{"id":18369,"date":"2023-08-05T08:27:11","date_gmt":"2023-08-05T08:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.searchenginejournal.com\/top-viral-videos-all-time\/302343\/"},"modified":"2023-08-05T08:27:11","modified_gmt":"2023-08-05T08:27:11","slug":"top-42-viral-videos-of-all-time-via-sejournal-gregjarboe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marketingnewsbox.com\/?p=18369","title":{"rendered":"Top 42 Viral Videos Of All Time via @sejournal, @gregjarboe"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

This is the third iteration of my YouTube<\/a> Top Viral Videos of All Time list. The first one included the top 25 YouTube videos that had \u201cgone viral\u201d up to that point in time, and my third list has improbably arrived at 42.<\/p>\n

Some YouTube gurus say a video \u201cgoes viral\u201d when it gets more than 1 million views. Other video marketing<\/a> experts say this threshold should be bumped up to 5 million views for any video uploaded after 2011.<\/p>\n

As I pointed out in \u201cHow to make a video go viral,<\/a>\u201d there is no industry standard definition of \u201cviral video.\u201d<\/p>\n

I generated the list from 2.6 million videos created by 624,000 accounts that all have more than 5 million views and 100,000 engagements using all available data.<\/p>\n

From the data I used, I estimate the odds of a video going viral are 3,192 to one.<\/p>\n

Hopefully, this list will provide you with some inspiration and practical lessons that you can apply when you create a video worth watching and content worth sharing.<\/p>\n

Top 42 Viral Videos Of All Time<\/h2>\n

Innovators And Early Adopters: April 23, 2005 \u2013 April 22, 2008<\/h3>\n

So, when did innovators and early adopters adopt the innovative idea of creating viral videos?<\/p>\n

1. \u201cMe At The Zoo\u201d<\/h4>\n

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The Very First Video Uploaded To YouTube was published on April 23, 2005.<\/p>\n

The 19-second-long video features Jawed Karim, one of YouTube\u2019s co-founders, who says that the two elephants that he is standing in front of at the San Diego Zoo have long trunks. Um, okay.<\/p>\n

According to Wikipedia<\/a>,<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cGreg Jarboe describes the video\u2019s representation of an \u2018ordinary moment\u2019 to be \u2018extraordinary\u2019 for its time, demonstrating YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim\u2019s vision of what YouTube would become.<\/p>\n

According to Jarboe, \u2018Me at the zoo\u2019 showed that YouTube was not simply about trying to \u2018capture special moments on video\u2019 but rather trying to empower YouTube users \u2018to become the broadcasters of tomorrow.\u2019 This paved the way for YouTube to become the world\u2019s most popular online video-sharing community.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This explains why this short clip of an \u201cordinary moment\u201d has now amassed a total of 271 million views and 25.1 million engagements over the past 18 years, which is \u201cextraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. \u201cLazy Sunday\u201d<\/h4>\n

Another video that helped to put YouTube on the map was uploaded in December 2005, it was a bootleg copy of the Saturday Night Live skit, \u201cThe Chronicles of Narnia Rap.\u201d<\/p>\n

How popular was this video? David Itzkoff of The New York Times<\/a> reported back then that \u201cLazy Sunday\u201d racked up 1.2 million views in its first 10 days.<\/p>\n

And LeeAnn Prescott of Hitwise reported in December 2005 that visits to YouTube had shot up 83% since the video had been uploaded \u2013 and had passed visits to Google Video. (And the rest is history.)<\/p>\n

By the end of January 2006, Prescott reported, \u201cSince my post last month on YouTube and the SNL Chronicles of Narnia rap, YouTube has continued to gain market share against other video search sites, and since surpassing Google Video, it has also surpassed Yahoo! Video Search.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then, \u201cLazy Sunday\u201d was removed from the video sharing site in February 2006. In a post on the YouTube blog, the YouTube staff explained: \u201cNBC recently contacted YouTube and asked us to remove Saturday Night Live\u2019s \u2018Lazy Sunday: Chronicles of Narnia\u2019 video. We know how popular that video is, but YouTube respects the rights of copyright holders. You can still watch SNL\u2019s \u2018Lazy Sunday\u2019 video for free on NBC\u2019s website.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ironically, Saturday Night Live re-uploaded \u201cLazy Sunday\u201d to its YouTube channel on Aug. 17, 2013 \u2013 7.5 years after it was removed.<\/p>\n

