The Shut Up Ringtone Craze

It's old news, so you may or may not have heard about the ringtone explosion for "Shut Up" back in November 2007. In Madrid, Spain there was a ringtone craze sparked by political debate. It seems the citizens wanted to tell President Hugo Chavez to shutup, not long after King Juan Carlos told him to during a political debate/confrontation. It immediately made for one of the more popular ringtones, igniting sales through the roof! According to CNN.com: "About half a million people have downloaded a mobile phone ringtone featuring the phrase "Por que no te callas?" or "Why don't you shut up?" leading Madrid daily El Pais reported on its Web site Monday. That's what King Juan Carlos told Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during a heated confrontation at a summit in Chile last week. The ringtone is thought to have generated around $2.2 million for the companies selling it, El Pais said. T-shirts and mugs featuring the words are also becoming a profitable business, and videos of the confrontation have been a hit on the YouTube Web site." There's probably many people around the world who want to tell someone "why don't you shut up with your ringtone" as well! Watch the Shutup Ringtone story on YouTube. Here's 5 other notable "Shut Up" ringtones, from more popular artists: Shut Up and Drive by Rihanna Shut Up by Simple Plan Shut Up by Kelly Osbourne Shut Up by Black Eyed Peas Step Up or Shut Up by Vanilla Ice