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tunnuz
Can someone explain Internet’s sudden interest in sea shanties that seems to have exploded in 2020?
styluss
IIRC it's been trending on TikTok for a couple of weeks
bhaak
This article goes into some details how it started on TikTok by Scottish musician Nathan Evans https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/15/entertainment/sea-shanty-...

FWIW, I remember the sea shanties being wildly popular in the Assassin's Creed gaming community when they got introduced in AC Black Flag (or was it AC Rogue?) and they have been added to every following game that features sea travel.

Seems to be aligned with the current Zeitgeist.

leoc
The sea-song trend has been simmering on social media for a while, before boiling over just now and since before the start of the pandemic. This "Drunken Sailor" video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgwOHnr3xVE got a fair bit of attention in about 2019. One or two professional groups have also been having some success. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjC9HMlysmA Assassin's Creed IV does seem likely to have been the starting point.
jimnotgym
There is also a group called The Fisherman's Friends from Port Isaac in Cornwall UK. They had a hit record and a film made about them (typical British dramatised RomCom). I think this made a lot of people conscious of the sea shanty.

https://thefishermansfriends.com/

Asmod4n
Copyright expiration maybe.
jkepler
I doubt most authentic sea shanties were ever under copyright to begin with. I remember learning a handful of them in the 1980s in primary school, back before they were trending online---back in 'pre-history' before the web was invented.
jpxw
My pet theory is that it’s an expression of people who are hungry for tradition.
adamjb
Especially a tradition that embodies camaraderie in the face of isolation.
roesel
Perhaps the rising popularity (and recent discounts) of Sea of Thieves?
harperlee
Well serendipity makes them reappear, and once they are exposed to mainstream audiences, well, they are very simple, very rythmic music made for easy recall and easy chanting no matter your skill. And as said in other comments, they bring a mix of pirate/adventure/old-times lore that seems cool. I’d also add that to insecure young men they will seem safer to chant. Same as with martial music.
mhd
Isn't it mostly one sea shanty that's making the rounds on TikTok? Just like we had Dreams being catapulted into the Billboard charts again, not the whole Fleetwood Mac oeuvre?
sanqui
Well, they're about working hard and living in confined spaces with limited social interactions. It was basically a matter of time ever since quarantine started.
emmelaich
Assassin's Creed IV - Black Flag had a lot (30+) sea shanties.

It was quite a few years ago - but perhaps it was the spark.

bjt2n3904
They're heavily designed for community building. The call/response format means it's easy to join after hearing it once or twice. The lyrics are usually a limerick of sorts, and the chorus never changes.

The tune is designed to carry itself without musical accompaniment, has limited range, and is easy to harmonize with. The coarse lyrics about various hardships and simple tune almost lend itself to voices that aren't particularly sweet, and that gives it a charming character of it's own.

Now, given that people have been quarantined for months on end, sea shanties are a drop in for a want for community.

bschne
I've seen the tiktok meme taken up on twitter, but somehow it's always the same song (Wellerman) and only about 2-3 variants of it being reposted.

Is this a bigger thing with more variety that's going on on tiktok, or is it just the one that went viral with a few variants alongside?

williamdclt
Yeah, it's a bit of a trend, there's more than this one song going round on tiktok
chris_wot
I know of this one, which is "Leave her Johnny".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Fow61Zsn2s

For once I can actually get into something in the Zeitgeist. TikTok has something actually great - layering voices. Amazing. Never thought I'd say that about TikTok.

idakyne
Not aware of the tiktok meme, however there are a few uk based acapella groups specializing in sea shanties. 'The longest johns' are one of my favorites.
jesse_cureton
"Wellerman" is certainly the most popular, but there have been several! Lately I've been seeing people take up "Leave Her Johnny", "The Last Shanty", and even some labor songs like "Process Man"/"The Chemical Worker's Song"

It's been surprisingly fun watching the various takes blow up on TikTok.

sorokod
The Sex Pistols had a go at this in 1980. Skip the video if you are easily offended: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCWXdl2DAs0

Obligatory wikipedia reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Ship_Venus

alejohausner
I'm fond of Stan Roger's "Barret's Privateers", which recreates the spirit of Nova Scotian raiders on American ships.

https://youtu.be/3T0Ruhb734U

baron816
I hope people start singing these in bars when bars open again. I bet you could get a pub to join if you and a group of friends suddenly started singing these or other kinds of folk songs.