Success

In 2004 Schnappi became very popular on the Internet. In December of that year, the song Schnappi, das kleine Krokodil was released on CD. The single reached #1 on the German Pop-Charts on January 3, 2005.
This phenomenon is claimed to refute the notion that sharing music over the Internet is harmful to sales figures. The huge commercial success of Schnappi may not have been possible without P2P networks, as well as news of the song being passed via word of mouth.
A bootleg translation into English was recorded and released on the Internet on the 20th February, 2005 by the Bronx artist DJ Damien (in conjunction with b0n3m4n, and featuring vocals by French Girl). Somehow, despite being an unofficial cover, this version has made it onto the "official Schnappi website in English" and the original recording artist was said to be "very glad" Schnappi had "made it" to England, referring to the "English version" in an interview with The Guardian newspaper. Other translations by collaborations involving DJ Damien include a French version "Crocky le Petit Crocodile", and a forthcoming Japanese version "Togetogeshi, chiisai wani" (刺々し、小さい鰐).
The song reached number one in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, whilst reaching the top 10 in Australia and New Zealand. The song was released in the UK on Monday 3rd October 2005, but it only reached the bottom end of the UK Singles Chart top 40.
Alternative versions of the song - varying from simple remixes of the basic vocal track, to a full cover version by Belgian techno group Dynamite - were also at numbers seven and ten in Belgium, and at number two in the Netherlands.
Swedish "humor metal" band Black Ingvars also recorded a cover version in heavy metal style with Rammstein-like vocals. The song was released on a compilation album in Sweden.
A flash movie, Up Skit Creek Vol. 2 by Andrew Kepple, features an animutated version of Steve Irwin ("The Crocodile Hunter"), stalking Schnappi and eventually trapping him in a strong grip- evidently too strong; Schnappi's neck had been "Schapped". Steve Irwin referred to him as, "the little German buggar who won't shut the hell up!" in lament terms.
With the popularity of the Crazy Frog ringtone, it was only a matter of time before Schnappi was also covered this way, and in August 2005 Jamba! released Schnappi in a number of downloadable formats.