Epic Soundscape: Trending Audio for Cutting-Edge YouTube Short Videos

The 10 Best Trending Background Music for YouTube Shorts

Shanoon Cox

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

Even though it has only been a while since YouTube Shorts has been released, it has already become quite popular instantly. For instance, each day YouTube Shorts get a view of more than 6 billion the world over. Though, if you also want to make your YouTube Shorts videos more appealing, then consider adding some interesting background music in them.

Here, I will make you familiar with 10 trending YouTube Shorts music options that you can also consider adding to your videos.

Part 1: What are YouTube Shorts All About?

Recently released, YouTube Shorts is a dedicated feature in the app that lets us view or post short videos of 60 seconds or less. To access this feature, you can just go to the “Shorts” option from the bottom panel of your YouTube app. This will automatically load all kinds of short videos that you can browse on YouTube.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?

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• 150+ Countries and Regions
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Part 2: Top 10 Trending Background Music for YouTube Shorts

While there are thousands of options to YouTube Shorts songs, I would recommend going through the following picks for your next videos:

1. Fun Background Mix

This is one of the most popular songs for YouTube Shorts that you might have come across in the past, too. Since it is a copyright-free track, you can use any part of it in your Shorts videos without any issue. In most cases, this YouTube Shorts music is recommended to add a funny or relaxing appeal to your videos.

2. Tropical Mix

If you want to add all kinds of unique music for YouTube Shorts, then you can explore this mix of 15+ different tracks. All these background songs are based on a fun and light tropical feel, letting you add a chill and relaxed appeal to your Shorts videos for sure.

3. Upbeat Music for Shorts

Are you a fitness blogger on YouTube or would like to come up with some motivational content? In this case, you can explore this YouTube Shorts background music that has an upbeat and uplifting appeal. It would be best suited for motivational and fitness videos and can be used for free.

4. Motivational and Uplifting Score

This is another recommended choice of YouTube Shorts BGM for motivational or inspirational videos. The track starts with a soothing appeal and gradually grows to an uplifting rhythm with the help of drums and guitars. You can simply clip its best parts while using it on your YouTube Shorts video.

5. Soothing No Copyright Music

This is one of the best YouTube Shorts songs that can go flawlessly with almost every kind of video. From a romantic to an inspirational charm, the track has different lows and highs that would compliment all kinds of content for sure. After loading it on YouTube Shorts, just make sure you clip out the best segments according to the type of video you are posting

6. Dreamer by Hazy Ambient Music

For all those who post emotional or romantic content on YouTube Shorts, this would be an ideal background score. The ambient music has soft rhythms that would add a soothing appeal to your videos, letting your audience focus on other important things.

7. Ethnic Hip Hop Music

Having a blend of ethnic and retro appeal, this would be an ideal YouTube Shorts copyright music that you can add to your videos. It has tons of musical instruments (both old and new) mixed flawlessly. It will certainly grab the attention of your audience and will make your Shorts stand out.

8. City Calm Track

From fashion bloggers to lifestyle influencers, everyone can take the assistance of these YouTube Shorts songs. It has a calming yet modern appeal that would make your videos sound unique for sure. You can explore this music for YouTube shorts and simply clip out the best segment for your video.

9. Peaceful Piano Music

This is a copyright-free YouTube Shorts music that would let you add a peaceful effect to your videos. The best part is that this is a royalty-free track, which means you can seamlessly add it to your videos without any hassle. It is a highly recommended track for those who create inspirational and emotional content for their audience.

10. Catwalk Funny Music

Lastly, you can also explore these YouTube Shorts trending songs as a background score for funny and cute videos. The track is often used for video content related to pets, slow dances, makeup tutorials, and so on. You can use this royalty-free music directly on YouTube Shorts without any conflicts.

Part 3: How to Add Background Music to YouTube Shorts Videos?

I’m sure that after going through these YouTube Shorts songs, you can easily find the perfect background music for your videos. Though, if you want to add music for YouTube Shorts, then you can do it via its native recording and editing feature. To add or edit YouTube Shorts BGM, you can just follow these steps:

Step 1: Record a Video on YouTube Shorts and Select the Clip

You can start by launching the YouTube application on your device and visiting the Shorts section. Now, tap on the red (recording) icon to shoot a video and let go of it to stop the recording. As the video would be recorded, you can go to its dedicated section from the top and select it.

Step 2: Search for Songs for YouTube Shorts

Great! Once you have selected the video segment, you can just tap on the “Add Music” button from the top panel. This will automatically load all the trending music in different categories that you can preview in advance.

If you want, you can just enter the name of the song, genre, artist, or any other keyword on the search bar to look for anything specific.

Step 3: Add Music to YouTube Shorts

After finding the right track for the video clip, you can tap on it, and it will automatically be loaded on the interface. You can further tap on the “Adjust” button on the side to make changes to the added music.

This will let you clip out the specific part of the song that you want to add to your video on YouTube. Once you have found the right segment of the track, you can preview it, and tap on the “Done” button to clip it.

That’s it! This will automatically add the selected music for YouTube Shorts, letting you post it on the app. If you want to make any changes, then you can tap on the track’s icon from the top. This will let you delete the added track for your video or change it with any other background music.

Bonus Tip: Add Stunning Edits to Your Videos with Filmora

Now, when you know how to add YouTube Shorts music to any video, you can easily come up with some great content for your channel. Though, if you want to make better edits and make your videos even more interesting, then you can use Wondershare Filmora.

The desktop application has tons of editing features to add transitions, captions, filters, overlays, and so much to your videos. There are also inbuilt AI-integrated features to automatically remove the background from your videos and implement other effects.

Besides that, some other features in Filmora are animation keyframing, auto reframing, audio ducking, silence detection, speed controls, and more.

Conclusion

I’m sure that after going through these suggestions, you can pick some of the best YouTube Shorts music tracks for your videos. Since YouTube Shorts has a wide range of music, you can find all kinds of background tracks for your funny, inspirational, romantic, or any other videos.

Besides that, if you want to make better edits to your videos, then you can also try Wondershare Filmora. It is an ultra-smart and user-friendly editing tool that would let you come up with some of the most visually appealing videos in no time.

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

Even though it has only been a while since YouTube Shorts has been released, it has already become quite popular instantly. For instance, each day YouTube Shorts get a view of more than 6 billion the world over. Though, if you also want to make your YouTube Shorts videos more appealing, then consider adding some interesting background music in them.

Here, I will make you familiar with 10 trending YouTube Shorts music options that you can also consider adding to your videos.

Part 1: What are YouTube Shorts All About?

Recently released, YouTube Shorts is a dedicated feature in the app that lets us view or post short videos of 60 seconds or less. To access this feature, you can just go to the “Shorts” option from the bottom panel of your YouTube app. This will automatically load all kinds of short videos that you can browse on YouTube.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?

• 100 Million+ Users
• 150+ Countries and Regions
• 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
• 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

Part 2: Top 10 Trending Background Music for YouTube Shorts

While there are thousands of options to YouTube Shorts songs, I would recommend going through the following picks for your next videos:

1. Fun Background Mix

This is one of the most popular songs for YouTube Shorts that you might have come across in the past, too. Since it is a copyright-free track, you can use any part of it in your Shorts videos without any issue. In most cases, this YouTube Shorts music is recommended to add a funny or relaxing appeal to your videos.

