We take a look at some of the most-viewed and most-shared videos on the web. This week features the true meaning of ‘Gangnam Style’, a speechless Dáithí Ó Sé, some really terrible Valentine’s Day presents, a closer look at the Google Glass experience and (sigh) another Harlem Shake video.
More than 72 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, 500 years of video watched on Facebook every day, and more than 700 YouTube videos shared on Twitter each minute, ensuring there is always video trending on the web.
With so much video available for viewing, we take a look at some of the viral videos that have caught our eye this week.
Translating dance songs
We’ve probably all at one time tried to sing along to ‘Gangnam Style’, ‘Macarena’ or ‘Dragostea Din Tei’ despite not knowing the words or even speaking the language. A dance sensation doesn’t need to be understood to fill out the dancefloor, but what are Psy and the others actually singing about? Here, Hank of Vlog Brothers reveals that sometimes the lyrics to these songs are deeper and more tragic you’d have ever thought. He even provides us with a bonus translation of Soulja Boy’s ‘Crank Dat’ that’s even more fun to sing than the original.
Uploaded: 22 February 2013
Daytime telly takes an unexpected turn
This clip from Today has been spreading like wildfire across social media this week. Why? Because the daytime TV show’s presenters just didn’t seem to know how to react to guest Eleanor Tiernan’s comments on what it’s like for a woman going to the butchers in Dublin 8. Tiernan will be recognised by some for her role on the satirical current affairs show Irish Pictorial Weekly where she sends up Terry Prone, Karen Koster and a variety of other characters. Clearly, her RTÉ One colleagues Maura Derrane and Dáithí Ó Sé have forgotten that she is a professional comedian.
Uploaded: 20 February 2013
I gave my wife or girlfriend a terrible gift for Valentine’s Day
We’re a big fan of Jimmy Kimmel’s YouTube challenges on viral videos of the week and his most recent one asked fans of his show to give their wife or girlfriend a bad Valentine’s gift, videotape it, and send it on to the show. The results are filled with creepy creatures and gross gifts that surprise and most certainly do not delight.
Uploaded: 19 February 2013
The Harlem Shake (Manchester City Football Club)
I’m sorry, dear readers, but as long as everyone keeps jumping on the Harlem Shake bandwagon and views for these videos keep skyrocketing, at least one is going to make an appearance in our weekly round-up. This week, it was Manchester City Football Club’s take that caught our attention – mostly because of Aleksandar Kolarov’s unwillingness to partake in the madness. We know that feel, bro.
Uploaded: 20 February 2013
How it feels through Glass
Google’s smart spectacles are coming closer to a consumer release (expected late this year) and the company is trying to show us all just what it feels like to wear a pair through this video. All of the footage was captured on Glass and the video demonstrates how spoken controls create a heads-up display to send messages, translate, search the web, take photos, shoot video or get directions. Since it was uploaded just four days ago, the promotional video has already amassed over 10m views, showing that interest in the innovative wearable tech product is rampant.
Uploaded: 20 February 2013