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Why did SNL do that and what lesson can you learn from this?<\/p>\n

Well, copyright owners can monetize their videos on YouTube. But they must split their ad revenue with YouTube. So, someone at NBC finally figured out that SNL could make more money by letting advertisers run ads against \u201cLazy Sunday\u201d on YouTube, as well as on NBC\u2019s website, than they would get by continuing to hoard their video content on their own site, which gets significantly less traffic.<\/p>\n

And it is worth noting that the re-uploaded version of \u201cLazy Sunday\u201d now has 4.3 million views and 48,400 engagements.<\/p>\n

3.  \u201cEvolution Of Dance.\u201d<\/h4>\n

A Third Video That Went Viral In YouTube\u2019s Early Days.<\/p>\n

Uploaded by Judson Laipply on April 6, 2006, it now has 312 million views and 1.6 million engagements.<\/p>\n

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Now, it should have even more views and engagements, but this video was blocked in the U.S. for several years on copyright grounds because it contains content from Warner Music Group (WMG).<\/p>\n

Why did they do that and what lesson can you learn from this?<\/p>\n

Well, using YouTube\u2019s Content ID system, copyright owners can choose to monetize a video and share revenue with the uploader. Or they can block a whole video from being viewed. So, WMG did not seem to want to share squat with Laipply for several years.<\/p>\n

But then the multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate either decided that some revenue was better than no revenue or suddenly started to care about what I had written several years ago when I discovered that \u201cEvolution of Dance\u201d had been blocked.<\/p>\n

In either case, do not assume that you can freely sample a song under the \u201cfair use\u201d principle.<\/p>\n

And if you want to include some music or sound effects in your videos, without having to negotiate licenses with each copyright owner, then use the YouTube Audio Library to find high-quality audio tracks, which are royalty-free.<\/p>\n

Google announced the acquisition of YouTube on October 9, 2006, and the deal was finalized on November 13, 2006. Google paid $1.65 billion in stock for YouTube. By putting their stamp of approval on YouTube, Google decreased the uncertainty around the innovative idea of creating viral videos, too.<\/p>\n

4. \u201cChocolate Rain Original Song By Tay Zonday\u201d<\/h4>\n

Another Viral Video From The Early Days uploaded on April 23, 2007, it now has 136 million views and 1.9 million engagements.<\/p>\n

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Here is the backstory. The video was originally posted on 4chan.org, where Zonday\u2019s breathe-away-from-the-mic move was mocked, and many parody videos were made in response.<\/p>\n

But \u201cChocolate Rain\u201d did not go viral until July 2007, when YouTube simultaneously featured all the parody and response videos on its home page.<\/p>\n

Okay, what lessons can we learn from this viral video with its unconventional lyrics and delivery?<\/p>\n

Well, even if you are mocked (by the self-appointed trendsetters), you can still get the last laugh when you are invited on Jimmy Kimmel Live and then go on to get \u201cpaid a hefty, hefty fee\u201d when your video becomes part of a promotional campaign for Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr. Pepper.<\/p>\n

5.  \u201cPotter Puppet Pals: The Mysterious Ticking Noise.\u201d<\/h4>\n

Another Example From The Early Days uploaded by Neil Cicierega on Mar. 24, 2007, it now has 202 million views and 2 million engagements.<\/p>\n

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This was the third video in a series that Cicierega had uploaded to his YouTube channel, which used live-action puppetry to parody the Harry Potter novels by J. K. Rowling.<\/p>\n

Upon hearing a ticking noise, Severus Snape sings to it. Other characters join in until they discover the source of the ticking is a pipe bomb, which subsequently explodes. The video was the landslide winner in the Comedy category of the 2008 YouTube Awards.<\/p>\n

MTV interviewed Alan Rickman at the New York premiere of \u201cHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows \u2013 Part 2\u201d, and he said, \u201c(Potter Puppet Pals) is very beautifully done, that little piece of work. Can you get rich from that? I hope they did.\u201d<\/p>\n

6. \u201cCharlie Schmidt\u2019s Keyboard Cat! \u2013 THE ORIGINAL!<\/strong>\u201d<\/h4>\n