2. Tropical Mix

If you want to add all kinds of unique music for YouTube Shorts, then you can explore this mix of 15+ different tracks. All these background songs are based on a fun and light tropical feel, letting you add a chill and relaxed appeal to your Shorts videos for sure.

3. Upbeat Music for Shorts

Are you a fitness blogger on YouTube or would like to come up with some motivational content? In this case, you can explore this YouTube Shorts background music that has an upbeat and uplifting appeal. It would be best suited for motivational and fitness videos and can be used for free.

4. Motivational and Uplifting Score

This is another recommended choice of YouTube Shorts BGM for motivational or inspirational videos. The track starts with a soothing appeal and gradually grows to an uplifting rhythm with the help of drums and guitars. You can simply clip its best parts while using it on your YouTube Shorts video.

5. Soothing No Copyright Music

This is one of the best YouTube Shorts songs that can go flawlessly with almost every kind of video. From a romantic to an inspirational charm, the track has different lows and highs that would compliment all kinds of content for sure. After loading it on YouTube Shorts, just make sure you clip out the best segments according to the type of video you are posting

6. Dreamer by Hazy Ambient Music

For all those who post emotional or romantic content on YouTube Shorts, this would be an ideal background score. The ambient music has soft rhythms that would add a soothing appeal to your videos, letting your audience focus on other important things.

7. Ethnic Hip Hop Music

Having a blend of ethnic and retro appeal, this would be an ideal YouTube Shorts copyright music that you can add to your videos. It has tons of musical instruments (both old and new) mixed flawlessly. It will certainly grab the attention of your audience and will make your Shorts stand out.

8. City Calm Track

From fashion bloggers to lifestyle influencers, everyone can take the assistance of these YouTube Shorts songs. It has a calming yet modern appeal that would make your videos sound unique for sure. You can explore this music for YouTube shorts and simply clip out the best segment for your video.

9. Peaceful Piano Music

This is a copyright-free YouTube Shorts music that would let you add a peaceful effect to your videos. The best part is that this is a royalty-free track, which means you can seamlessly add it to your videos without any hassle. It is a highly recommended track for those who create inspirational and emotional content for their audience.

10. Catwalk Funny Music

Lastly, you can also explore these YouTube Shorts trending songs as a background score for funny and cute videos. The track is often used for video content related to pets, slow dances, makeup tutorials, and so on. You can use this royalty-free music directly on YouTube Shorts without any conflicts.

Part 3: How to Add Background Music to YouTube Shorts Videos?

I’m sure that after going through these YouTube Shorts songs, you can easily find the perfect background music for your videos. Though, if you want to add music for YouTube Shorts, then you can do it via its native recording and editing feature. To add or edit YouTube Shorts BGM, you can just follow these steps:

Step 1: Record a Video on YouTube Shorts and Select the Clip

You can start by launching the YouTube application on your device and visiting the Shorts section. Now, tap on the red (recording) icon to shoot a video and let go of it to stop the recording. As the video would be recorded, you can go to its dedicated section from the top and select it.

Step 2: Search for Songs for YouTube Shorts

Great! Once you have selected the video segment, you can just tap on the “Add Music” button from the top panel. This will automatically load all the trending music in different categories that you can preview in advance.

If you want, you can just enter the name of the song, genre, artist, or any other keyword on the search bar to look for anything specific.

Step 3: Add Music to YouTube Shorts

After finding the right track for the video clip, you can tap on it, and it will automatically be loaded on the interface. You can further tap on the “Adjust” button on the side to make changes to the added music.

This will let you clip out the specific part of the song that you want to add to your video on YouTube. Once you have found the right segment of the track, you can preview it, and tap on the “Done” button to clip it.

That’s it! This will automatically add the selected music for YouTube Shorts, letting you post it on the app. If you want to make any changes, then you can tap on the track’s icon from the top. This will let you delete the added track for your video or change it with any other background music.

Bonus Tip: Add Stunning Edits to Your Videos with Filmora

Now, when you know how to add YouTube Shorts music to any video, you can easily come up with some great content for your channel. Though, if you want to make better edits and make your videos even more interesting, then you can use Wondershare Filmora.

The desktop application has tons of editing features to add transitions, captions, filters, overlays, and so much to your videos. There are also inbuilt AI-integrated features to automatically remove the background from your videos and implement other effects.

Besides that, some other features in Filmora are animation keyframing, auto reframing, audio ducking, silence detection, speed controls, and more.

Conclusion

I’m sure that after going through these suggestions, you can pick some of the best YouTube Shorts music tracks for your videos. Since YouTube Shorts has a wide range of music, you can find all kinds of background tracks for your funny, inspirational, romantic, or any other videos.

Besides that, if you want to make better edits to your videos, then you can also try Wondershare Filmora. It is an ultra-smart and user-friendly editing tool that would let you come up with some of the most visually appealing videos in no time.

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

Even though it has only been a while since YouTube Shorts has been released, it has already become quite popular instantly. For instance, each day YouTube Shorts get a view of more than 6 billion the world over. Though, if you also want to make your YouTube Shorts videos more appealing, then consider adding some interesting background music in them.

Here, I will make you familiar with 10 trending YouTube Shorts music options that you can also consider adding to your videos.

Part 1: What are YouTube Shorts All About?

Recently released, YouTube Shorts is a dedicated feature in the app that lets us view or post short videos of 60 seconds or less. To access this feature, you can just go to the “Shorts” option from the bottom panel of your YouTube app. This will automatically load all kinds of short videos that you can browse on YouTube.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?

• 100 Million+ Users
• 150+ Countries and Regions
• 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
• 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

Part 2: Top 10 Trending Background Music for YouTube Shorts

While there are thousands of options to YouTube Shorts songs, I would recommend going through the following picks for your next videos:

1. Fun Background Mix

This is one of the most popular songs for YouTube Shorts that you might have come across in the past, too. Since it is a copyright-free track, you can use any part of it in your Shorts videos without any issue. In most cases, this YouTube Shorts music is recommended to add a funny or relaxing appeal to your videos.

2. Tropical Mix

If you want to add all kinds of unique music for YouTube Shorts, then you can explore this mix of 15+ different tracks. All these background songs are based on a fun and light tropical feel, letting you add a chill and relaxed appeal to your Shorts videos for sure.

3. Upbeat Music for Shorts

Are you a fitness blogger on YouTube or would like to come up with some motivational content? In this case, you can explore this YouTube Shorts background music that has an upbeat and uplifting appeal. It would be best suited for motivational and fitness videos and can be used for free.

4. Motivational and Uplifting Score

This is another recommended choice of YouTube Shorts BGM for motivational or inspirational videos. The track starts with a soothing appeal and gradually grows to an uplifting rhythm with the help of drums and guitars. You can simply clip its best parts while using it on your YouTube Shorts video.

5. Soothing No Copyright Music

This is one of the best YouTube Shorts songs that can go flawlessly with almost every kind of video. From a romantic to an inspirational charm, the track has different lows and highs that would compliment all kinds of content for sure. After loading it on YouTube Shorts, just make sure you clip out the best segments according to the type of video you are posting

6. Dreamer by Hazy Ambient Music

For all those who post emotional or romantic content on YouTube Shorts, this would be an ideal background score. The ambient music has soft rhythms that would add a soothing appeal to your videos, letting your audience focus on other important things.

