Happy Birthday YouTube!
There's no debating YouTube forever changed how the world consumes and creates entertainment. It such a small period of time it went from a site full of filmmakers, comedians and cats to, well, ok well maybe not a lot has changed but one thing's for sure- our love for YouTube is as strong as ever!
What's most different is the size. Today, there's WAY more content, WAY more creators, and a ton more companies starting YouTube channels everyday. Competition is fierce and the big fish are finally in the ocean. YouTube today is the level playing field it once was but the scales are tipping.
However, YouTube is still a vast ocean of opportunity for anyone with an idea and a dream. Even if it may be more intimidating with the big fish *cough* Star Wars *cough in the ocean the little fish still have a chance and things are still looking up!
Many people even *gasp* make a living creating videos because of the site!
Without further ado, let's recall the 10 most memorable videos that have made the site what it is today.
2005: jawed - "Me at the zoo"
(Uploaded April 23, 2005)
Ah, the year it all began. The year before YouTube was sold to Google. So magical, so different. Ok it wasn't that magical but it was a lot different!
The first video, the 19-second long catchily-titled "Me at the zoo," was uploaded to YouTube by co-founder Jawed Karim on April 23, 2005.
He's standing in front of the elephants and he says, and I quote, "The really cool thing about these guys is that they have really really really long, um, trunks. And that's, that's cool."
Well spoken Jawed!
Now, because of its' pioneer great-grandfather video status, has amassed 19.9 million + views.
2006: HodgeStansonn - "Unforgivable #1"
(Uploaded August 26, 2006)
Some people (only 290.9 million) would disagree and think 2006 belonged to the Evolution of Dance. All I have to say to them is:
"Go up there - get me a CHICKEN SANDWICH. AND SOME WAFFLE FRIES!"
If this phase means nothing to you GO HOME!! If you are home already GO OUTSIDE AND RETHINK YOUR LIFE!
This b&w video filmed in the forest by HodgeStansonn was uploaded on August of 2006 and made the world laugh, and is now sitting at 22 million views.
"WARNING: EXTREME PROFANITY AND CONTENT. 18 & UP. A young man recounts a day at the mall with a girl he found unacceptable. The first in a series!"
HONORABLE MENTIONS OF 2006: Mentos + Diet Coke, My Hands Are Bananas
2007: LiamKyleSullivan - "Shoes"
(Uploaded February 7, 2007)
"Shoes. Shoes. Let's get some shoes!"
This music video is so bizarre and hilarious you cannot help but watch and laugh and then quote it for all of the years later.
I've had the honor of meeting and becoming friends with the creator and star of the video, Liam Kyle Sullivan. He once told me that before he uploaded "Shoes" he showed it to his friends. "They didn't really, get it..." he said. "they weren't laughing."
At 55.1 million views today guess who's laughing now "BETCH!"
Honorable Mentions of 2007: LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE! Chocolate Rain, Charlie bit my finger - again!
2008: TheLonelyIsland - Jizz in my Pants
(Uploaded December 6, 2008)
Throwing a Hail Mary pass in the last days of the year, comedy troop The Lonely Island scored a touchdown and won 2008 not a minute too son.
The hilariously inappropriate and catchy video features guest appearances by supermodel Molly Sims, Sopranos actress Jamie Lynn Sigler, and celebrity superstar Justin Timberlake.
The Lonely Island is Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone (the guys responsible for the SNL digital shorts back in the day) and the video is now sitting at a staggering 141.9 million views.
Honorable Mention of 2008: Star Wars according to a 3 year old.
2009: booba1234 - David After Dentist
(Uploaded January 30, 2009)
IS THIS REAL LIFE!?!
A father controversially filmed his 7 year old son after the child had some pain medication post-dentist and hilarity ensues. 128 million views later....
Honorable 2009 mention: Miley Cyrus - Party in the U.S.A.
2010: Jenna Marbles - How to trick people into thinking you're good looking
(Uploaded July 9, 2010)
2010 was the year Jenna Marbles put her stamp on the world and owned YouTube. In fact, she has owned YouTube ever since. Seriously, The YouTube Logo should just say © Jenna Marbles (have you seen Hello Young People, I'm Hillary Clinton yet??).
Not to subtle brag or anything, I've also had the honor of meeting Jenna Marbles in real life working on this Totally Sketch video. Trust me, she's not as kind and funny in real life as she is in her videos. She's even kinder. And downright hilarious. Shoutout to Jenna Marbles, you're awesome!
