12th Street Rag began as a ragtime composition by Euday L. Bowman in 1914. Many people now recognize it from SpongeBob SquarePants, where it was used as lively background music for silly, hurried moments. That TV association helped the tune spread widely in memes, short edits and reaction videos. It remains popular because the ragtime piano immediately signals frantic movement and classic cartoon humor, much like creators also use cartoon slip or sudden suspense to exaggerate a visual gag.