7. Ethnic Hip Hop Music

Having a blend of ethnic and retro appeal, this would be an ideal YouTube Shorts copyright music that you can add to your videos. It has tons of musical instruments (both old and new) mixed flawlessly. It will certainly grab the attention of your audience and will make your Shorts stand out.

8. City Calm Track

From fashion bloggers to lifestyle influencers, everyone can take the assistance of these YouTube Shorts songs. It has a calming yet modern appeal that would make your videos sound unique for sure. You can explore this music for YouTube shorts and simply clip out the best segment for your video.

9. Peaceful Piano Music

This is a copyright-free YouTube Shorts music that would let you add a peaceful effect to your videos. The best part is that this is a royalty-free track, which means you can seamlessly add it to your videos without any hassle. It is a highly recommended track for those who create inspirational and emotional content for their audience.

10. Catwalk Funny Music

Lastly, you can also explore these YouTube Shorts trending songs as a background score for funny and cute videos. The track is often used for video content related to pets, slow dances, makeup tutorials, and so on. You can use this royalty-free music directly on YouTube Shorts without any conflicts.

Part 3: How to Add Background Music to YouTube Shorts Videos?

I’m sure that after going through these YouTube Shorts songs, you can easily find the perfect background music for your videos. Though, if you want to add music for YouTube Shorts, then you can do it via its native recording and editing feature. To add or edit YouTube Shorts BGM, you can just follow these steps:

Step 1: Record a Video on YouTube Shorts and Select the Clip

You can start by launching the YouTube application on your device and visiting the Shorts section. Now, tap on the red (recording) icon to shoot a video and let go of it to stop the recording. As the video would be recorded, you can go to its dedicated section from the top and select it.

Step 2: Search for Songs for YouTube Shorts

Great! Once you have selected the video segment, you can just tap on the “Add Music” button from the top panel. This will automatically load all the trending music in different categories that you can preview in advance.

If you want, you can just enter the name of the song, genre, artist, or any other keyword on the search bar to look for anything specific.

Step 3: Add Music to YouTube Shorts

After finding the right track for the video clip, you can tap on it, and it will automatically be loaded on the interface. You can further tap on the “Adjust” button on the side to make changes to the added music.

This will let you clip out the specific part of the song that you want to add to your video on YouTube. Once you have found the right segment of the track, you can preview it, and tap on the “Done” button to clip it.

That’s it! This will automatically add the selected music for YouTube Shorts, letting you post it on the app. If you want to make any changes, then you can tap on the track’s icon from the top. This will let you delete the added track for your video or change it with any other background music.

Bonus Tip: Add Stunning Edits to Your Videos with Filmora

Now, when you know how to add YouTube Shorts music to any video, you can easily come up with some great content for your channel. Though, if you want to make better edits and make your videos even more interesting, then you can use Wondershare Filmora.

The desktop application has tons of editing features to add transitions, captions, filters, overlays, and so much to your videos. There are also inbuilt AI-integrated features to automatically remove the background from your videos and implement other effects.

Besides that, some other features in Filmora are animation keyframing, auto reframing, audio ducking, silence detection, speed controls, and more.

Conclusion

I’m sure that after going through these suggestions, you can pick some of the best YouTube Shorts music tracks for your videos. Since YouTube Shorts has a wide range of music, you can find all kinds of background tracks for your funny, inspirational, romantic, or any other videos.

Besides that, if you want to make better edits to your videos, then you can also try Wondershare Filmora. It is an ultra-smart and user-friendly editing tool that would let you come up with some of the most visually appealing videos in no time.

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

Even though it has only been a while since YouTube Shorts has been released, it has already become quite popular instantly. For instance, each day YouTube Shorts get a view of more than 6 billion the world over. Though, if you also want to make your YouTube Shorts videos more appealing, then consider adding some interesting background music in them.

Here, I will make you familiar with 10 trending YouTube Shorts music options that you can also consider adding to your videos.

Part 1: What are YouTube Shorts All About?

Recently released, YouTube Shorts is a dedicated feature in the app that lets us view or post short videos of 60 seconds or less. To access this feature, you can just go to the “Shorts” option from the bottom panel of your YouTube app. This will automatically load all kinds of short videos that you can browse on YouTube.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?

• 100 Million+ Users
• 150+ Countries and Regions
• 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
• 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

Part 2: Top 10 Trending Background Music for YouTube Shorts

While there are thousands of options to YouTube Shorts songs, I would recommend going through the following picks for your next videos:

1. Fun Background Mix

This is one of the most popular songs for YouTube Shorts that you might have come across in the past, too. Since it is a copyright-free track, you can use any part of it in your Shorts videos without any issue. In most cases, this YouTube Shorts music is recommended to add a funny or relaxing appeal to your videos.

2. Tropical Mix

If you want to add all kinds of unique music for YouTube Shorts, then you can explore this mix of 15+ different tracks. All these background songs are based on a fun and light tropical feel, letting you add a chill and relaxed appeal to your Shorts videos for sure.

3. Upbeat Music for Shorts

Are you a fitness blogger on YouTube or would like to come up with some motivational content? In this case, you can explore this YouTube Shorts background music that has an upbeat and uplifting appeal. It would be best suited for motivational and fitness videos and can be used for free.

4. Motivational and Uplifting Score

This is another recommended choice of YouTube Shorts BGM for motivational or inspirational videos. The track starts with a soothing appeal and gradually grows to an uplifting rhythm with the help of drums and guitars. You can simply clip its best parts while using it on your YouTube Shorts video.

5. Soothing No Copyright Music

This is one of the best YouTube Shorts songs that can go flawlessly with almost every kind of video. From a romantic to an inspirational charm, the track has different lows and highs that would compliment all kinds of content for sure. After loading it on YouTube Shorts, just make sure you clip out the best segments according to the type of video you are posting

6. Dreamer by Hazy Ambient Music

For all those who post emotional or romantic content on YouTube Shorts, this would be an ideal background score. The ambient music has soft rhythms that would add a soothing appeal to your videos, letting your audience focus on other important things.

7. Ethnic Hip Hop Music

Having a blend of ethnic and retro appeal, this would be an ideal YouTube Shorts copyright music that you can add to your videos. It has tons of musical instruments (both old and new) mixed flawlessly. It will certainly grab the attention of your audience and will make your Shorts stand out.

8. City Calm Track

From fashion bloggers to lifestyle influencers, everyone can take the assistance of these YouTube Shorts songs. It has a calming yet modern appeal that would make your videos sound unique for sure. You can explore this music for YouTube shorts and simply clip out the best segment for your video.

9. Peaceful Piano Music

This is a copyright-free YouTube Shorts music that would let you add a peaceful effect to your videos. The best part is that this is a royalty-free track, which means you can seamlessly add it to your videos without any hassle. It is a highly recommended track for those who create inspirational and emotional content for their audience.

10. Catwalk Funny Music

Lastly, you can also explore these YouTube Shorts trending songs as a background score for funny and cute videos. The track is often used for video content related to pets, slow dances, makeup tutorials, and so on. You can use this royalty-free music directly on YouTube Shorts without any conflicts.

Part 3: How to Add Background Music to YouTube Shorts Videos?

I’m sure that after going through these YouTube Shorts songs, you can easily find the perfect background music for your videos. Though, if you want to add music for YouTube Shorts, then you can do it via its native recording and editing feature. To add or edit YouTube Shorts BGM, you can just follow these steps:

Step 1: Record a Video on YouTube Shorts and Select the Clip

You can start by launching the YouTube application on your device and visiting the Shorts section. Now, tap on the red (recording) icon to shoot a video and let go of it to stop the recording. As the video would be recorded, you can go to its dedicated section from the top and select it.

