Viral pygmy hippo Moo Deng has released her first official single, singing in four different languages.
The Thai icon – who resides at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Si Racha – has made her pop debut at four months old.
‘Moodeng Moodeng’ is an energetic 50-second pop song sung in Thai, English, Chinese and Japanese. After chants of “Moo Deng, Moo Deng”, the song breaks down into a ska-influenced passage which features the lyrics: “Moo Deng Moo Deng, boing boing boing / Mommy mommy, play with me.”
The track was produced and written by Mueanphet Ammara, a well-known Thai composer, and was released through GMM Music, one of Thailand’s largest music companies. There’s no word so far on a debut EP or album.
‘Moodeng Moodeng’ is out now on all streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music – take a listen down below.
Since being born last July, Moo Deng has caused an immense stir on the Internet. After the baby hippo was unveiled on Facebook by the zoo, the hippo (whose name means “bouncy pork”, a Thai meatball) has endeared the Internet with her messy antics, flawless skin and priceless reactions.
The hippo has been mimicked in an SNL sketch comparing the animal to Chappell Roan, with cast member Bowen Yang saying: “Before me the only hippos in media were Hungry Hungry and Jada Pinkett-Smith in Madagascar. But now, I’m your favourite hippo’s favourite hippo.”
Moo Deng also accurately predicted the US presidential election by eating from a watermelon with Trump’s name on it.
Meanwhile in the gaming world, Final Fantasy 14 players have demanded their own hippo calf minion, with merch made by players using game mods.