We are thrilled to announce the release of our latest musical creation, the “Great White Shark Tribute Song,” from our exciting project, The Shark Riddle, the second episode in the Riddle Solvers series! If you’ve ever wondered how to celebrate the vital role great white sharks play in our ocean’s ecosystem through music, we’ve found a unique approach. Imagine a sea lion serenading the importance of these magnificent creatures to a healthy food chain. Yes, you heard it right! We’ve given a marine mammal the microphone to sing about its place in the food web, and the result is a song we believe is truly special. We hope you’ll find yourself applauding for the great white shark by the end!
The stunning high-definition underwater footage of sharks comes courtesy of the talented cinematographers at the Save Our Seas Foundation. Complementing this, the captivating sea lion footage was primarily filmed by Robert Sams along the beautiful Oregon coast, with additional shots contributed by Tom Campbell.
Robert lends his voice as the lead sea lion, but the musical magic behind the song was brought to life in collaboration with talented musicians from Portland, Oregon. To give the song a distinctive percussive element, we drew inspiration from the concept of “the food chain” itself. We recorded the resonant sound of a chain link falling into our hands. Adding to the rhythm, we ingeniously incorporated a slinky, a whimsical touch that became a highlight thanks to our audio engineer. He confessed to always keeping a slinky in his studio, waiting for the perfect moment to use it in a song – and this was it! For the chorus of sea lions singing “great white shark,” we gathered a group of friends in the studio, including both men and women to enrich the harmonies. To ground the track with an authentic, seaworthy feel, we even stomped on wooden planks to create the beat.
Many often ask about our songwriting process. Robert and I dedicated months to brainstorming this particular song. We considered various styles, aiming for a tune that would be instantly catchy and memorable. The challenge was to craft a fitting tribute to the great white shark, moving away from the typical suspenseful, low-frequency soundtracks often associated with them. We wanted to surprise listeners and offer something genuinely unexpected in the realm of Great White Songs. Then, inspiration struck when Robert was driving through Montana on his way to the International Wildlife Film Festival. He conceived a bass line and melody that he shared with me over the phone, and instantly, we knew we had found the core of our great white shark song! From there, we brainstormed lyric ideas. I jotted down playful phrases like “sharks are blubber lovers,” while Rob contributed the catchy line about “living out here where the breeze is breezy, the water is wet and the fishin’ is easy.” We even had a lively debate about the pluralization of “octopus,” confirming that “octopuses,” “octopii,” and “octopodes” are all acceptable. The inclusion of an octopus was important to us because Robert had filmed a giant Pacific octopus in the chilly but rewarding waters of Hood Canal, Washington.
Later, during pilot testing of this segment from The Shark Riddle, we were delighted by the children’s responses. Our goal was to illustrate the food chain in a way that was engaging rather than gruesome. The kids who have previewed it so far have shown great enthusiasm for the song. We envision this song serving as an engaging starting point for exploring food webs and food chains, from plant life to fish, sea lions, and ultimately, the great white shark. To further enhance the educational experience, I’m also developing a worksheet to accompany the song, which will be included in our upcoming educational Shark Packet.
We sincerely hope you enjoy this unique tribute song.
— Laura Sams, Sisbro Studios, www.sisbro.com
