What the Top Trending Videos of 2018 Say About Canadians
As we fill our mugs with eggnog, put Mariah Carey on repeat and prepare to head into 2019, we start reflecting upon this past year in pop culture. YouTube Rewind—an annual unveiling of top trending videos broken down by country—provides a clear lens with which to look back at 2018. What does our fascination with Deadpool 2, a family dance challenge and Carpool Karaoke say about us as a country, and how do our clicks and views differ from those in America? Let’s take a look.
10. 2018 US Open Highlights: Serena Williams’ dispute overshadows Naomi Osaka’s final win
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS love a good controversy. But, we also love facts. When we read a headline that accuses Serena Williams of unleashing a furious rant, we go to YouTube so we can evaluate the situation and form our own opinions.
American YouTube Rank: N/A
9. FORTNITE DANCE CHALLENGE! – (In Real Life)
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS cherish family values and champion fellow Canadians — even when the content is trash. The Eh Bee Family, the creators behind this video, are Vaughan, ON-based Internet personalities (mom, dad and two kids) with massive followings on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. I couldn’t make it 30 seconds into this video, but whatever it is they’re doing, it seems to be working.
American YouTube Rank: N/A
8. Falcon Heavy Test Flight
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS are interested in what Elon Musk is up to. He’s practically Canadian, after all — and that’s something that we make sure to bring up every time someone mentions his name.
American YouTube Rank: N/A
7. The Royal Wedding 2018: Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS celebrate being a commonwealth nation. We love the monarchy, and we love when an honorary Canadian finds a way to marry into it. Did you know Meghan Markle lived in Toronto for several years while filming Suits? Of course you did, you tell every non-Canadian you meet.
American YouTube Rank: N/A
6. Deadpool, Meet Cable
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS must really, really stan other Canadians. There is literally no other explanation for this Ryan Reynolds movie trailer making it to our top 10 list.
American YouTube Rank: N/A
5. Walmart yodeling kid
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS understand and appreciate American culture. Seriously, is there anything more American than a small cowboy singing bluegrass country in a suburban Walmart?
American YouTube Rank: 4
4. Paul McCartney Carpool Karaoke
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS also understand and appreciate British culture. This was the most watched YouTube video in the UK in 2018, but it didn’t even make it onto America’s top 10 list. Once again, we find ourselves somewhere in the middle of the two.
American YouTube Rank: N/A
3. Do You Hear “Yanny” or “Laurel”? (SOLVED with SCIENCE)
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS like to see problems SOLVED with SCIENCE, especially by Canadian creators. We’re discerning people who question everything, even ourselves. And then, we look to YouTube for seemingly expert explanations. Are these YouTube guys experts? Who really knows. They’re Canadian and they’re convincing, and that seems to be good enough.
American YouTube Rank: 5
2. we broke up
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS are interested in the conscious uncoupling of two people I’ve literally never heard of. According to Kevin Allocca, head of culture and trends at YouTube, “they’re like the Brangelina of the YouTube generation.” Okay, cool. So maybe this tells us Canadians like watching a relationship be torn apart? I’m not sure.
American YouTube Rank: 3
1. To Our Daughter
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS care just as much about the Kardashian/Jenners as everyone else. And that, in the words of Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner’s pregnancy was perhaps “the best kept secret of our generation.”
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS cherish family values and champion fellow Canadians — even when the content is trash. The Eh Bee Family, the creators behind this video, are Vaughan, ON-based Internet personalities (mom, dad and two kids) with massive followings on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. I couldn't make it 30 seconds into this video, but whatever it is they're doing, it seems to be working.
American YouTube Rank: N/A
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8. Falcon Heavy Test Flight
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS are interested in what Elon Musk is up to. He's practically Canadian, after all — and that's something that we make sure to bring up every time someone mentions his name.
American YouTube Rank: N/A
.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }
7. The Royal Wedding 2018: Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS celebrate being a commonwealth nation. We love the monarchy, and we love when an honorary Canadian finds a way to marry into it. Did you know Meghan Markle lived in Toronto for several years while filming Suits? Of course you did, you tell every non-Canadian you meet.
American YouTube Rank: N/A
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6. Deadpool, Meet Cable
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS must really, really stan other Canadians. There is literally no other explanation for this Ryan Reynolds movie trailer making it to our top 10 list.
American YouTube Rank: N/A
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5. Walmart yodeling kid
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS understand and appreciate American culture. Seriously, is there anything more American than a small cowboy singing bluegrass country in a suburban Walmart?
American YouTube Rank: 4
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4. Paul McCartney Carpool Karaoke
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS also understand and appreciate British culture. This was the most watched YouTube video in the UK in 2018, but it didn't even make it onto America's top 10 list. Once again, we find ourselves somewhere in the middle of the two.
American YouTube Rank: N/A
.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }
3. Do You Hear "Yanny" or "Laurel"? (SOLVED with SCIENCE)
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS like to see problems SOLVED with SCIENCE, especially by Canadian creators. We're discerning people who question everything, even ourselves. And then, we look to YouTube for seemingly expert explanations. Are these YouTube guys experts? Who really knows. They're Canadian and they're convincing, and that seems to be good enough.
American YouTube Rank: 5
.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }
2. we broke up
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS are interested in the conscious uncoupling of two people I've literally never heard of. According to Kevin Allocca, head of culture and trends at YouTube, “they’re like the Brangelina of the YouTube generation." Okay, cool. So maybe this tells us Canadians like watching a relationship be torn apart? I'm not sure.
American YouTube Rank: 3
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1. To Our Daughter
THIS TELLS US CANADIANS care just as much about the Kardashian/Jenners as everyone else. And that, in the words of Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner's pregnancy was perhaps "the best kept secret of our generation."
American YouTube Rank: 1){kind=link}