Irene Jiang / Business Insider
- Applebee's is bringing back the Oreo Cookie Shake after a viral TikTok song name-dropped it, CNN reported.
- The song "Fancy Like" has been used in half a million TikTok videos since its release in June.
- The shake will be back for a limited time and will be rolled out quickly.
- See more stories on Insider's business page.
Applebee's is bringing back its Oreo Cookie Shake after the viral TikTok song "Fancy Like" name-dropped the menu item in its lyrics, CNN Business reported.
Applebee's president John Cywinski told CNN that the song created buzz among the chain's employees and customers, and the restaurant chain is moving fast to capitalize on the song's popularity, while it lasts.
"There's a window of opportunity when you have a cultural phenomenon like 'Fancy Like," Cywinski said to CNN. He noted that the chain is launching commercials advertising the shake's return and is quickly getting ingredients to different locations to make the drinks. The drink was axed from Applebee's menu during the pandemic when the chain was slimming down its offerings.
"Fancy Like" caught fire on TikTok after the artist, Walker Harris, uploaded a video of himself and his daughter dancing to the song, according to American Songwriter. Since then, the song has been used in around half a million TikTok videos.
"We fancy like Applebee's on a date night, got that Bourbon Street steak with the Oreo shake," Harris sings. "Get some whipped cream on the top too, two straws, one check, girl, I got you."
Applebee's sales rose 102% in its last quarter, and some of those gains might be attributable to the popularity of "Fancy Like." Cywinski said in an earnings call that the song's virality on different platforms, including TikTok and Youtube, had given the brand a boost.
TikTok has become a critical tool in helping artists promote their songs and create viral hits. While songs often become popular organically on the app, others hire influencers and marketers to attempt to start a trend.
Songs trending on TikTok often chart on the Billboard 100, making the app a prime place to market and promote new songs. TikTok popularity has also influenced other businesses, like the Blackstone griddle, whose TikTok fame helped drive the popularity of the product, The Verge reported.
Applebee's isn't the first restaurant to benefit from a name-drop in a new release. In 2016, Red Lobster's sales jumped 33% after Beyoncé's newly released song, "Formation," mentioned taking a partner to Red Lobster as a reward for good sex.