Uploaded on June 7, 2007, this video now has 71.7 million views and 1.7 million engagements.<\/p>\n

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This video features a tabby, which appears to play a tune on a keyboard. Seen on its own, it makes no sense. But, when Brad O\u2019Farrell found the footage and placed it at the end of another video, it spread like wildfire.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlay him off, Keyboard Cat\u201d became a way to signal it was time to wrap it up after an awkward situation or slip-and-fall blooper.<\/p>\n

Keyboard Cat mashups added a touch more absurdity to already absurd situations, like a man falling off a treadmill or Miss Teen South Carolina flubbing her geography. Combine that with the Internet\u2019s penchant for funny cat videos, and a craze is born.<\/p>\n

7. \u201cYes We Can \u2013 Barack Obama Music Video\u201d<\/h4>\n

The Final Video From YouTube\u2019s Early Days uploaded on Feb. 2, 2008, it now has 26.8 million views and 139,000 engagements.<\/p>\n

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Produced by will.i.am and directed by Jesse Dylan, the music video was inspired by Obama\u2019s concession speech on Jan. 8, 2008, after Hillary Clinton won the Democratic Presidential Primary in New Hampshire.<\/p>\n

Although \u201cYes We Can\u201d samples Obama\u2019s voice and the lyrics are direct quotations from his speech, which was written by Jon Favreau, the Obama For America campaign was not involved in its production.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the Emmy-winning music video featuring a star cast helped a skinny kid with a funny go on to win not only the Democratic nomination, but also the Presidency of the United States in 2008.<\/p>\n

And from my point of view, it not only represents the end of YouTube\u2019s early days. It also marks the moment when the video-sharing site went mainstream.<\/p>\n

Early Majority: April 23, 2008 \u2013 April 22, 2014<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As this era started, there was growing evidence that creating viral videos was an innovative idea.<\/p>\n

8. David After Dentist<\/h4>\n

Uploaded on Jan. 31, 2009, it now has 142 million views and 570,000 engagements.<\/p>\n

[embedded content]<\/p>\n

In May 2008, David DeVore Sr. took a video of his son, David Jr. For the next seven months, he only shared the video with family and friends. Then, he uploaded it to YouTube to make it easier to share.<\/p>\n

David Sr. has said,<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDue to the limit YouTube has for the number of emails you can send the link to for private sharing, I chose to make it public thinking no one would think it was as funny as we did. Shows you what I know.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The video went viral and the DeVore family was soon invited to join the YouTube Partner Program, which enabled them to monetize \u201cDavid After Dentist.\u201d According to Time: \u201cAnd it\u2019s paying off: the DeVores have made nearly enough to cover David\u2019s (eventual) college education.\u201d<\/p>\n

What lesson does this example teach marketers?<\/p>\n

It features a cute kid. Does that help a video go viral?<\/p>\n

Well, Dr. Karen Nelson-Field conducted some rigorous research on this topic at the University of South Australia\u2019s Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science. And she published her findings in \u201cViral Marketing: The Science of Sharing<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

And according to Dr. Nelson-Field\u2019s research, a baby\/young child does outperform many other creative devices, but only when the video evokes high-arousal emotions.<\/p>\n

9. Susan Boyle \u2013 Britain\u2019s Got Talent 2009<\/h4>\n

Uploaded in April 2009, this video had 96 million views as of August 2010, when the clip was removed from Britain\u2019s Got Talent channel due to a copyright claim by Alain Boublil Music Ltd.<\/p>\n

But there are still copies on YouTube. This includes \u201cSusan Boyle \u2013 Britains Got Talent 2009 Episode 1 \u2013 Saturday 11th April | HD High Quality<\/strong>,\u201d which now has 262 million views and 1.2 million engagements.<\/p>\n

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So, what is the lesson that you can learn from the viral videos featuring Susan Boyle?<\/p>\n

Dr. Nelson-Field reported,<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhen a video included a creative story of personal triumph, it was shared more than other creative devices.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

She added,<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cInterestingly, despite being a more applicable creative device for ensuring sharing success, personal triumph is rarely displayed in viral video content. In our sample of 800 videos, it appeared in less than 3% of all videos.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

She concluded,<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cPersonal triumph therefore represents the best opportunity for marketers.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