Honorable mentions of 2010: Justin Bieber - Baby ft. Ludacris, BED INTRUDER SONG!!
2011: rebecca - "Rebecca Black - Friday - Official Music Video"
(Uploaded September 16, 2011)
"IT'S FRIDAY FRIDAY GETTIN' DOWN ON FRIDAY!"
2011 will forever be remembered as the Year of the Friday. It's a well-known super-true fact that once this video was posted everyday in 2011 became Friday "PARTYIN' PARTYIN' YA!" mainly because "I GOT THIS YOU GOT THIS MY FRIEND IS BY MY RIGHT" we could not get this dang song out of our heads!!
This video is rumored to be the reason YouTube turned the Dislike button bar from red to grey. Poor Rebecca Black got some serious hate and death threats from this video...but Ms. Black is the only one that won from this and is now a full time YouTuber with a 1.1 million subscriber army ready to fight in her defense!
HONORABLE MENTION OF 2011: Pale Kid Raps Fast
2012: officialpsy - "Psy - Gangnum Style"
(Uploaded July 15, 2012)
The year of the supposed "End of the World" according to the Mayan Calendar, but the only disaster we really got was Kony 2012.
The true Video-Juggernaut-Epic-Apocalypse-Heavyweight-Mega-Godzilla birthed in 2012 was none other than Psy - Gangnum Style.
This is the one video to rule them all. The one YouTube video to and end all videos. If we were to culminate only one video that is going to go down in Epic-Viral World history, this is it.
If 1 view of were people Gangnum Style would be 31% of the population of the PLANET!
This video skyrocketed Psy into quantum superstardum and will go down in history forever. At 2.31 BILLION- yes BILLION!!! views today one begs the ultimate question- will there be another video with more views than this one??
Perhaps a better question is how long will Psy hold the #1 position, where all other videos are billions of light-years away?? It seems impossible, but I believe it can and will happen. Only time will tell.
Honorable 2012 Mention: Call Me Maybe
2013 TVNorge - "Ylvis - What Does the Fox Say?"
(Uploaded September 3, 2013)
The Chinese Zodiac says 2013 was the Year of the Snake. Not according to YouTube. 2013 was truly the year of the Fox. It doesn't matter what the fox says all that matters is that this epic The Lonely-Island-esque video has amassed over half a Billion views (508.2 million to be exact) to date.
Honorable mentions: DO THE HARLEM SHAKE (ORIGINAL) Note* The Harlem Shake was a major movement of 2013, and definitely worth mentioning, but the Fox has spoken.
2014
DJsnakeVEVO - DJ Snake, Lil Jon - Turn Down for What
(Uploaded March 13, 2014)
TURN DOWN FOR WHAT!!!!!!!
The most RIDICULOUS and "TURNT UP" YouTube video of 2014 was easily the music video to DJ Snake, Lil Jon smash club-banger Turn Down for What.
The video is unlike any video ever seen. It doesn't feature the arists DJ Snake or Lil Jon or any seemingly celebrities for that matter.
It's everyday people getting hyphy to the "King of Crunk's" 2014 jam. It stars co-director Daniel Kwan in his wild adventure of addictive dance-offs to keep up with his moving manhood. This man and his directing double Daniel are pure geniuses.
THANK YOU LIL JON AND DJ SNAKE AND THE DIRECTING DUO THE DANIELS!
Honorable mentions of 2014: First Kiss, Nicki Minaj - Anaconda
2015
Star Wars - "Star Wars - The Force Awakens Official Teaser #2"????***
Note the question marks and asterisks. With 2015 not even halfway over, there isn't really one video that sticks out as of yet. But I hate when lists leave us hanging so I'm gonna pick Star Wars - The Force Awakens Teaser #2. It can be seen as unfair that big companies are now finding out YouTube is a thing and just pump money to get views but at 44 million views IN 7 DAYS, Star Wars cannot be denied!
Plus, the trailer is pure awesomeness.
We still have quite ways to go in the year, and who knows we could pull a 2008 and a video can pop up in the last month of the year and just OWN the year. What video will it be??
Honorable Mentions so far this year: Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge (These videos are trending as of today)
Where do you think YouTube will be 10 years from now? Will YouTube even be around in 10 years!?
Leave in the comments below!
Here's to 10 more years of video fun on YouTube!
Best,
Tremain Hayhoe
Tremain is CEO of Hayhoe Studios and a self-proclaimed YouTubepreneur who lives by the slogan "Big Boy Toys Make Big Boy Noise"
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