Step 2: Search for Songs for YouTube Shorts

Great! Once you have selected the video segment, you can just tap on the “Add Music” button from the top panel. This will automatically load all the trending music in different categories that you can preview in advance.

If you want, you can just enter the name of the song, genre, artist, or any other keyword on the search bar to look for anything specific.

Step 3: Add Music to YouTube Shorts

After finding the right track for the video clip, you can tap on it, and it will automatically be loaded on the interface. You can further tap on the “Adjust” button on the side to make changes to the added music.

This will let you clip out the specific part of the song that you want to add to your video on YouTube. Once you have found the right segment of the track, you can preview it, and tap on the “Done” button to clip it.

That’s it! This will automatically add the selected music for YouTube Shorts, letting you post it on the app. If you want to make any changes, then you can tap on the track’s icon from the top. This will let you delete the added track for your video or change it with any other background music.

Bonus Tip: Add Stunning Edits to Your Videos with Filmora

Now, when you know how to add YouTube Shorts music to any video, you can easily come up with some great content for your channel. Though, if you want to make better edits and make your videos even more interesting, then you can use Wondershare Filmora.

The desktop application has tons of editing features to add transitions, captions, filters, overlays, and so much to your videos. There are also inbuilt AI-integrated features to automatically remove the background from your videos and implement other effects.

Besides that, some other features in Filmora are animation keyframing, auto reframing, audio ducking, silence detection, speed controls, and more.

Conclusion

I’m sure that after going through these suggestions, you can pick some of the best YouTube Shorts music tracks for your videos. Since YouTube Shorts has a wide range of music, you can find all kinds of background tracks for your funny, inspirational, romantic, or any other videos.

Besides that, if you want to make better edits to your videos, then you can also try Wondershare Filmora. It is an ultra-smart and user-friendly editing tool that would let you come up with some of the most visually appealing videos in no time.

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Viral Video Evolution: YouTube’s Favorites

Top 10 Most Viewed Videos on YouTube of All Time

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Making an incredibly successful YouTube video is the holy grail for any digital marketer. Gaining a place in the most-watched YouTube videos list is a great ambition to have, but you’ll be up against some stiff competition. Below, let’ take a look at the most viewed YouTube music video worldwide in 2021 and see what the secret to their success is.

Interested in the richest YouTubers? Check our pick of Top 10 Richest YouTubers in 2021

What is the Most Viewed YouTube Video?

Over the past couple of years, Despacito music video is undoubtedly been the most viewed video on YouTube. However, the list had changed after 2020 due to the rise of a catchy kid song - Baby Shark Dance. This child song video has reached more than 9 billion views worldwide (still growing) and led to an online dancing fever - Body Shark Challenge.

Top 10 Most Watched YouTube Videos in 2021

You may have expected this, but the majority of the most popular YouTube videos are actually music videos. Most, but not all. Here’s our list based on the latest statistics about the most viewed youtube video ever available right now. If you want to know more about the channels or the YouTubers, you can use InflueNex to get the details of them.

Here is a full list of the most viewed videos on YouTube except for Body Shark Dance.

• Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
• See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
• Shape of You - Ed Sheeran
• Gangnam Style - Psy
• Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies
• Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
• Sorry - Justin Bieber
• Sugar - Maroon 5
• Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
• Roar - Katy Perry

1. Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee

Views:5.4B

Despacito, the Spanish word for ‘slowly’, has broken all records in terms of the most viewed YouTube videos, reaching the milestone of two billion views faster than any other video, ever. It went on to reach 2.5 billion views faster than any other and now boasts more than five billion views, making it the most-watched YouTube video of all time.

As a song that’s almost completely sung in Spanish, the immense popularity of this video surprised everyone. Although hugely popular in Hispanic countries, Despacito was also top of the charts in 45 different countries, from Uruguay to Japan to Italy, so what made it so popular? Experts have speculated that its mix of Caribbean, Latin, pop, and rap gave it a broad appeal. Its earwormish nature, danceable beat, and perfectly summery vibe have propelled this fairly mediocre video to the heights of YouTube stardom that the rest of us can only dream about.

2. See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth

Views:3.7B

See You Again is a pretty cool song but is it really cool enough to be number two of the most-watched YouTube videos? Sure, the tune is catchy, and the video production is probably better than that of Despacito, but its rapid rise to YouTube stardom was still rather unexpected. Over 800 days after release, the video had clocked up almost three billion views, unseating the reigning champion of YouTube views, Psy and his K-Pop masterpiece, Gangnam Style, and today it’s sitting comfortably in the number two spot with 3.6 billion watches.

So, why did this tune go so viral? Was it the loyal Fast and the Furious fan base craving more time with the Furious 7 soundtrack, or was it the tributary nature of the video paying homage to the late Paul Walker that was bringing in the views? In truth, it was probably both and also neither. The main influencer here was simply that a lot more people were using YouTube. Between 2015 and 2016, YouTube experienced a 17 percent increase in music video viewers and a total 25 percent increase in video streams. See You Again was simply in the right place at the right time.

3. Shape of You - Ed Sheeran

Views:3.7B

If there’s one artist who has rocked the music scene more than any other in recent years, Mr. Sheeran is it. His double lead single from his latest album ÷ (divide) has been his most successful to date, racking up 3.5 billion views on YouTube to date with millions more added each day. It is Spotify’s most popular song ever with 1.5 billion streams and currently holds the record for the most number of weeks spent in the Billboard top 10. It’s was nominated for best single at the Brit Awards 2021 but was pipped at the post by Rag’n’Bone Man with Human.

But why does everyone love Shape of You so much? It’s a pretty simple song, with four basic chords and fairly boring romantic lyrics; what makes it so special? Some of its success is down to the physical construction of the music itself, with a pentatonic scale offering a tried and tested catchiness that’s impossible to resist. Even if you’re not a Sheeran fan, exposure has made this song familiar to you, being popular in clubs, pubs, restaurants and with buskers on street corners (not to mention certain Christmas adverts, right?). Add to all this the rise in general popularity of music videos, it’s clear to see how it’s become one of the most viewed YouTube videos of all time.

4. Gangnam Style - Psy

Views:3.2B

We’d be surprised if you could honestly say you’d never heard of Gangnam Style (and perhaps secretly tried a few horse dance moves), and Psy himself was undoubtedly pretty surprised too when he rocketed to internet fame in 2013. At its peak, this K-Pop legend was racking up 72 views per second and averaged 33 views a second for two whole years. Today, he’s fourth on the list with a total of 3.2 billion views (and yes, people are still watching).

Although it might seem Psy was inherently lucky when his song became such a huge hit, actually what he did was very clever. As well as combining a catchy tune with a ridiculously funny video, he intentionally left copyright off the video itself, almost inviting others to create their own parodies of the video, which they did in their droves. The dance he created was nothing short of genius, easily replicable by others all over the world. Despite being ‘K-Pop’, Psy’s own look is a world away from the polished pretty boy image of other artists in this genre, offering more of an anti-pop image from a guy who is clearly comfortable in his own skin. The result is the full package of measures, and deservedly places Gangnam Style in the top 10 most-watched YouTube videos of all time.

5. Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies

Views:3.2B

A rather unusual entry for our number five slot, Masha and the Bear, as you might have guessed, is not a music video at all. It’s not even an official video, and to top it off it’s in Russian! Masha and the Bear is incredibly popular in Russia and is based loosely on an old Russian folk story, and since all 68 episodes have been uploaded to YouTube, three have surpassed the one billion view mark.

This particular episode is the crowning glory, having racked up 3.1 billion views over the years. The reason for this particular episode’s incredibly popularity is not entirely clear, although it is thought that perhaps the way Masha herself is portrayed has helped its success. Dressed in a folk costume with no legs on show and a headscarf makes the video acceptable to Muslim audiences around the world, which may have helped to spread its popularity.

6. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Views:3.2B

Also with 3.1 billion views, the inimitably catchy Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson has been his biggest hit to date. Boasting chart-topping success in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and many other locations around the world, the single won two Grammys, record of the year, and spent 14 weeks at number one in the US. So, what was it that got people watching, singing, and dancing along with Ronson and Mars?

Part of the success is undoubtedly down to the amazing lyrics of the song. From repeating how hot he is to namechecking Michelle Pfeiffer and Saint Laurent, these are feel-good power lyrics at their very best. The simple four-chord structure and effortlessly funky beat help its appeal bridge the generations, and the video itself just screams fun, fun, fun! Don’t believe us, just watch (the YouTube video, of course)!

7. Sorry - Justin Bieber

Views:3 B

It’s no surprise that the young person’s sensation that is Justin Bieber had to make an appearance in our top 10 most-watched YouTube videos. He is, after all, the epitome of the YouTube generation, and has plenty of other well-watched videos in his archives. Selling 10 million copies in 2016 alone and topping the charts in 13 countries, Sorry has racked up, to date, 2.9 billion hits on YouTube, making it his most successful music video ever. So, what was the secret to this hit’s success?

Actually, we think that the reason for the success of this particular Bieber creation is due in part to the mismatch between the visuals and the audio. A languishing video requesting redemption from a lover would typically be shot in gritty black and white and feature the singer moping about feeling sorry for themselves. Instead, Bieber opted to recruit lively dancers from New Zealand’s ReQuest Dance Crew and furnish them with eye-popping outfits and lively dance moves to make up for the potentially depressing lyrics.

8. Sugar - Maroon 5

Views:2.7B

Maroon 5 had enjoyed a somewhat tumultuous career, achieving fame in the noughties, disappearing for a while, and then returning with outstanding hits such as ‘moves like Jagger’ and ‘One more night’. But this song, Sugar, has been their biggest video hit to date. Why? Well, the proof is in the pudding as they say.

This was a completely new concept video, shot in a variety of locations around Los Angeles and featuring Maroon 5 crashing numerous weddings. The reality is that the band did arrange things somewhat with the groom, although the bride and her guests had no idea. The resulting video is a joy to watch, as the assembled wedding parties express their shock, surprise, fear, and even anger as Levine and his crew pitch up and start singing.

Looking for the best wedding video songs? Check our top lists of the best songs for your wedding video .

9. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift

Views:2.6B

After a long drought of almost a year, devoted fans of Taylor Swift were sick to death of hearing ‘I Knew you were Trouble’ on the radio five hundred times a day, so Shake it Off was almost guaranteed to be a big hit. Going straight into number one on the charts and staying in the Hot 100 for 50 consecutive weeks, its success on YouTube was even greater, boasting 2.5 billion views to date and making it the 9th most-watched video on YouTube. But how?

Swift is a master of generating internet attention. With over 100 million Instagram followers, Taylor set about whipping her ‘Little Monsters’ into a frenzy about the forthcoming release of her new single. As a result, Shake it Off was pretty much all the internet cared about for a full 24 hours. The lyrics tread a thin line between playful mockery of Swift and self-aware empowerment but are also super easy to memories and sing along with. Well played madam, well played.

10. Roar - Katy Perry

Views:2.6B

In 2013, Katy Perry took a short break out of kissing girls and liking it, as well as marrying (and divorcing) Russell Brand in order to release this banging new single. By the end of the year, Roar had sold almost 10 million copies and had topped the charts in 12 different countries. Its success on the radio was only surpassed by the success of the colorful music video on YouTube, where it has secured 2.5 billion views to date.

What’s not to love about this particular video, we ask? The lyrics are super empowering, you can run to it, dance to it, or just belt out your own roar alongside Katy. The visuals are awesome too, in particular the CGI animals and skimpy leopard print bikini, which undoubtedly helped its popularity. In a year that was tough personally for Perry, she hit back and produced this powerful song, showing once again that she is indeed a champion.

Conclusion

All the videos listed above have billions of views after it is on YouTube, however, Rome wasn’t built in a day. If you want to get more views on your YouTube videos, do not miss our guide about How to get more views on YouTube . The most viewed videos on YouTube are constantly changing, and as more and more people choose to consume their visual content in this way, we’ll undoubtedly see more records broken, more changes to this top 10, and more exciting content being produced. Were you surprised by our list? Who did you think should have made the top 10? Let us know!

How to empower your YouTube video? Whether you are targeted in YouTube music video, gameplay video, beauty & fashion, comedy, how-to video, education, or entertainment video, you always need good video editing software to edit the YouTube video. Check our pickups of the best video editing software for YouTube in the below video.

Want to know more statistics about YouTube Reds, check our Infographic about YouTube Facts, Figures here .

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Making an incredibly successful YouTube video is the holy grail for any digital marketer. Gaining a place in the most-watched YouTube videos list is a great ambition to have, but you’ll be up against some stiff competition. Below, let’ take a look at the most viewed YouTube music video worldwide in 2021 and see what the secret to their success is.

Interested in the richest YouTubers? Check our pick of Top 10 Richest YouTubers in 2021

What is the Most Viewed YouTube Video?

Over the past couple of years, Despacito music video is undoubtedly been the most viewed video on YouTube. However, the list had changed after 2020 due to the rise of a catchy kid song - Baby Shark Dance. This child song video has reached more than 9 billion views worldwide (still growing) and led to an online dancing fever - Body Shark Challenge.

Top 10 Most Watched YouTube Videos in 2021

You may have expected this, but the majority of the most popular YouTube videos are actually music videos. Most, but not all. Here’s our list based on the latest statistics about the most viewed youtube video ever available right now. If you want to know more about the channels or the YouTubers, you can use InflueNex to get the details of them.

Here is a full list of the most viewed videos on YouTube except for Body Shark Dance.

• Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
• See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
• Shape of You - Ed Sheeran
• Gangnam Style - Psy
• Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies
• Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
• Sorry - Justin Bieber
• Sugar - Maroon 5
• Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
• Roar - Katy Perry

1. Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee

Views:5.4B

Despacito, the Spanish word for ‘slowly’, has broken all records in terms of the most viewed YouTube videos, reaching the milestone of two billion views faster than any other video, ever. It went on to reach 2.5 billion views faster than any other and now boasts more than five billion views, making it the most-watched YouTube video of all time.

As a song that’s almost completely sung in Spanish, the immense popularity of this video surprised everyone. Although hugely popular in Hispanic countries, Despacito was also top of the charts in 45 different countries, from Uruguay to Japan to Italy, so what made it so popular? Experts have speculated that its mix of Caribbean, Latin, pop, and rap gave it a broad appeal. Its earwormish nature, danceable beat, and perfectly summery vibe have propelled this fairly mediocre video to the heights of YouTube stardom that the rest of us can only dream about.

