Step aside Google Zeitgeist — it’s YouTube’s turn to show off the top 10 videos added to the video sharing site in 2010. People watched more than 700 billion videos on YouTube this year and uploaded more than 13 million hours of video to the site.
It was also a big news year for YouTube. The site introduced YouTube Leanback, a service that lets you watch a never-ending stream of YouTube videos. YouTube also opened up HTML 5 support to PC users, won a court victory in its battle with Viacom and even made it into the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
This year’s popular YouTube videos worldwide claimed more than 250 million views combined and included a hilarious take on a serious news story; a talented child star; a man who stood in awe before the power of nature (and rainbows); and, of course, the Old Spice Guy.
If you can’t get enough of YouTube’s top 10 check out the site’s list of the top 10 most viewed music videos of the year. All view totals listed below were as of the time of this writing.
Bed Intruder Song
Date Added: July 31, 2010
Total Views: 47,358,900
About: It all started with this newscast about a home invader who tried to sexually assault Kelly Dodson of Huntsville, Alabama while she was sleeping. Dodson screamed for help and her brother, Antoine Dodson, scared away the attacker, who managed to escape. The outlandish nature of Antoine Dodson’s statements to the press inspired this video. If you can’t get enough of this song you can get the extended audio version on iTunes.
Tik Tok Kesha Parody
Date Added: February 2, 2010
Total Views: 51,116,911
About: Keisha’s Tik Tok was a worldwide hit, and this parody of the song lampoons the original video’s opening scene where Keisha wakes up in a bathtub after a night of partying. The video was produced by BarelyPolitical the same team behind Obama Girl.
Greyson Chance Singing Paparazzi
Date Added: April 28, 2010
Total Views: 34,057,113
About: This cover of Lada Gaga’s Paparazzi was a huge Internet hit and led to a record deal for Greyson Chance, then 12 years old, of Edmond, Oklahoma. Chance in October released his first single, Waiting Outside the Lines (iTunes).
Old Spice: The Man Your Man Could Smell Like
Date Added: February 4, 2010
Total Views: 24,443,514
About: The Old Spice Guy videos were a brilliant success on YouTube this year thanks to clips like this one, and the YouTube responses campaign in July. While the original is pretty funny, I prefer Grover’s Smell Like A Monster.
Yosemitebear Mountain Giant Double Rainbow 1-8-10
Date Added: January 8, 2010
Total Views: 20,929,784
About: Who can forget Paul Vasquez’s emotional reaction to seeing double rainbows in the sky? Despite what you might think, Vasquez said on Jimmy Kimmel Live that he was not under the influence of any herbal enhancements while he filmed this video. Check out Know Your Meme, a Website that tracks Internet Memes, to find out more about Vasquez and this video. Did you know that Vasquez had a brief career as a cagefighter?
OK Go — This Too Shall Pass — Rube Goldberg Machine version
Date Added: March 1, 2010
Total Views: 20,179,391
About: OK Go is most famous for its 2006 hit Here It Goes Again. This year’s video features a very elaborate contraption to set off paint guns. The video was sponsored by State Farm Insurance.
Double Rainbow Song!!
Yet another auto-tuned sensation, based on the “double rainbow” video that also made this top 10 list.
Jimmy Surprises Bieber Fan
Date Added: March 2, 2010
Total Views: 19,079,269
About: When Jimmy Kimmel saw this video of adorable 3-year-old Cody crying over Justin Bieber, the late night host arranged for Cody to meet the teen idol.
Oh… Canada
The Canadian anthem gets a hip-hop makover from Classified.
Tom Brokaw Explains Canada to Americans
During the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, Tom Brokaw took a few minutes to explain Canada’s history, geography and people to Americans.