Tag Archives: viral

This year in viral videos, as told by YouTube’s top 10 of 2013

It’s been another wild year for things that went viral on the Internet. YouTube‘s compiled a list of the top 10 most trending videos of 2013 and can you guess which video claimed the #1 spot? I’ll give you a hit: Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding! That’s right–it’s Ylvis’ “The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)” which has amassed over 306 million views as of writing this post. The Harlem Shake, Steve Kardynal’s hysterical Chatroulette version of “Wrecking Ball,” The Lonely Island’s “YOLO,” and that Carrie movie telekinesis marketing ploy also made the most watched list:

1. Ylvis – “The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)” by tvnorge
2. “Harlem Shake (original army edition)” by kennethaakonsen
3. “How Animals Eat Their Food” | MisterEpicMann by MisterEpicMann
4. “Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball (Chatroulette Version)” by SteveKardynal
5. “baby&me / the new evian film” by EvianBabies
6. Volvo Trucks – “The Epic Split feat. Van Damme” by VolvoTrucks
7. “YOLO (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar)” by thelonelyisland
8. “Telekinetic Coffee Shop Surprise” by CarrieNYC
9. “THE NFL : A Bad Lip Reading” by BadLipReading
10. “Mozart vs Skrillex. Epic Rap Battles of History Season 2” by ERB

The video hanging above mashes together the year’s most popular viral hits; “YouTube Rewind: What Does 2013 Say?” stars YouTube personalities like Mystery Guitar Man, GloZell, DeStorm, Jenna Marbles, Epic Meal Time, Annoying Orange, iJustine, Grace Helbig, and FreddieW. Rock out with your tail out!

#LOL: Jimmy Fallon & Justin Timberlake engage in a real-life Twitter conversation

Late Night host Jimmy Fallon has another viral hit on his hands. In what always proves to be a perfect comedic pairing, Fallon invites Justin Timberlake to a conversation filled with Twitter’s most prolific symbol, the hashtag. So now when you see people walking the street tapping their fingers and saying hashtag you’ll know where it all came from: this bit of genius.

Just for hits and even more giggles, jump after the break to watch Fallon face off against Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Stephen Merchant in one epic “lip sync battle.” Continue reading #LOL: Jimmy Fallon & Justin Timberlake engage in a real-life Twitter conversation

Watch the latest & greatest viral sensation right here, RIGHT NOW!

Feast your eyes and ears on this truly bizarre and admittedly catchy…well, I’m not sure what to call it. It gets more ridiculous as it goes on, but in the best way possible. There’s just no way to properly hype what you are about to watch–words simply cannot do it much justice. So mash play and ask yourself, WHAT DOES THE FOX SAY? Side effects of that question are extreme confusion and plentiful laughter to the point of tears. This is quite possibly the greatest thing to come out of the Internet. Like ever.

When you’re finished, download the MP3 here. You’re welcome.

In case you’re wondering, the EDM-inspired song and accompanying music video “The Fox” was imagined by Norwegian brothers Bård and Vegard Ylvisåker. Together they are known as Ylvis and the musically-inclined comedic duo concocted this stroke of genius to promote their talk show that airs in Norway.

Valentine’s Day treat: Learn the truth behind “The Women of LA”

Here’s a brand new video that’s gone viral and rightfully so. It’s laugh-out-loud funny…because it’s true. Friends DJ Lubel & J. Abrams collaborated on this catchy clip that journeys the streets of Los Angeles and makes the ultimate point that the women of LA make it impossible to get with them. If you live there the on-location segments are a real treat but even if you’ve never been you’ll take pleasure in this genius concept that’s littered with fun celebrity cameos.

To all the lovers out there who just can’t get some, Happy Valentine’s Day. Now move back to NYC.

‘Toy Story’ gets a live-action, shot-for-shot treatment that was made to impress

You know that saying? If you put your mind to it you can accomplish anything. Well, here’s proof. Jesse Perrotta, 21, and Jonason Pauley, 19, created a live-action, shot-for-shot remake of the original Toy Story. After two years of hard work with real toys, marionette strings and wires and stop-motion skill, the boys uploaded to YouTube an 80 minute recreation of the classic Pixar animated film. To add authenticity they incorporated Randy Newman’s unforgettable soundtrack and they edited in the characters’ real voices from the movie.

