There’s something staggering about realizing the numbers from YouTube, the world’s largest music streaming service (even though it’s technically a video streaming service). But that’s how it goes in the 2020s: YouTube is a continent, and children’s songs reign supreme there.
A look at the official ranking of the world’s largest audiovisual streaming service reveals its best-kept secret: of the 30 most viewed videos in YouTube’s entire history (about fifteen years), only one is not a music video. If you really want to know, it’s “Recipe for Disaster,” episode 17 of the animated series Masha and the Bear, which has racked up nearly 17 billion views. The other 29 most viewed videos tell us that a lot of people close their ears when told about Spotify, Apple Music or any other dedicated music streaming service, and that (almost) everyone listens to their music on Youtube.
The other good side is that it allows you to know what are really the most popular songs of recent years, beyond the official rankings of sales or downloads. And the numbers are phenomenal. Who are the queens and kings of YouTube in 2022?
1. BABY SHARK DANCE, de Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories
Number of views: 10.04 billion // Date posted: June 17, 2016
Sorry, you’re going to have it in your head all day.
2. DESPACITO , by Luis Fonsi ft. daddy yankee
Number of views: 7.71 billion // Date posted: January 12, 2017
We still hear it everywhere we go. “Despacito” is undoubtedly THE hit of the last decade, but “Baby Shark” stole the top spot. The reason ? With the successive confinements, many parents on the verge of a nervous breakdown had toddlers to calm down.
3. JOHNY JOHNY YES PAPA , the LooLoo Kids
Number of views: 6.11 billion // Date posted: October 8, 2016
Same motive, same punishment: people make babies, then babies need to be entertained. At all costs. All the time. With anything. This is the only logical explanation.
4. SHAPE OF YOU, de Ed Sheeran
Number of views: 5.59 billion // Date posted: January 30, 2017
It is hardly surprising to see Ed Sheeran prancing at the top of the list: each of his concerts is immediately sold out.
5. SEE YOU AGAIN, de Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth
Number of views: 5.39 billion // Date posted: April 6, 2015
This fifth place is probably explained by the use of the song in the blockbuster Fast and Furious 7 , for the moving farewell to one of its stars.
6. UPTOWN FUNK , by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
Number of views: 4.43 billion // Date posted: November 19, 2014
Wedding DJs around the world are now required by law to perform “Uptown Funk.” This explains it.
7. GANGNAM STYLE , by Psy
Number of views: 4.31 billion // Date posted: July 15, 2012
It’s not for nothing that this song is always the first thing that comes to mind when we think of the year 2012.
8. GIVE ME YOUR THING, by El Chombo feat. cutty ranks
Number of views: 3.8 billion // Date posted: April 5, 2018
Sorry, we don’t even know what to tell you.
9. BABY , by Maroon 5
Number of views: 3.63 billion // Date posted: January 14, 2015
Even the band’s most bitter haters have to admit that we’ve got five minutes of pure pop perfection here. A song made to be listened to again and again: that’s exactly what we did.
19. ROAR , by Katy Perry
Number of views: 3.50 billion // Date posted: September 5, 2013
Katy Perry has made far more memorable songs, but this clip is her most addictive – we wonder why.
11. SORRY , by Justin Bieber
Number of views: 3.49 billion // Date posted: October 22, 2015
One of the most popular songs of the “Biebs”. If you go to a party of people under 30, you’re pretty sure to hear it. Already a classic. Yes, we are getting old.
12. COUNTING STARS, de OneRepublic
Number of views: 3.48 billion // Date posted: May 31, 2013
Are you a rock fan? You won’t find anything better to eat in this list. Sorry.
13. THINKING OUT LOUD, de Ed Sheeran
Number of views: 3.39 billion // Date posted: October 7, 2014
You didn’t think you’d come across Ed Sheeran twice in this ranking? You were wrong. The Shee knows what he’s doing, and that’s why he’s here twice.
14. GIRLS LIKE YOU, de Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B
Number of views: 3.22 billion // Date posted: May 30, 2018
More M5, this time in the company of a pure sugar rapper. The song took a while to break into the Top 20, but something tells us it’s not about to leave it.
15. FADED , by Alan Walker
Number of views: 3.21 billion // Date posted: November 18, 2016
Pure and hard EDM, a rarity in this kind of rankings. Make a wish.
16. DARK HORSE, de Katy Perry feat. Juicy J
Number of views: 3.21 billion // Date posted: February 20, 2014
Katy Perry again! This time in Cleopatra version. We would have rather bet on “California Gurls”, but the song must be a little too old.
17. AXEL F , by Crazy Frog
Number of views: 3.18 billion // Date posted: June 16, 2009
Wow ! It’s by far the oldest track on the list: while the video was uploaded in 2009, this somewhat silly remix of the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack was released four years earlier in 2005. terms, we don’t know how this frog got there. The years should have settled his account, it is not so.
18. LET HER GO, de Passenger
Number of views: 3.15 billion. Date posted: July 25, 2012
Passenger suffers from a small notoriety deficit compared to its ranking neighbors. The fact that this song made it to this list gives some idea of just how successful it was in its time.
19. DANCING , by Enrique Iglesias feat. Gente De Zona and Descemer Bueno
Number of views: 3.15 billion // Date posted: April 11, 2014
An impressive accumulation of views which could be explained by the number of people who are desperate to understand what this piece is about.
20. LEAN ON, de Major Lazer y DJ Snake feat. MO
Number of views: 3.14 billion // Date posted: March 22, 2015
What more can be said ? “Blow a kiss, fire a gun”.
