waging a Charlie vs. Lucy battle against a pesky fly or offering a spot-on impersonation of
The Bangles, it's all over. They won't be singing along with the "Wonder Pets" anymore. They'll be singing along with this interloping antelope eater, and you'll be dragged on a musical journey that will make Raffi sound like The Shins.
So word to the wise, if your kids see a Schnappi video and ask what the cute little button is saying, offer a hand in comfort and give it to them straight: "He's saying he's developed a taste for humans, he lives under your bed and he's hungry."
