Mammy rap is latest viral hit

A little-known actress rapping about her "snot-stained sack" and diet of "leftover fish fingers" has become the latest YouTube viral sensation.

Mammy rap is latest viral hit

A little-known actress rapping about her "snot-stained sack" and diet of "leftover fish fingers" has become the latest YouTube viral sensation.

Clocking up over two and a quarter million hits since being uploaded on December 19, 'The Motherhood' - featuring the lyrical stylings of 32-year-old Rachel Donovan - has hit home with an online audience who can identify with complaints such as: "Sleep deprived / And under house arrest / Think I'd sell both kidneys just to get some rest."

[comment]WATCH: 'The Motherhood' (Source: YouTube/FiatUK)[/comment]

Of course, it's an ad - created by London-based agency Krow Communications for Fiat UK as part of a campaign for their new 500L model.

But with observations such as "Work vs. home is a mental combination / With my elbows deep in infant defecation" they have a bona fide online hit on their hands, the subject matter even prompting a blog post from The Guardian on how the video "captures the essence of modern motherhood".

Quite.

"I'm living it large, and by large I mean bigger," raps Rachel, surrounded by kiddie detritus while one of her brood smears yoghurt on her laptop. "At least now I know the difference between a tractor and a digger."

"I'm expressive / I express all the time / Because the doc said / To not breastfeed is a crime."

It's all cunningly interspersed with shots of a shiny new Fiat 500L and the heroine looks suspiciously groomed for a mother-of-three with "sick on her coat" - but what harried mammy can't identify with lyrics like "Joined a book club / Just so I could drink some wine"?

Rachel - who also starred with Cillian Murphy in 'Breakfast on Pluto', fact fans - and her brood have some way to go before they catch up with the hip-hop breakout sensation of 2012 - a certain portly South Korean pop star with a weird horsey dance, whose 1.14bn hits for 'Gangnam Style' made it the most popular YouTube video EVER - but 'The Motherhood' is that precious example of marketing gold. An ad that people want to watch and share.

"I'm a school run taker, fairy cake baker, deal maker, orgasm faker," raps Rachel.

"Nit raker, rattle shaker, cheese grater, night-time waker.

"I'm a placater. Peacemaker."

Peace out, etc.

CRAP RAPPING

We think 'The Motherhood' pulls off the feat of being funny enough to share, but the history of rapping in advertising is an ignominious one.

Here are 3 crap ad raps that should have stayed on the drawing board.

1. Fleetwood would, would Fleetwood

Sounds like a rap battle between two readers at Mass. Fleetwood could, but shouldn't. (YouTube/cerebro1)

2. Moy Park Chicken

Do everyone a flavour and never darken our airwaves again. (YouTube/TheMoyParkChicken)

3. That camel thing on Nickelodeon

If you have small kids, you probably watch Nickelodeon. If you watch Nickelodeon, you'll probably have seen this. WARNING: IT CANNOT BE UNSEEN (YouTube/GabiH20video)

And how to do it right. Old skool.

(YouTube/IHS7)

MORE: YouTube's top 20 viral ads of 2012 - also featuring Fiat with Charlie Sheen in a cameo appearance.

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