The 20 most viewed videos on YouTube to date

In 2005 the YouTube appeared in our lives and, with internet access starting to be established in Brazil, it quickly became one of the most visited places on the web. Thinking about these almost 20 years of the platform, we will list the 20 most viewed YouTube videos of all time. The list basically includes music videos and other children's content. Ready for a possible nostalgia session? The list is in descending order, so you can see the evolution of each video. Let's go?

Girls Like You – Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B: 3,7 billion views

In the 2024 update, in twentieth place we have the music video Girls Like You. Maroon 5 with the participation of the singer Cardi B. Uploaded to the platform in 2018, here is a clip that celebrates the diversity and strength of women. Throughout the video, Adam Levine (lead singer of Maroon 5) sings as he is surrounded by a series of inspiring women, including celebrities, activists and public figures, who appear around him. The inclusion of Cardi B with their energetic rap, they make this clip a powerful and inspiring tribute to women around the world.

Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran: 3,7 billion views

Released in 2014, in 19th place we have the music video Thinking out loud, of the singer E. This song became a huge hit in the UK Top 40, establishing itself as one of the most popular songs of that year – and still recognized by many people today. Ed Sheeran's musical talent and the song's soulful melody captivated audiences, securing him a top spot on the music charts and demonstrating his enormous impact as an artist on the international music scene.

Sorry – Justin Bieber: 3,8 billion views

The 18th most watched video on YouTube is the music video Sorry, Justin Bieber. Released in 2015, this single is part of the artist's 5th studio album. The song reached the top of the charts in Canada, remaining the most played for two consecutive weeks. Furthermore, globally, people have purchased over 10 million copies of this track, demonstrating the immense success and popularity of the hit.

Sorry has become one of the most memorable songs of Justin Bieber's career, and its music video has been a favorite with viewers on YouTube — even though the artist himself doesn't appear in the video — contributing to the impressive number of views the video received on the platform.

Roar – Katy Perry: 4,02 billion views

This 2013 song won people over with the animation and engaging pop that only Katy Perry knows how to do it, and due to this success, the video reached more than 4,02 billion views on YouTube. Roar, tells a story in which we see the singer in the process of taming a tiger after a plane crash. This narrative, combined with the rhythm of the music, has always attracted a wide and diverse audience, making the video a true phenomenon on the platform.

Counting Stars – OneRepublic: 4,04 billion views

Another 2013 release, the song Counting stars from the band OneRepublic is also present on the list. The video created a more sober atmosphere, accompanied by beautiful choreography and vibrant lights. Another interesting fact is that this video became the band's first to reach 1 billion views on YouTube. The song's catchy beat combined with the powerful visual production contributed to the video's resounding success on the platform.

Sugar – Maroon 5: 4,07 billion views

And let's go for another success Maroon 5! The music video Sugar occupies the 15th position among the most watched videos on the platform. A success that goes beyond YouTube, the song reached 2nd position on the chart Billboard Hot 100 from the United States, consolidating itself as a great success. The song, based on the theme of marriage, presents a somewhat interesting approach, with the band trying to challenge and banish stereotypes associated with weddings.

Masha and the Bear – Recipe for Disaster – Get Movies: 4,5 billion views

Leaving the clips category, the 14th most watched video on YouTube is Masha and the Bear – Recipe for Disaster, an animation that tells a Russian folk story. Originally known as Masha and the Bear, in Russian, or Marsha and the Bear, in Portuguese, here we have another children's video with billions of views. The video, published in 2012, has ensured its authenticity and success on the platform to this day. The adorable animation and its story have captivated children around the world, making this cartoon a global phenomenon on YouTube.

Axel F – Crazy Frog: 4,6 billion views

Axel f is a song that became popular through the character Crazy Frog, in 2005. This track is actually a techno remix of the theme from the movie Heavyweight Cop (Beverly Hills Cop), released in 1984. The original theme was composed by Harold Faltermeyer, being released for the first time in 2004. The remixed version of Crazy Frog was very successful at the time, becoming a cultural phenomenon and reaching high positions on music charts in several countries. The song captivated audiences with its catchy, upbeat beat, and the Crazy Frog character, with his iconic “ring ding ding”, captured the attention of many viewers around the world.

Dame Tu Cosita – El Chombo ft. Cutty Ranks: 4,7 billion views

the video of dame tu cosita is directed by Sihem Ouillani and excited by ArtNoux, having accumulated more than 4,7 billion views on YouTube. In addition to the original video, this additional animation features an alien performing a dance routine to the full remix of the song. Since its release in 2018, the song and its animation have become a cultural phenomenon, attracting millions of viewers around the world.

Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm – Miroshka TV: 5,1 billion views

Colorful Eggs on a Farm, a video that is also of Russian origin, was uploaded to YouTube on February 27, 2018, and its main focus is a group of eggs. It has since become an internet sensation among children, racking up an incredible 5,1 billion views — and counting. Its popularity demonstrates the power of kid-focused content on the platform and how it can captivate a broad and loyal audience.