2. See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth

Views:3.7B

See You Again is a pretty cool song but is it really cool enough to be number two of the most-watched YouTube videos? Sure, the tune is catchy, and the video production is probably better than that of Despacito, but its rapid rise to YouTube stardom was still rather unexpected. Over 800 days after release, the video had clocked up almost three billion views, unseating the reigning champion of YouTube views, Psy and his K-Pop masterpiece, Gangnam Style, and today it’s sitting comfortably in the number two spot with 3.6 billion watches.

So, why did this tune go so viral? Was it the loyal Fast and the Furious fan base craving more time with the Furious 7 soundtrack, or was it the tributary nature of the video paying homage to the late Paul Walker that was bringing in the views? In truth, it was probably both and also neither. The main influencer here was simply that a lot more people were using YouTube. Between 2015 and 2016, YouTube experienced a 17 percent increase in music video viewers and a total 25 percent increase in video streams. See You Again was simply in the right place at the right time.

3. Shape of You - Ed Sheeran

Views:3.7B

If there’s one artist who has rocked the music scene more than any other in recent years, Mr. Sheeran is it. His double lead single from his latest album ÷ (divide) has been his most successful to date, racking up 3.5 billion views on YouTube to date with millions more added each day. It is Spotify’s most popular song ever with 1.5 billion streams and currently holds the record for the most number of weeks spent in the Billboard top 10. It’s was nominated for best single at the Brit Awards 2021 but was pipped at the post by Rag’n’Bone Man with Human.

But why does everyone love Shape of You so much? It’s a pretty simple song, with four basic chords and fairly boring romantic lyrics; what makes it so special? Some of its success is down to the physical construction of the music itself, with a pentatonic scale offering a tried and tested catchiness that’s impossible to resist. Even if you’re not a Sheeran fan, exposure has made this song familiar to you, being popular in clubs, pubs, restaurants and with buskers on street corners (not to mention certain Christmas adverts, right?). Add to all this the rise in general popularity of music videos, it’s clear to see how it’s become one of the most viewed YouTube videos of all time.

4. Gangnam Style - Psy

Views:3.2B

We’d be surprised if you could honestly say you’d never heard of Gangnam Style (and perhaps secretly tried a few horse dance moves), and Psy himself was undoubtedly pretty surprised too when he rocketed to internet fame in 2013. At its peak, this K-Pop legend was racking up 72 views per second and averaged 33 views a second for two whole years. Today, he’s fourth on the list with a total of 3.2 billion views (and yes, people are still watching).

Although it might seem Psy was inherently lucky when his song became such a huge hit, actually what he did was very clever. As well as combining a catchy tune with a ridiculously funny video, he intentionally left copyright off the video itself, almost inviting others to create their own parodies of the video, which they did in their droves. The dance he created was nothing short of genius, easily replicable by others all over the world. Despite being ‘K-Pop’, Psy’s own look is a world away from the polished pretty boy image of other artists in this genre, offering more of an anti-pop image from a guy who is clearly comfortable in his own skin. The result is the full package of measures, and deservedly places Gangnam Style in the top 10 most-watched YouTube videos of all time.

5. Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies

Views:3.2B

A rather unusual entry for our number five slot, Masha and the Bear, as you might have guessed, is not a music video at all. It’s not even an official video, and to top it off it’s in Russian! Masha and the Bear is incredibly popular in Russia and is based loosely on an old Russian folk story, and since all 68 episodes have been uploaded to YouTube, three have surpassed the one billion view mark.

This particular episode is the crowning glory, having racked up 3.1 billion views over the years. The reason for this particular episode’s incredibly popularity is not entirely clear, although it is thought that perhaps the way Masha herself is portrayed has helped its success. Dressed in a folk costume with no legs on show and a headscarf makes the video acceptable to Muslim audiences around the world, which may have helped to spread its popularity.

6. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Views:3.2B

Also with 3.1 billion views, the inimitably catchy Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson has been his biggest hit to date. Boasting chart-topping success in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and many other locations around the world, the single won two Grammys, record of the year, and spent 14 weeks at number one in the US. So, what was it that got people watching, singing, and dancing along with Ronson and Mars?

Part of the success is undoubtedly down to the amazing lyrics of the song. From repeating how hot he is to namechecking Michelle Pfeiffer and Saint Laurent, these are feel-good power lyrics at their very best. The simple four-chord structure and effortlessly funky beat help its appeal bridge the generations, and the video itself just screams fun, fun, fun! Don’t believe us, just watch (the YouTube video, of course)!

7. Sorry - Justin Bieber

Views:3 B

It’s no surprise that the young person’s sensation that is Justin Bieber had to make an appearance in our top 10 most-watched YouTube videos. He is, after all, the epitome of the YouTube generation, and has plenty of other well-watched videos in his archives. Selling 10 million copies in 2016 alone and topping the charts in 13 countries, Sorry has racked up, to date, 2.9 billion hits on YouTube, making it his most successful music video ever. So, what was the secret to this hit’s success?

Actually, we think that the reason for the success of this particular Bieber creation is due in part to the mismatch between the visuals and the audio. A languishing video requesting redemption from a lover would typically be shot in gritty black and white and feature the singer moping about feeling sorry for themselves. Instead, Bieber opted to recruit lively dancers from New Zealand’s ReQuest Dance Crew and furnish them with eye-popping outfits and lively dance moves to make up for the potentially depressing lyrics.

8. Sugar - Maroon 5

Views:2.7B

Maroon 5 had enjoyed a somewhat tumultuous career, achieving fame in the noughties, disappearing for a while, and then returning with outstanding hits such as ‘moves like Jagger’ and ‘One more night’. But this song, Sugar, has been their biggest video hit to date. Why? Well, the proof is in the pudding as they say.

This was a completely new concept video, shot in a variety of locations around Los Angeles and featuring Maroon 5 crashing numerous weddings. The reality is that the band did arrange things somewhat with the groom, although the bride and her guests had no idea. The resulting video is a joy to watch, as the assembled wedding parties express their shock, surprise, fear, and even anger as Levine and his crew pitch up and start singing.

Looking for the best wedding video songs? Check our top lists of the best songs for your wedding video .

9. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift

Views:2.6B

After a long drought of almost a year, devoted fans of Taylor Swift were sick to death of hearing ‘I Knew you were Trouble’ on the radio five hundred times a day, so Shake it Off was almost guaranteed to be a big hit. Going straight into number one on the charts and staying in the Hot 100 for 50 consecutive weeks, its success on YouTube was even greater, boasting 2.5 billion views to date and making it the 9th most-watched video on YouTube. But how?

Swift is a master of generating internet attention. With over 100 million Instagram followers, Taylor set about whipping her ‘Little Monsters’ into a frenzy about the forthcoming release of her new single. As a result, Shake it Off was pretty much all the internet cared about for a full 24 hours. The lyrics tread a thin line between playful mockery of Swift and self-aware empowerment but are also super easy to memories and sing along with. Well played madam, well played.

10. Roar - Katy Perry

Views:2.6B

In 2013, Katy Perry took a short break out of kissing girls and liking it, as well as marrying (and divorcing) Russell Brand in order to release this banging new single. By the end of the year, Roar had sold almost 10 million copies and had topped the charts in 12 different countries. Its success on the radio was only surpassed by the success of the colorful music video on YouTube, where it has secured 2.5 billion views to date.

