Still from 'Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball (Nicolas Cage Edition)' by sukmywangBryanStars on YouTube
We take a look at some of the most-viewed and most-shared videos on the web. This week features a Norwegian talk show host’s electro-pop sensation, Nicolas Cage standing in for Miley Cyrus in her latest music video, a takedown of the iPhone 5C and 5S, an explanation of Reddit, a mischievous voice-over artist, the cringeworthy Crystal Swing and an entire lifetime in five minutes.
About 100 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.
Ylvis – The Fox
Ylvis appears to be Norway’s answer to Jimmy Kimmel, a talk show host who’s no stranger to the making of a hit on YouTube. Host of Tonight with Ylvis, his latest viral sensation is a music video skit that gives The Lonely Island a run for their money. With almost 23m views at the time of writing, ‘The Fox’ is the most-shared video on social media worldwide this week, and the electro-pop track has even reached number 29 in the Billboard Hot 100.
Uploaded: 3 September 2013
Miley Cyrus – ‘Wrecking Ball’ (Nicolas Cage edition)
Speaking of music videos, Miley Cyrus is maintaining her position in tabloid headlines with her latest for her new single ‘Wrecking Ball’. But you know what’s much better than watching a Miley Cyrus music video? Watching a clip from said video with Nicolas Cage’s face replacing Miley’s. Priceless.
Uploaded: 12 September 2013
Introducing the iPhone 5c and 5s
With every iPhone release comes the online backlash, and the iPhones 5c and 5s were no exception. This video from comedian David So has already breached 1m views for its takedown of new smartphones from Apple that don’t really bring much of anything new to the table. Warning: some of the language is NSFW and will be offensive to fanboys.
Uploaded: 11 September 2013
What is Reddit?
CGP Grey has made a name for himself as a man in the know on YouTube, producing animations that inform as much as they entertain. Here, he breaks down ‘the front page of the internet’ for all to understand and reminds us that Reddit’s just weird because people are weird.
Uploaded: 9 September 2013
Epic movie trailer voice prank
We love a good prank in our viral videos round-up and this one from Break’s Kevin Brueck is already closing in on 2m views. With the help of Jon Bailey, voiceover actor for Screen Junkies’ Honest Trailers (of which we’ve featured many in our viral videos of the week), Brueck creates real-life trailers about people just minding their own business and walking down the street.
Uploaded: 3 September 2013
Danielle
This mesmerising timelapse-imitating video by director and editor Anthony Cerniello simulatse the effects of ageing on a single individual. To create it, Cerneillo worked with still photographer Keith Sirchio to photograph his friend Danielle’s family, from her youngest to her oldest relatives. He then called on animators Nathan Meier and Edmund Earle, then Nuke artist George Cuddy added the finishing touches and voilà, the almost imperceptible effects of ageing are visualised in a compelling five-minute video.
Uploaded: 8 September 2013
Crystal Swing – ‘Happy Days’
Finally, we end this week’s viral videos round-up with a challenge. See if you can get through the entirety of this cheesy video from the musical family by the name of Crystal Swing without cringing. It’s impossible!
Uploaded: 9 September 2013
Stay informed – get daily updates on the latest happenings in technology directly to your inbox.
