In a truly shocking amount of time, Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” has become the most-viewed YouTube video of all time. The international hit and undisputed song of the summer in 2017 passed “See You Again,” Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s ode to the Fast and the Furious, on Aug. 4, and it’s since become the first video to shatter 5 billion views.
Featured VideoPsy’s “Gangnam Style” enjoyed a five-year reign atop YouTube’s charts, but it was dethroned in June 2017. The list of the top 25 most-viewed YouTube videos of all time is changing constantly, but no video has shown the velocity we’ve seen from “Despacito”—and it won’t let up anytime soon.
YouTube tends to be perceived as the domain of insipid vloggers, pranks gone awry, and TV clips. But the truth is, the most popular videos on the site are overwhelmingly music videos.
A look at the top 25 most-viewed YouTube videos reveals that nearly all of them are recent music videos. In fact, only two don’t fit that mold: one is a clip from a Russian children’s show and the other is an hour-long compilation of classic children’s songs. Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” (the second video to surpass 1 billion views after “Gangnam Style”) is the oldest video in the Top 25, having debuted in February 2010. Nearly half of the Top 25 videos are less than 3 years old. Seven videos from 2015 and nine from 2014 populate the list. Three videos from 2016 made the cut: “Work From Home” by Fifth Harmony featuring Ty Dolla Sign, “This Is What You Came For” by Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna, and “Closer” by the Chainsmokers featuring Halsey.
AdvertisementLuis Fonsi’s “Despacito” featuring Daddy Yankee was the first video from 2017 to crack the Top 25 list. (The original video from Fonsi is not to be confused with Bieber’s popular remix, which came out in April.) But Bieber still reigns supreme with three of the Top 25 spots, trailed by Taylor Swift and Katy Perry both holding two top positions, and Ed Sheeran, whose “Shape of You” surpassed “Gangnam Style” in January 2018 for the third spot.
One major component in the success of these videos is Vevo, YouTube’s music video partner, a joint venture between some of the top record companies: Universal Music, Sony Music, Google, and Abu Dhabi Media. Vevo hosts and distributes music videos on its own platform and other sites, with ad revenue shared between Google and Vevo. That extra promotional push is more than most YouTube videos receive, but it’s a necessary function for recording artists to make money. Take some time to click through this list and enjoy the music (plus one Russian cartoon).
Screengrab via LuisFonsiVEVO/YouTubeThe top 10 most-viewed YouTube videos of all time1) “Despacito” — Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy YankeeWill there ever be another song as popular as “Despacito” on YouTube? It’s hard to say. We’ve never seen anything like it. It’s the undisputed hit of 2017 and proved that international audiences can make a huge impact on YouTube and in U.S. markets.
AdvertisementViews: 5.44 billionUploaded: January 2017
2) “See You Again” — Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie PuthWiz Khalifa’s Furious 7 anthem has had a surprisingly long shelf life, in part because the video pays tribute to the late Paul Walker.
AdvertisementViews: 3.71 billionUploaded: April 2015
When “See You Again” eclipsed Psy’s “Gangnam Style” in July 2017, it was quickly noticed.
Screengrab via @bshoup/Twitter Advertisement3) “Shape of You”— Ed SheeranSince it’s release in June 2017, Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” has quietly made its way into the top 10 YouTube videos of all time, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
Screengrab via @bshoup/TwitterViews: 3.7 billionUploaded: June 2017
Advertisement4) “Masha and the Bear” — Get MoviesHere’s the one video on this list of YouTube’s most popular videos that you probably haven’t seen. Masha and the Bear is a Russian animated children’s show that’s been translated to 25 languages and can now be watched on Netflix. What’s truly incredible about this video is that it’s not even an original—it’s an unauthorized copy.
AdvertisementViews: 3.23 billionUploaded: January 2012
5) “Gangnam Style” — PsyRemember “Gangnam Style”? Honestly, how could you forget? This viral hit spawned a thousand parodies and a silly dance craze that swept the world—all while providing from subtle class commentary.
Screengrab via officialpsy/YouTube AdvertisementViews: 3.2 billionUploaded: July 2012
Screengrab via officialpsy/YouTube6) “Uptown Funk” — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsYou know a song is huge when you see it performed during a Super Bowl halftime appearance. This anthem helped cement Bruno Mars as a household name.
