YouTube turned the music video into the most-watched format on earth. Ranked by lifetime views, these are the clips the world keeps clicking, led by the reggaeton hit that ruled the platform for years.
The full ranking
YouTube turned the music video into the most-watched format on earth. Ranked by lifetime views, these are the clips the world keeps clicking, led by the reggaeton hit that ruled the platform for years.
Despacito (Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee)
The 2017 reggaeton anthem by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee is the most-viewed music video on YouTube, with more than 9 billion views. It was the first video to reach both five and seven billion.
See You Again (Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth)
Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth's tribute to the late Paul Walker, from Furious 7, has drawn about 7 billion views. It briefly held the all-time record before Despacito overtook it.
Shape of You (Ed Sheeran)
Ed Sheeran's 2017 chart-topper has amassed roughly 6.7 billion views. It pairs a minimalist beat with a boxing-gym storyline that became instantly iconic.
Gangnam Style (PSY)
PSY's 2012 K-pop sensation was the video that first taught YouTube to count past a billion, literally breaking the site's view counter. It now sits near 6 billion views.
Axel F (Crazy Frog)
The animated mascot's 2005 cover of the Beverly Hills Cop theme has improbably climbed to nearly 6 billion views. A relic of the ringtone era turned streaming giant.
Uptown Funk (Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars)
Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' retro-funk juggernaut has gathered about 5.8 billion views. It spent fourteen weeks atop the Hot 100 in 2015.
Dame Tu Cosita (El Chombo)
The viral 2018 clip of a dancing green alien set to El Chombo's track rode the meme era to roughly 5.5 billion views. Proof that a dance challenge can outrun almost any song.
Shree Hanuman Chalisa (Gulshan Kumar, Hariharan)
Hariharan's devotional recording of the Hindu hymn, released on Gulshan Kumar's T-Series, has drawn about 5.4 billion views. It is among the most-watched non-Western videos on the platform.
Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) (Shakira)
Shakira's official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa has reached roughly 4.5 billion views. It remains the most-viewed World Cup anthem ever.
Counting Stars (OneRepublic)
OneRepublic's 2013 folk-pop anthem has gathered about 4.4 billion views. Its stomping chorus made it one of the decade's most ubiquitous singles.
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