Although the world's most famous two-dimensional, yellow-skinned dysfunctional family (and you'd be surprised at how many there are) comprises five members, two have inarguably ascended beyond the television show to become cultural icons themselves. One is boorish but loveable dad Homer and the other is the brattish Bart 'Don't have a cow, man'/'Ay Carumba'/'Eat My Shorts' Simpson. Just like his father, Bart Simpson is one of the most recognisable faces across the world, whether animated or not, and It is sometimes forgotten now, after 25 years of the show, that Bart was once the main character of the series before the whole family was given a fair crack at the whip. So just why is Bart so popular? As The Simpsons has always been a show for all-ages, while Homer is a hero to put-upon parents everywhere, perhaps the secret of Bart's popularity lies in his appeal to the daredevil in every child - and many adults too. But it probably goes a bit deeper that that. Bart may seem like a terrible kid on the surface yet, underneath the attitude problems and the catchphrases, he is capable of penance for his actions and, on occasion, being good-natured. In short, he's not just a cartoon character but a three-dimensional person. So, following on from our recent Homer Simpson's 25 Greatest Moments article, we give you best of the unBartable (terribly sorry) Bart Simpson.
25. Do The Bartman
While not from the series itself, the first place on our list has to go to the best example of the character's popularity; his very own smash hit single, released way back in 1990. Do the Bartman, later revealed to be co-written by Simpsons fan Michael Jackson, came right in the middle of the 'Bartmania' that ensued after The Simpsons first aired and everyone was a fan of the character. Nowadays - actually, probably even at the time - it's hard to say its is a classic, but there's a certain amount of ironic joy to had from a song who's opening lyrics are 'Yo! Hey, what's happenin', dude? I'm a guy with a rep for bein' rude.' While the awkward rapping is not so much dated as carbon-dated, this serves as a testament to the hold that Bart had over the world that a song such as this could be released and rise to the tops of charts everywhere because it sported the character's name. The song has become rather infamous nowadays, either outside the show as a reminder of the kitsch of the 90s or within the series itself. For example, in a much later episode, Bart tries to get attention by 'doing the Bartman' and Ralph Wiggum replies: 'That is so 1991!' Watch the music video that Ralph is referring to below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKC7Oz6ZrRU&feature=kp