AdvertisementViews: 3.19 billionUploaded: November 2014
7) “Sorry” — Justin BieberNo one dominates YouTube’s charts quite like Justin Bieber. Part of that is because he delivers major pop hits, but he also has a loyal following from his earliest days on the platform.
AdvertisementViews: 2.99 billionUploaded: October 2015
8) “Sugar” — Maroon 5Maroon 5’s video for “Sugar,” the third single off the band’s 2014 album V, was inspired in part by the 2005 rom-com Wedding Crashers. The song peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it continues to gain traction on YouTube.
AdvertisementScreengrab via Maroon5VEVO/YouTubeViews: 2.71 billionUploaded: January 2015
Screengrab via Maroon5VEVO/YouTube9) “Shake It Off” — Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” was an instant hit on YouTube, despite causing some controversy over its twerking scenes.
AdvertisementScreengrab via TaylorSwiftVEVO/YouTubeViews: 2.62 billion viewsUploaded: August 2014
Screengrab via TaylorSwiftVEVO/YouTube10) “Roar” — Katy PerryScreengrab via KatyPerryVEVO/YouTube AdvertisementViews: 2.6 billionUploaded: September 2013
The most viewed videos on YouTube11) “Bailando” — Enrique Iglesias ft. Descemar Bueno and Gente De ZonaBefore “Despacito,” there was “Bailando,” Enrique Iglesias sexy hit with Descemar Bueno and Gente de Zona, which paved the way Latin artists on YouTube.
AdvertisementViews: 2.56 billionUploaded: April 2014
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15 fascinating facts about YouTube star Grace Helbig14 things you didn’t know about Jenna Marbles, the reigning queen of YouTube10 glamorous facts about Gigi Gorgeous, YouTube’s beauty queen Advertisement12) “Thinking Out Loud” — Ed SheeranScreengrab via EdSheeranVEVO/YouTubeViews: 2.44 billionUploaded: October 2014
13) “Dark Horse” — Katy Perry ft. Juicy JScreengrab via EdSheeranVEVO/YouTube AdvertisementViews: 2.36 billionUploaded: February 2014
14) “Hello” — AdeleScreengrab via AdeleVEVO/YouTubeViews: 2.37 billionUploaded: October 2015
Advertisement15) “Counting Stars” — OneRepublicScreengrab via AdeleVEVO/YouTubeViews: 2.33 billionUploaded: May 2013
16) “Lean On” — Major Lazer and DJ Snake ft. MØScreengrab via majorlazor/YouTube AdvertisementViews: 2.37 billion viewsUploaded: March 2015
17) “Blank Space” — Taylor SwiftScreengrab via majorlazor/YouTubeViews: 2.33 billionUploaded: November 2014
Advertisement18) “Chantaje” — Shakira ft. MalumaScreengrab via shakiraVEVO/YouTubeViews: 2.24 billionUploaded: November 2016
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AdvertisementThe best free movies on YouTube15 great classic movies to rent on YouTube right nowHow to download your favorite YouTube videos19) “All About That Bass” — Meghan TrainorScreengrab via MeghanTrainorVEVO/YouTubeViews: 2.22 billionUploaded: June 2014
Advertisement20) “Wheels on the Bus Plus Lots More Nursery Rhymes (54 minutes)” — Little Baby BumScreengrab via MeghanTrainorVEVO/YouTubeViews: 2.15 billionUploaded: August 2014
21) “Closer”— The Chainsmokers ft. HalseyScreengrab via ChainsmokersVEVO/YouTube AdvertisementViews: 2.15 billionUploaded: May 2017
22) “This Is What You Came For” – Calvin Harris ft. RihannaScreengrab via ChainsmokersVEVO/YouTubeViews: 2.07 billionUploaded: June 2016
Advertisement23) Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) — ShakiraViews: 2 billionUploaded: June 2010
24) “Let Her Go” — Passenger AdvertisementViews: 2.19 billionUploaded: July 2012
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Editor’s note: This article is regularly updated for relevance.