This is What’s Trending Today…
Five years ago this week, South Korean music artist Psy put his official “Gangnam Style” music video on Youtube.
It went on to become the most-played YouTube video of all time. The quirky music video got more views than YouTube’s maximum possible view count; the company had to change its coding method.
As of Thursday, more than 2.89 billion people had watched it.
Wiz Khalifa arrives at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, May 17, 2015, in Las Vegas.
But, just days before “Gangnam Style’s” five-year YouTube anniversary, another music video finally passed its view count. Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s video for “See You Again” has now been viewed more than 2.9 billion times.
The song “See You Again” was written for the movie “Furious 7.” The music video honored “Fast and Furious” star Paul Walker, who died in a car crash in late 2013. It was published on YouTube in April 2015.
Wiz Khalifa said in a statement that he is happy his song has been able to “inspire and impact so many lives.”
Charlie Puth wrote on Twitter that he joined YouTube in 2007. His hope then was to make a video that would get 10,000 views.
“Just heard about See You Again…wow,” Puth wrote.
“Gangnam Style” is now the second-most played video ever. Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” is in third place. “Uptown Funk,” by Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars, is in fourth place.
In fifth place is this year’s viral hit “Despacito,” by Luis Fonsi with Daddy Yankee. The music video was published this January, and has already been played more than 2.5 billion times.
And that’s What’s Trending Today.
I’m Dan Friedell.
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Words in This Story
quirky – adj. unusual especially in an interesting or appealing way
maximum – n. the highest number or amount that is possible or allowed — usually singular
inspire – v. : to make (someone) want to do something : to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create
viral – adj. : spreading very quickly to many people especially through the Internet