Psy’s “Gangnam Style” video was the viral hit of 2012, inspiring scores of parodies. It was the first YouTube video to exceed one billion views.
1Gangnam Style
Ranked #1 in Viral Video 100
2“IKEA—Happy Inside”
Ranked #2 in Viral Video 100
IKEA’s warehouse stores have never looked more comfortable than they do with 100 housecats running loose among all the stylish furniture and lighting fixtures.
3“The Known Universe”
From the American Museum of Natural History, a tour of the universe, from the Himalayas to the afterglow of the Big Bang. Wow!
4“Rick Astley – ‘Never Gonne Give You Up’”
Ranked #4 in Viral Video 100
This video redefined “viral video” and gained cult status when it became a part of the popular Internet meme known as “Rickrolling.”
5“Shoes”
Ranked #5 in Viral Video 100
A man dresses up in drag to play a ditzy blonde girl singing about her obsession with footwear.
6“Leroy Jenkins”
Ranked #6 in Viral Video 100
It might be staged, it might be real, but one thing’s for sure: “World of Warcraft” has never been funnier.
7“Evolution of Dance”
Ranked #7 in Viral Video 100
Judson Laipply made a name for himself with his six-minute video of dances that spans five decades of pop music.
8“Steve Jobs Stanford commencement speech”
Ranked #8 in Viral Video 100
In 2005, Steve Jobs gave the commencement speech at Stanford. It’s now been viewed by millions — an inspirational message about life, death, and motivation.
9“Rippled”
Ranked #9 in Viral Video 100
An astonishing light painting, composed with individual long-exposure images. Wonderful, beautiful, and superlative-busting.
10Harvard baseball team’s “Call Me Maybe” cover
Ranked #10 in Viral Video 100
Lots of covers have been made of Carly Rae Jepsen’s pop hit “Call Me Maybe,” including quite a few by entertainment stars. But one of the best isn’t by stars. It’s by the members of the Harvard baseball team.
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