What’s not to love about this particular video, we ask? The lyrics are super empowering, you can run to it, dance to it, or just belt out your own roar alongside Katy. The visuals are awesome too, in particular the CGI animals and skimpy leopard print bikini, which undoubtedly helped its popularity. In a year that was tough personally for Perry, she hit back and produced this powerful song, showing once again that she is indeed a champion.

Conclusion

All the videos listed above have billions of views after it is on YouTube, however, Rome wasn’t built in a day. If you want to get more views on your YouTube videos, do not miss our guide about How to get more views on YouTube . The most viewed videos on YouTube are constantly changing, and as more and more people choose to consume their visual content in this way, we’ll undoubtedly see more records broken, more changes to this top 10, and more exciting content being produced. Were you surprised by our list? Who did you think should have made the top 10? Let us know!

How to empower your YouTube video? Whether you are targeted in YouTube music video, gameplay video, beauty & fashion, comedy, how-to video, education, or entertainment video, you always need good video editing software to edit the YouTube video. Check our pickups of the best video editing software for YouTube in the below video.

Want to know more statistics about YouTube Reds, check our Infographic about YouTube Facts, Figures here .

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Making an incredibly successful YouTube video is the holy grail for any digital marketer. Gaining a place in the most-watched YouTube videos list is a great ambition to have, but you’ll be up against some stiff competition. Below, let’ take a look at the most viewed YouTube music video worldwide in 2021 and see what the secret to their success is.

Interested in the richest YouTubers? Check our pick of Top 10 Richest YouTubers in 2021

What is the Most Viewed YouTube Video?

Over the past couple of years, Despacito music video is undoubtedly been the most viewed video on YouTube. However, the list had changed after 2020 due to the rise of a catchy kid song - Baby Shark Dance. This child song video has reached more than 9 billion views worldwide (still growing) and led to an online dancing fever - Body Shark Challenge.

Top 10 Most Watched YouTube Videos in 2021

You may have expected this, but the majority of the most popular YouTube videos are actually music videos. Most, but not all. Here’s our list based on the latest statistics about the most viewed youtube video ever available right now. If you want to know more about the channels or the YouTubers, you can use InflueNex to get the details of them.

Here is a full list of the most viewed videos on YouTube except for Body Shark Dance.

• Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
• See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
• Shape of You - Ed Sheeran
• Gangnam Style - Psy
• Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies
• Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
• Sorry - Justin Bieber
• Sugar - Maroon 5
• Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
• Roar - Katy Perry

1. Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee

Views:5.4B

Despacito, the Spanish word for ‘slowly’, has broken all records in terms of the most viewed YouTube videos, reaching the milestone of two billion views faster than any other video, ever. It went on to reach 2.5 billion views faster than any other and now boasts more than five billion views, making it the most-watched YouTube video of all time.

As a song that’s almost completely sung in Spanish, the immense popularity of this video surprised everyone. Although hugely popular in Hispanic countries, Despacito was also top of the charts in 45 different countries, from Uruguay to Japan to Italy, so what made it so popular? Experts have speculated that its mix of Caribbean, Latin, pop, and rap gave it a broad appeal. Its earwormish nature, danceable beat, and perfectly summery vibe have propelled this fairly mediocre video to the heights of YouTube stardom that the rest of us can only dream about.

2. See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth

Views:3.7B

See You Again is a pretty cool song but is it really cool enough to be number two of the most-watched YouTube videos? Sure, the tune is catchy, and the video production is probably better than that of Despacito, but its rapid rise to YouTube stardom was still rather unexpected. Over 800 days after release, the video had clocked up almost three billion views, unseating the reigning champion of YouTube views, Psy and his K-Pop masterpiece, Gangnam Style, and today it’s sitting comfortably in the number two spot with 3.6 billion watches.

So, why did this tune go so viral? Was it the loyal Fast and the Furious fan base craving more time with the Furious 7 soundtrack, or was it the tributary nature of the video paying homage to the late Paul Walker that was bringing in the views? In truth, it was probably both and also neither. The main influencer here was simply that a lot more people were using YouTube. Between 2015 and 2016, YouTube experienced a 17 percent increase in music video viewers and a total 25 percent increase in video streams. See You Again was simply in the right place at the right time.

3. Shape of You - Ed Sheeran

Views:3.7B

If there’s one artist who has rocked the music scene more than any other in recent years, Mr. Sheeran is it. His double lead single from his latest album ÷ (divide) has been his most successful to date, racking up 3.5 billion views on YouTube to date with millions more added each day. It is Spotify’s most popular song ever with 1.5 billion streams and currently holds the record for the most number of weeks spent in the Billboard top 10. It’s was nominated for best single at the Brit Awards 2021 but was pipped at the post by Rag’n’Bone Man with Human.

But why does everyone love Shape of You so much? It’s a pretty simple song, with four basic chords and fairly boring romantic lyrics; what makes it so special? Some of its success is down to the physical construction of the music itself, with a pentatonic scale offering a tried and tested catchiness that’s impossible to resist. Even if you’re not a Sheeran fan, exposure has made this song familiar to you, being popular in clubs, pubs, restaurants and with buskers on street corners (not to mention certain Christmas adverts, right?). Add to all this the rise in general popularity of music videos, it’s clear to see how it’s become one of the most viewed YouTube videos of all time.

4. Gangnam Style - Psy

Views:3.2B

We’d be surprised if you could honestly say you’d never heard of Gangnam Style (and perhaps secretly tried a few horse dance moves), and Psy himself was undoubtedly pretty surprised too when he rocketed to internet fame in 2013. At its peak, this K-Pop legend was racking up 72 views per second and averaged 33 views a second for two whole years. Today, he’s fourth on the list with a total of 3.2 billion views (and yes, people are still watching).

Although it might seem Psy was inherently lucky when his song became such a huge hit, actually what he did was very clever. As well as combining a catchy tune with a ridiculously funny video, he intentionally left copyright off the video itself, almost inviting others to create their own parodies of the video, which they did in their droves. The dance he created was nothing short of genius, easily replicable by others all over the world. Despite being ‘K-Pop’, Psy’s own look is a world away from the polished pretty boy image of other artists in this genre, offering more of an anti-pop image from a guy who is clearly comfortable in his own skin. The result is the full package of measures, and deservedly places Gangnam Style in the top 10 most-watched YouTube videos of all time.

5. Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies

Views:3.2B

A rather unusual entry for our number five slot, Masha and the Bear, as you might have guessed, is not a music video at all. It’s not even an official video, and to top it off it’s in Russian! Masha and the Bear is incredibly popular in Russia and is based loosely on an old Russian folk story, and since all 68 episodes have been uploaded to YouTube, three have surpassed the one billion view mark.

This particular episode is the crowning glory, having racked up 3.1 billion views over the years. The reason for this particular episode’s incredibly popularity is not entirely clear, although it is thought that perhaps the way Masha herself is portrayed has helped its success. Dressed in a folk costume with no legs on show and a headscarf makes the video acceptable to Muslim audiences around the world, which may have helped to spread its popularity.

6. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Views:3.2B

Also with 3.1 billion views, the inimitably catchy Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson has been his biggest hit to date. Boasting chart-topping success in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and many other locations around the world, the single won two Grammys, record of the year, and spent 14 weeks at number one in the US. So, what was it that got people watching, singing, and dancing along with Ronson and Mars?

