2012 was a big year for YouTube. It appears that with the end of the world looming large in everyone’s mind, most of us took it as an excuse to consume as many YouTube videos as possible before our inevitable demise. This equaled to about 4 billion hours of YouTube watched per month all over the globe – and you just know that half of that was as a result of those trying to perfect Psy’s Gangnam Style horse dance.
In all seriousness, YouTube has released several statistics about its top ten most watched videos of 2012. What these seem to tell us is that to achieve YouTube superstardom you have to have a professionally made video – with only one of this year’s top ten not fitting into this category. You can also allow your video to drag on forever, as popular videos are apparently getting longer and longer. And, finally, it doesn’t matter if nobody can understand a word you’re saying in your video – a catchy beat may be all it needs to reach the number one spot.
1) Psy – Gangnam Style
To nobody’s surprise, K-Pop took the crown this year with Psy’s Gangnam Style topping the list of most watched YouTube videos of 2012. The song first hit the site a mere five months ago on July 15, and has since gone on to garner almost 1 billion views. It doesn’t matter that most of us don’t have a clue what Psy is rapping about, it seems the song’s catchy K-Pop beat and hilarious horse-style dance have been enough to keep people clicking replay.
2) Walk off the Earth – Somebody That I Used to Know (Gotye cover)
Isn’t it interesting that a cover of a popular song has come in at number two this year? We wonder whether Gotye would be flattered or irked that his own video of the song didn’t make the list. Either way, we have a sneaky suspicion that part of the cover’s appeal may have something to do with the fact that it features five people playing a guitar.
3) KONY 2012
It might appear to bode well for the world when a social activism video becomes the third most watched video of the year, but we all know how this story ended. Headed by the organisation Invisible Children, the KONY 2012 video urged people to help them catch bad-guy Joseph Kony, and although the video went viral and achieved great talk – the subsequent events organised by the organisation did not fare so well. At 30 minutes long, this video is by far the longest in the top 10 list, and also broke the record for the most views over a 24 hour period. It also achieved huge media attention, with worldwide news media outlets simultaneously applauding and critising its existence.
4) Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe (Feat. Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ashley Tisdale)
Although Carly Rae Jepsen’s Call Me Maybe is played throughout this video clip (and we all know it was quite a popular song for a while there) it is the stars featured in this video which are sure to be the reason it skyrocketed to 55 million views. Sure, they’re only lip synching and dancing around aimlessly in hoodies and sunglasses, but the people doing this include Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and Ashley Tisdale, and that seems to be enough for most people to watch.
5) Epic Rap Battles – Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney
Epic Rap Battles have long been a popular YouTube feature, but it’s no surprise that they cracked the top 10 this year with a spoof of the 2012 US Presidential election. Created by Nice Peter and EpicLLOYD, this amusing rap battle pits Mitt Romney against Barack Obama, and even features a special appearance by former US President Abraham Lincoln.
6) A Dramatic Surprise on a Quiet Square
In a small square in a Belgian town, a button is placed, with a sign above it reading ‘Push for Drama.’ Naturally, it gets pushed, and what occurs afterwards is sure to rival the drama shows aired on newly launched Belgian TV Channel TNT – who, coincidentally, is responsible for the advertisement. The company has revealed that they filmed the add 11 times and then chosen the best reactions from the button-pushers. At 40 million views, there’s no doubt TNT know something about appealing to the masses.
7) Spoken Reasons – Why Are You Asking All Them Questions?
Spoken Reasons are a well-known YouTube phenomenon. Their January release of ‘Why Are You Asking All Them Questions?’ was a particular hit, however, and has now racked up almost 40 million views. This offering takes a look at the different methods of communication typically used by men and women, and rides on the seeming trend of generalising the female gender (also see S**t Girls Say).
8) Lindsey Stirling – Crystallize
America’s Got Talent contestant Lindsey Stirling released a new music video for her song Crystallize and its combined elements of snow, Sterling playing her violin and a little dubstep thrown into the mix simply had 38 million views written all over it.
9) Facebook Parenting: For The Troubled Teen
Undoubtedly the most controversial video to make this year’s top ten list, Facebook Parenting: For The Troubled Teen also happens to be the only video that wasn’t professionally made. Yet for some reason, a father who feels wronged by his daughter’s ‘rebellious’ Facebook post and proceeds to pepper her laptop with nine bullets really appealed to the public.
10) Felix Baumgartner’s Supersonic Freefall from 128k
Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner’s made history after skydiving an approximate 39 kilometres into Earth itself. Red Bull, who sponsored Baumgartner’s freefall released a video of the mission’s highlights which captures his spectacular fall and went on to be viewed 30 million times.