10. NASA | Sarychev Volcano Eruption from the International Space Station.<\/h4>\n

Uploaded on July 1, 2009, it now has 103 million views and 3.8 million engagements.<\/p>\n

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What lesson does this short clip teach us? Dr. Nelson-Field\u2019s research also found that science\/weather\/nature-oriented videos also achieved, particularly good sharing rates.<\/p>\n

But, like personal triumph videos, they are also rare. So, this creative device represents the second-best opportunity for content creators and video marketers.<\/p>\n

11. JK Wedding Entrance Dance<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Uploaded on July 20, 2009, my 11th example now has 105 million views and 569,000 engagements.<\/p>\n

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What lesson does this viral video teach us?<\/p>\n

Well, in my recent article, \u201cHow to make a video go viral,\u201d Dr. Nelson-Field says,<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cContent that draws a High Arousal Positive emotional response is shared more. In particular, videos that evoke feelings of hilarity, inspiration, astonishment, and exhilaration tend to be shared the most.<\/p>\n

However, while video creators may be aiming to create hilarious and inspiring material, most are falling well short on both counts.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That is such a significant strategic insight that it is worth quoting her a second time in this article.<\/p>\n

12. Old Spice | The Man Your Man Could Smell Like<\/h4>\n

Uploaded on Feb. 5, 2010, it now has 61,4 million views and 280,000 engagements.<\/p>\n

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Maybe I don\u2019t need to point out the obvious, but this viral video is an ad. In fact, it was part of a campaign that consisted of eight YouTube videos, which tallied a total of 98.7 million views and 337,000 engagements.<\/p>\n

And the campaign was for an everyday hygiene item, so who would have guessed that it would go viral?<\/p>\n

But that is not all. In July 2010, Noreen O\u2019Leary and Todd Wasserman of Adweek reported that monthly sales of Old Spice Body Wash had increased 107%<\/a> after the campaign.<\/p>\n

So, are there any other lessons to learn? Well, this viral video features a \u201ctalking head.\u201d That is the derogatory term given to TV commercials that consist of a promoter extolling the virtues of a product.<\/p>\n

Many agency people argue that talking heads are not \u201ccreative.\u201d<\/p>\n

But, as David Ogilvy said in his classic book, \u201cOgilvy on Advertising<\/a>,\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhen I write an advertisement, I don\u2019t want you to tell me that you find it \u2018creative.\u2019 I want you to find it so interesting that you buy the product.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Amen.<\/p>\n

13. BED INTRUDER SONG!!!<\/h4>\n

Uploaded on July 31, 2010, by Schmoyoho, it now has 154 million views and 1.4 million engagements.<\/p>\n

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What can marketers learn from the most-watched video of 2010? The Gregory Brothers took the quirky television interview that Antoine Dodson gave after his sister\u2019s attempted assault and turned it into a chart-topper for Auto-Tune the News.<\/p>\n

14. Rebecca Black \u2013 Friday<\/h4>\n

My Next Example Also Includes a song. Originally uploaded in March 2011 to Ark Music Factory\u2019s channel, that version got more than 166 million views before it was removed from YouTube in June 2011 due to legal disputes between ARK Music and Black.<\/p>\n

However, the \u201cofficial version\u201d was uploaded to Rebecca\u2019s channel on Sept. 17, 2011, and now has 166 million views and 2.4 million engagements.<\/p>\n

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So, what is the backstory? This video did not go viral until sites like BuzzFeed and Reddit posted it as \u201cthe worst song ever.\u201d So, Black\u2019s pop anthem went viral because people were making fun of her.<\/p>\n

But Jeremy Scott, the co-founder of CinemaSins, thinks we all got trolled hard. In March 2011, he wrote in Tubular Insights<\/a>,<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been set up and manipulated \u2013 played like a second-hand guitar. Not by Black, mind you \u2013 I remain fairly convinced that she\u2019s just a normal 13-year-old. I think the real puppet master here is Ark Music Factory.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He added,<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cArk Music Factory is the company that produced the video, and I think they made this whole thing happen. To be clear: I think they knew the song was bad\u2026 I think they uploaded it anyway\u2026 and I think they set about using social bookmarking and social media sites to specifically gain the video some views based on its poor quality.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Now, he admitted at the time,<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have any proof\u2026 obviously. But I do have plenty of red flags and circumstantial evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This included:<\/p>\n