YouTube’s most viewed music videos by decade

[compwiz1202]

I am probably a good chunk of the Take on Me views
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The thing I noticed was the huge increase in total view to make number 1. 1980: 1.1B, 2010: 6.6B
Granted, YouTube was not even around until the 2000s. But it also highlights the generational difference in how music is enjoyed. Radio/LPs/MTV in the '80s. YouTube/Streaming in the 2010s.

Used to watch the videos on MTV when they still had them. I remember the buildup for my friend and me leading up to the premiere of Thriller.

 

[rhett7660]

Showing my age. I know all of the 80s ones, 8 of the 90s, 1 of the 2000s, and none of the 2010s. 🙁

I think it is more showing your taste in music!

 

[Bandaman]

This one seems like an outlier

4 Non Blondes - What's Up 872M

It's a fine song. But... why is it so popular? Seems out of its league. Was it used in pop culture in a commercial or movie that I don't remember?

This is my most hated song of all time.

 

[Rogifan]

Used to watch the videos on MTV when they still had them. I remember the buildup for my friend and me leading up to the premiere of Thriller.

I was totally an 80s MTV kid. I couldn’t wait to get home from school to watch the top videos countdown. I remember the first time I saw Welcome to the Jungle on MTV. I thought WTH is this? And then I ran out and bought Appetite for Destruction.
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This is my most hated song of all time.

I have two. One is Don’t Speak by no Doubt, the other is Tubthumping by Chumbawamba. Honorable mention would be MMMBop by Hanson. All dreadful.

 

[0388631]

Osborne's What If God Was One Of Us used to annoy the crap out of me when a DJ put it on the radio back in the day. Still hear it from time to time.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Osborne's What If God Was One Of Us used to annoy the crap out of me when a DJ put it on the radio back in the day. Still hear it from time to time.

I recall my friend purchased the album. It was the only song on the album he liked.

 

[PlayUltimate]

I recall my friend purchased the album. It was the only song on the album he liked.

from back when you had to buy the whole album to get one song.

 

[yaxomoxay]

I don’t get why the Cranberries Zombie has 1B views. What’s so great about that song?

It's a pretty good, and different song. Different than anything else that became popular before and after it. However, I prefer "Dreams" over "Zombie".

 

[Apple fanboy]

It's a pretty good, and different song. Different than anything else that became popular before and after it. However, I prefer "Dreams" over "Zombie".

Both excellent tracks.

 

[honestone33]

Amazed that Don't Stop Believin" is not on any of those lists. That song actually needs to be a classic. Also, note this:

Don't Stop Believin' - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It says "It is the best-selling digital track from the 20th century, with over 7 million copies sold in the United States".

Here are probably the two best ones:

I actually saw Journey live in concert back in September 2008, and it was one of the first concerts Arnel Pineda performed in. He sure was/is dynamic!

 

[TheIntruder]

I was totally an 80s MTV kid. I couldn’t wait to get home from school to watch the top videos countdown. I remember the first time I saw Welcome to the Jungle on MTV. I thought WTH is this? And then I ran out and bought Appetite for Destruction.

120 Minutes was the one indispensable show for me.

I have two. One is Don’t Speak by no Doubt, the other is Tubthumping by Chumbawamba. Honorable mention would be MMMBop by Hanson. All dreadful.

Walking on Sunshine (Katrina and the Waves). The Look (Roxette). Anything from Smash Mouth, or played incessantly because it was on a sountrack, or a party song.