If you don’t have an hour and twenty minutes to take it all in, you can still appreciate their inspired effort by scrubbing around the clip that has amassed over 3.6 million views since hitting the ‘Net just three days ago. The Toy Story junkies brought a DVD copy of their movie to Pixar and although the company hasn’t offered any official comments, Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich tweeted a link to the video and called the creators “VERY dedicated guys.”

Take a trip down memory lane and watch in awe as Toy Story comes to (real) life.

This year in viral videos, as told by YouTube’s top 10 of 2012

From cover songs to parodies to Korean pop music, we were all captivated by what came out of the Internet this year. People watched over 4 billion hours of video a month on YouTube, so I think it’s safe to say that Google’s video portal is the leader of viral videos. Being the hardcore number crunchers they are, the G-Men have compiled a list of the top ten most watched YouTube videos of 2012 and they are:

  1. PSY – GANGNAM STYLE (강남스타일) M/V 
  2. Somebody That I Used to Know – Walk off the Earth (Gotye – Cover) 
  3. KONY 2012 
  4. “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen – Feat. Justin Bieber, Selena, Ashley Tisdale & MORE! 
  5. Barack Obama vs Mitt Romney. Epic Rap Battles Of History Season 2. 
  6. A DRAMATIC SURPRISE ON A QUIET SQUARE 
  7. WHY YOU ASKING ALL THEM QUESTIONS? .. #FCHW 
  8. Dubstep Violin- Lindsey Stirling- Crystallize 
  9. Facebook Parenting: For the troubled teen.
  10. Felix Baumgartner’s supersonic freefall from 128k’ – Mission Highlights

You guessed it–“Gangnam Style” is the most watched video of the year. It shouldn’t come as a surprise since it overtook Justin Bieber’s “Baby” music video in November to become the most watched video of all time. It’s on its way to be the first video to reach one billion hits; as of writing this post it sits high comfortably at 994 million views.

The site recently roped in a bunch of YouTubers to star in a video that mashes up the culturally defining moments that came out of the most watched videos of the year. PSY is prominently featured along with DailyGrace, MysteryGuitarMan, DeStorm, FreddieW, Felicia Day, iJustine, JennaMarbles, EpicMealTime, and many others. It’s embedded above, so enjoy!

“Gangnam Style” reaches one billion views on YouTube

Is it a sign of the end of times? Maybe, maybe not. This just in: K-Pop star PSY’s “Gangnam Style” music video has generated one billion views on YouTube. That’s an incredible feat, no matter how you look at it. According to Google the clip’s been seen at least one million times in close to 75 countries, so to say it’s a worldwide sensation is quite the understatement. Recently it surpassed Justin Bieber’s “Baby” music video to become the most watched video of all time on Google’s video site, and it is here where it will likely remain king for some time.

Viral marketing campaign begins for Guillermo Del Toro’s monsters vs. robots epic ‘Pacific Rim’

Guillermo Del Toro (HellboyPan’s Labyrinth) is working on a modern monster movie called Pacific Rim. It was unveiled and previewed at this year’s Comic Con to a raging audience. It’s a sci-fi epic to look forward to. Instead of construing words, learn what it’s about directly from the source, helmer Del Toro. In a 2011 interview with Wired he said:

“It’s really, it’s a very, very beautiful poem to giant monsters. Giant monsters versus giant robots. Twenty-five-story-high robots beating the crap out of 25-story-high monsters. We’re trying to create a world in which the characters are real and how it would affect our world politically, how it would affect the landscape if creatures like this really came out of the sea.”

Want more? Here’s the official synopsis:

When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes—a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)—who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse.