Gangnam Style – PSY: 5,22 billion views

We arrived in tenth place! The superhit of DOGS, G It was the first YouTube video to reach 1 billion views. Released in 2012, the clip reached 2 billion views in just 2 years. At the time, it broke Justin Bieber's record as the most viewed video on YouTube and, until 2016, G it also held the record for being the most liked video on the platform. PSY's overwhelming success with this song demonstrated the power of music and video to become global phenomenons in the internet age, leaving an important mark on the history of YouTube and pop music in general.

Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars: 5,28 billion views

Uptown funk it ranks 9th, receiving more than 5,28 billion views on YouTube. This song is a collaboration between British music producer Mark Ronson and the singer Bruno Mars. Released in 2014, it quickly won over the public and dominated the music charts, consecutively reaching the top of the Billboard for an incredible 14 weeks. Its catchy beat, exciting lyrics and the talent of the artists combined to create a true hit that resonated with people of all ages.

Phonics Song with Two Words – ChuChu TV: 5,8 billion views

the curious video Phonics Song with TWO Words occupies the 8th position as the most watched on YouTube, accumulating more than five billion views. This production was sent by the official channel ChuChu TV Nursery Rhymes & Kids. Through this song, the video offers fun learning for children, teaching them the sounds and pronunciations of the most basic and simple words in English — as the title suggests, learning two words with each letter of the alphabet.

Shape of You – Ed Sheeran: 6,2 billion views

Moving from 19th to 7th place, E reappears on the list, this time as the hit Shape of You opening videos with more than 6 billion views. This song has become a true phenomenon, being played on many occasions around the world, such as dances, ceremonies and many others. It is part of Ed Sheeran's third studio album, which was equally successful. With its moving melody and lyrics, Shape of You captured the hearts of audiences globally, becoming one of the biggest musical hits of the last decade.

Wheels on the Bus – Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes: 6,325 billion views

Now here we have the music video Wheels On The Bus, which covers the different things that happen on a school bus. It currently ranks sixth among the most viewed videos on YouTube. With more than 6,3 billion views, the video was uploaded to the platform on May 24, 2018 by the channel Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes.

See You Again – Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth: 6,329 billion views

See You Again, music clip from Wiz Khalifa, occupies fifth place on the list. This song has become a kind of “friendship anthem”, touching the hearts of millions of people around the world. The melodious voice of Charlie Puth combined with rap Wiz Khalifa resulted in a powerful and moving collaboration.

The song was created as a tribute to the actor. Paul Walker, who died in a car accident. The song's message and its connection to the film franchise Fast and furious made her a fan favorite and propelled her to the top of the music charts. See You Again remains one of the most beloved and memorable songs of the past decade, demonstrating music's ability to unite people around feelings of friendship and longing.

Bath Song – Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes: 6,7 billion views

The channel cocomelon appears again in the list, this time with the video Bath Song in fourth place. This song is about a baby who is about to take a bath. In the song, he sings excitedly about washing his hair and body, mentioning the items he will use while showering. He also says goodbye to his toys before getting into the bathtub for bath time fun. Music is a fun way to make the bath routine more enjoyable for children, while also promoting personal hygiene and even an emotional connection with toys.

Johny Johny Yes Papa – LooLoo Kids: 6,9 billion views

the video of Johny Johnny Yes Papa was posted by the channel LooLoo Kids, which is known for featuring children's songs for babies and children, with easy-to-understand lyrics. This lovely song was uploaded to YouTube on July 8, 2016, and currently ranks third among most viewed videos. Johny Johnny Yes Papa is a popular song among children, which tells a fun story, creating a moment of entertainment and learning for little ones. The LooLoo Kids channel has been a source of educational and fun content for preschool children, making learning a fun and enjoyable experience.

Despacito – Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee: 8,4 billion views

The popularity of the song Slowly is indisputable. Launched in 2017, its rhythm quickly gained prominence. The composition of Luis Fonsi managed to get into Billboard Hot 100, reaching a significant milestone in Latin music. The creation was also among the top 10 global songs, demonstrating its enormous success around the world. And even today it is on the list of most viewed videos, occupying second place.

This song became a true cultural phenomenon and captured the hearts of millions of people around the world. With the collaboration of Daddy Yankee and later a remix with Justin Bieber, the song became one of the biggest hits in contemporary music, transcending language barriers and becoming one of the most heard and sung songs in recent years.

Baby Shark Dance – Pinkfong Kids' Songs & Stories: 14,8 billion views

And first we have the music Baby shark, a song created for children, which talks about a family of sharks. Different people have recreated this song in different ways, but the video Pinkfong obtained the current leadership, with over 14 billion views worldwide, making it YouTube's most watched video.

Published in 2016, the song has become a true cultural phenomenon, captivating children and families around the world with its fun and upbeat melody. Baby Shark's success on YouTube reflects the power of sharing children's content and demonstrates how a simple song can capture the hearts of a global audience, as well as an entire video platform.

And you, what did you think of the list? Have you watched many of these videos? tell us us Comment!

Text revised by Wanessa Alves, on July 27, 2024.

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