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20 Favorite Viral Videos From 2009

As we approach a new year, it’s always fun to take a look back at what happened over the past year.  I thought it might be fun to take a look back at some of our favorite viral videos from 2009.

As I began looking into some of top viral videos from the year, I discovered that Visible Measures, a video tracking site, created a list of the top 10 most watched viral videos for 2009.  I was a little heart broken to learn that 8 out of the 10 were music videos.  While music videos are a major part of the American culture, I think the videos below, are the ones that really make 2009 complete.

1. David After Dentist

Added in January, David’s father posted the video to YouTube and has since received more than 33 million views. Many spoofs came from the video, even Darth Vader got into the act.

2. JK Wedding Entrance Dance

If you had to pick the top viral video from over the summer, the JK Wedding Entrence Dance has to be it.  Jill & Kevin Kheinz surprised everyone when Chirs Brown’s “Forever” came on.  The initial response was who hit the wrong track on the CD player, but then turned into the most memorable wedding of the year.  The newlyweds said they never expected to have one of the most watched videos from the year, with over 33.5 million views.  A few weeks later, a parody was created by actors in New York and was titled as the JK Divorce Entrance Dance.

3. “All the single babies!”
This one is kind of a two-pher.  You may recall that Kanye West thinks that “Beyonce had the best video of all time.” And it seems little baby Cory agrees.  Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” music video, was the second most watch video of 2009.  Cory is a fast learner mocking what Beyonce does on the television. 

4. Piano Stairs
A simple research study by a Swedish company, wanted to see if more people would take the stairs rather than an escalator, if they made the stairs interactive.  With over 9 million views, this video is great to see how simple entertainment can help motivate people for a bit of exercise.

5. I’m Yours
One of the last viral videos of the year, is this five year old Japanese boy who makes everyone smile, while he attempts not only to sing Jason Mraz’s popular song, I’m Yours, but also plays the ukulele.   While he may miss a note or two, you have to admit it’s very impressive for a five year old.  After a week, the original video had been viewed more than 5 million times.  If you watch any of his other 5 videos, you’ll see that one day this kid is going to rock it!

6. Evian Babies

What is considered as the most viral online advertisement of all time, the roller blading babies has had more than 14 million hits.  Luckily no babies were hurt in the making of this video.

7. A Fairytale Proposal
It’s usually no surprise when some song and dance break out by Disney characters on Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland, but when it’s a random person, it’s a bit different. This is one awesome marriage proposal.  And best of all, she said YES.

8. Guitar Hero Christmas

While we always seem to be fascinated with dancing lights during Christmas time, this family takes it to the next level, connecting their Guitar Hero game to the system which controls the lights. In less than a month, the video has already seen more than 2 million views.

9. Susan Boyle

2009 was all about Susan Boyle.   Earlier this month, YouTube officially announced that Susan Boyle was the number 1 viral video of the year.  And with over 120 million+ views across multiple platforms, you can clearly see why.  She taught everyone that you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover.  Although Boyle has had an impressive year, with having the most produced pre-order sales in Amazon history, she lost Britain’s Got Talent to dance group known as Diversity.

10. Fred’s ‘Christmas Cash‘
With more than 5 million views, YouTube’s second most popular star, Fred released his first single this year.  While most find him a bit annoying, his first single was actually a hit.  Most surprisingly, the song is actually very catchy and started being played on radio stations across the US.

11. I Gotta Feeling

The Black Eye Pea’s song, I Gotta Feeling was the number 1 song for 7 straight weeks on the Billboard Top 40 list for 2009, so it should be no surprise that millions were going to use the song in their video.  The group even sang it on Oprah’s pre-season kickoff, as more than 50,000 audience members performed the world’s largest flash mob dance. The most memorable however has to be a video shot by students at the University of Quebec.  Filmed in one shot, the camera goes all around the library while students lip sync and dance to the song.

12. Bizkit the sleep-walking dog

 How can you not feel sorry for Bizkit, who was having an innocent dream, and then ended up running into a wall? Bizkit’s owners have since posted videos of him wearing a helmet to avoid future injuries by dreaming.

13. Kathy Griffin Says What?  *LANGUAGE NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES*
This video is on the edge, because it was technically the last viral video of 2008, however, since it happened in the last hour of the year, I decided it would be most appropriate to put it into this years list. Comedian Kathy Griffin was honored to co-host CNN’s New Years Eve special with Anderson Cooper. As they headed to commercial break, Kathy yelled back at a screaming fan, and landing Kathy the quote that will stick with her for the rest of her life! Needless to say, Kathy was asked back to co-host with Anderson once again this year.

14. The Great Slide Stunt
The video amazed us all when it came out, until we learned the secret of how they actually created this video.  Don’t worry, I won’t spoil it for those of you that don’t know or can’t figure it out!

15. The Sound of Music Flashmob
A group of more than 200 dancers came together to perform their own version of The Sound of Music’s “Do Re Mi”, in the Central Station of Antwerp, Belgium.  The group only had 2 rehearsals creating a memorable 4 minutes for the last of the morning rush hour traffic.  The idea came from a Belgian television program, looking to cast the lead in the musical.

16. Lego Techno
The techno group known as Rymdreglage, spent more than 1500 hours (that’s 62.5 days, or 187.5 work days) moving lego bricks and taking photos of them to create this music video.  It was well worth the effort, since the video has been viewed more than 4.5 million times.

17. Paralell Parking 4 year old
 In what seems like a move only James Bond could pull off, this four year old, driving his toy car, all of a sudden makes a sudden sharp turn and slides between 2 parks cars, successfully parallel parking the car.  If he’s doing this now, imagine how he’ll be driving when he turns 16!

18. Grocery Store Musical
 I don’t care who you are, but we have all thought that our lives would be much better if life were a musical.  The folks over at Improv Everywhere, wanted to surprise unknowing shoppers at a New York grocery store.  The group likes to create unrealistic scenes come to life. And make those passing by if they are awake or in a dream.  Just last month, the group included Today Show’s Ann Curry in a skit known as “I Love Lunch.”

19. The Muppets: Bohemian Rhapsody
 With more than 11 million views, Ms. Piggy and several other Muppet’s make an appearance in this video, singing Queen’s famous Bohemian Rhapsody

20. Rhythmic Jeep

 And finally, this video posted on Dec. 13 had been all over the internet.  A group of musicians took the sounds of a Jeep Cherokee to create an amazing techno beat!

And there you have it.  Every one’s favorite viral videos of the year.  Do you have another favorite viral video from 2009?  Post a comment below and tell us about it.