To promote the film’s summer release, a viral marketing campaign has begun in the form of a shaky-cam clip uploaded to YouTube called “BREAKING NEWS: KAIJU ATTACK.” It’s embedded above and it gives viewers a glimpse of the monstrous creatures Del Toro has imagined for Pacific Rim. It comes off as very Cloverfield, but be mindful that the picture will not be presented in shaky-cam format. Interested in following the viral madness? Bookmark the movie’s official site where you’ll find a gallery of concept art and blueprints for the “Jaeger” robotic machines and more glimpses at the Kaiju.

Pacific Rim, starring Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Charlie Day, Ron Perlman, Clifton Collins Jr., Max Martini, Rinko Kikuchi, and Robert Kazinsky, is out July 12. The first theatrical trailer is expected to drop December 12.

“Gangnam Style” becomes most-viewed video of all time on YouTube

On November 24, “Gangnam Style” became the most-viewed video on YouTube. On that day its view count reached 805 million. Today its nearly captured 855 million looks. The South Korean rapper PSY managed to dethrone “pop sensation” Justin Bieber’s “Baby” music video, the previous record holder for most-viewed video. And as catchy, fun, agonizing or annoying you find “Gangnam Style” to be, PSY deserves at least some respect for knocking the Biebs down a peg, am I right? According to YouTube Trends, however, Justin’s 2010 single still receives between 350k and 500k views per day. But that pales in comparison to the new record holder; the song that’ll get you singing Heyyy, sexy lady is being watched 7 to 10 million times a day.

Be a part of history and add one to the tally. Bieber’s in the dust! For now…

The Internet mocks the Presidential debate as the election nears

Election day is almost here (it’s tomorrow!) and only the Internet can remind you to vote with a “bad lipreading” of this season’s first Presidential debate. Though it won’t educate you on the two candidates positions, it will calm your nerves before heading to the voting booths. Obama, Romney, and of course moderator Jim Lehrer spew all kinds of wackiness in the parody but it is all done so well that you are forced to find the funny in it.

On a serious note, this serves as a reminder to vote. Need assistance finding a voting location? Google is here to help. See you on the other side!

Going viral: ‘Breaking Bad’ musical parody featuring Walt & company channeling their inner Taylor Swift

Video contains spoilers from the show.

The Internet has produced one of the most ridiculous videos I have ever seen. I’m sharing it with you, though, because it is just the right amount of entertaining for long-time followers of the critically acclaimed AMC drama Breaking Bad. YouTube channel Teddie Films has concocted a viral hit with “We Are Never Ever Gonna Cook Together,” a mashup of Breaking Bad and Taylor Swift’s new breakup single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” The clip does a good job of musically summing up the tension between Walt and Jesse that occurs in season five, and it really scores with the absurd imitations of characters like DEA agent Hank Schrader, Walt Jr., and there’s even a guy in a chicken suit representing fast food chain Los Pollos Hermanos. What takes away from this almost-solid parody are giant inconsistencies like Jesse being Asian and Skylar’s portrayer wearing an obvious wig. Things like these add to the farcical nature of the video, but I feel that it really would have exploded with fans if they were more detail-oriented. Nitpicking aside, you should definitely have a watch if you like the show. Fair warning: Swift’s song is catchy to begin with; mashed with Breaking Bad don’t surprised if you catch yourself singing “Oooo ohhh Heisenberg” throughout the day.

You’re gonna kill me; the track is available for keeps through iTunes. Peace, bitch.

Gotye remarkably remixes his song “Somebody I Used To Know” using YouTube clips

Yes, I’m sick of this song as well. Radio stations overplay it and that’s twisted it into a painfully catchy tune you never want to hear again but even if you did you’d probably let it play all the way through before screaming at yourself.

That said, give it one more listen because this rendition is fascinating. No really, do it. Wally De Backer (aka Gotye) took it upon himself to scour YouTube for so many covers of his popular Making Mirrors track “Somebody I Used To Know” and then remix them all together to make what he calls “Somebodies: A YouTube Orchestra.” The result, as aforementioned, is fascinating and well worth a listen.

Wally tagged the almost six minute clip with this: “Reluctant as I am to add to the mountain of interpretations of “Somebody That I Used To Know” seemingly taking over their own area of the internet, I couldn’t resist the massive remixability that such a large, varied yet connected bundle of source material offered.

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Enjoy the collective effort.