Part of the success is undoubtedly down to the amazing lyrics of the song. From repeating how hot he is to namechecking Michelle Pfeiffer and Saint Laurent, these are feel-good power lyrics at their very best. The simple four-chord structure and effortlessly funky beat help its appeal bridge the generations, and the video itself just screams fun, fun, fun! Don’t believe us, just watch (the YouTube video, of course)!

7. Sorry - Justin Bieber

Views:3 B

It’s no surprise that the young person’s sensation that is Justin Bieber had to make an appearance in our top 10 most-watched YouTube videos. He is, after all, the epitome of the YouTube generation, and has plenty of other well-watched videos in his archives. Selling 10 million copies in 2016 alone and topping the charts in 13 countries, Sorry has racked up, to date, 2.9 billion hits on YouTube, making it his most successful music video ever. So, what was the secret to this hit’s success?

Actually, we think that the reason for the success of this particular Bieber creation is due in part to the mismatch between the visuals and the audio. A languishing video requesting redemption from a lover would typically be shot in gritty black and white and feature the singer moping about feeling sorry for themselves. Instead, Bieber opted to recruit lively dancers from New Zealand’s ReQuest Dance Crew and furnish them with eye-popping outfits and lively dance moves to make up for the potentially depressing lyrics.

8. Sugar - Maroon 5

Views:2.7B

Maroon 5 had enjoyed a somewhat tumultuous career, achieving fame in the noughties, disappearing for a while, and then returning with outstanding hits such as ‘moves like Jagger’ and ‘One more night’. But this song, Sugar, has been their biggest video hit to date. Why? Well, the proof is in the pudding as they say.

This was a completely new concept video, shot in a variety of locations around Los Angeles and featuring Maroon 5 crashing numerous weddings. The reality is that the band did arrange things somewhat with the groom, although the bride and her guests had no idea. The resulting video is a joy to watch, as the assembled wedding parties express their shock, surprise, fear, and even anger as Levine and his crew pitch up and start singing.

Looking for the best wedding video songs? Check our top lists of the best songs for your wedding video .

9. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift

Views:2.6B

After a long drought of almost a year, devoted fans of Taylor Swift were sick to death of hearing ‘I Knew you were Trouble’ on the radio five hundred times a day, so Shake it Off was almost guaranteed to be a big hit. Going straight into number one on the charts and staying in the Hot 100 for 50 consecutive weeks, its success on YouTube was even greater, boasting 2.5 billion views to date and making it the 9th most-watched video on YouTube. But how?

Swift is a master of generating internet attention. With over 100 million Instagram followers, Taylor set about whipping her ‘Little Monsters’ into a frenzy about the forthcoming release of her new single. As a result, Shake it Off was pretty much all the internet cared about for a full 24 hours. The lyrics tread a thin line between playful mockery of Swift and self-aware empowerment but are also super easy to memories and sing along with. Well played madam, well played.

10. Roar - Katy Perry

Views:2.6B

In 2013, Katy Perry took a short break out of kissing girls and liking it, as well as marrying (and divorcing) Russell Brand in order to release this banging new single. By the end of the year, Roar had sold almost 10 million copies and had topped the charts in 12 different countries. Its success on the radio was only surpassed by the success of the colorful music video on YouTube, where it has secured 2.5 billion views to date.

What’s not to love about this particular video, we ask? The lyrics are super empowering, you can run to it, dance to it, or just belt out your own roar alongside Katy. The visuals are awesome too, in particular the CGI animals and skimpy leopard print bikini, which undoubtedly helped its popularity. In a year that was tough personally for Perry, she hit back and produced this powerful song, showing once again that she is indeed a champion.

Conclusion

All the videos listed above have billions of views after it is on YouTube, however, Rome wasn’t built in a day. If you want to get more views on your YouTube videos, do not miss our guide about How to get more views on YouTube . The most viewed videos on YouTube are constantly changing, and as more and more people choose to consume their visual content in this way, we’ll undoubtedly see more records broken, more changes to this top 10, and more exciting content being produced. Were you surprised by our list? Who did you think should have made the top 10? Let us know!

How to empower your YouTube video? Whether you are targeted in YouTube music video, gameplay video, beauty & fashion, comedy, how-to video, education, or entertainment video, you always need good video editing software to edit the YouTube video. Check our pickups of the best video editing software for YouTube in the below video.

Want to know more statistics about YouTube Reds, check our Infographic about YouTube Facts, Figures here .

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Making an incredibly successful YouTube video is the holy grail for any digital marketer. Gaining a place in the most-watched YouTube videos list is a great ambition to have, but you’ll be up against some stiff competition. Below, let’ take a look at the most viewed YouTube music video worldwide in 2021 and see what the secret to their success is.

Interested in the richest YouTubers? Check our pick of Top 10 Richest YouTubers in 2021

What is the Most Viewed YouTube Video?

Over the past couple of years, Despacito music video is undoubtedly been the most viewed video on YouTube. However, the list had changed after 2020 due to the rise of a catchy kid song - Baby Shark Dance. This child song video has reached more than 9 billion views worldwide (still growing) and led to an online dancing fever - Body Shark Challenge.

Top 10 Most Watched YouTube Videos in 2021

You may have expected this, but the majority of the most popular YouTube videos are actually music videos. Most, but not all. Here’s our list based on the latest statistics about the most viewed youtube video ever available right now. If you want to know more about the channels or the YouTubers, you can use InflueNex to get the details of them.

Here is a full list of the most viewed videos on YouTube except for Body Shark Dance.

• Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
• See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
• Shape of You - Ed Sheeran
• Gangnam Style - Psy
• Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies
• Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
• Sorry - Justin Bieber
• Sugar - Maroon 5
• Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
• Roar - Katy Perry

1. Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee

Views:5.4B

Despacito, the Spanish word for ‘slowly’, has broken all records in terms of the most viewed YouTube videos, reaching the milestone of two billion views faster than any other video, ever. It went on to reach 2.5 billion views faster than any other and now boasts more than five billion views, making it the most-watched YouTube video of all time.

As a song that’s almost completely sung in Spanish, the immense popularity of this video surprised everyone. Although hugely popular in Hispanic countries, Despacito was also top of the charts in 45 different countries, from Uruguay to Japan to Italy, so what made it so popular? Experts have speculated that its mix of Caribbean, Latin, pop, and rap gave it a broad appeal. Its earwormish nature, danceable beat, and perfectly summery vibe have propelled this fairly mediocre video to the heights of YouTube stardom that the rest of us can only dream about.

2. See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth

Views:3.7B

See You Again is a pretty cool song but is it really cool enough to be number two of the most-watched YouTube videos? Sure, the tune is catchy, and the video production is probably better than that of Despacito, but its rapid rise to YouTube stardom was still rather unexpected. Over 800 days after release, the video had clocked up almost three billion views, unseating the reigning champion of YouTube views, Psy and his K-Pop masterpiece, Gangnam Style, and today it’s sitting comfortably in the number two spot with 3.6 billion watches.

So, why did this tune go so viral? Was it the loyal Fast and the Furious fan base craving more time with the Furious 7 soundtrack, or was it the tributary nature of the video paying homage to the late Paul Walker that was bringing in the views? In truth, it was probably both and also neither. The main influencer here was simply that a lot more people were using YouTube. Between 2015 and 2016, YouTube experienced a 17 percent increase in music video viewers and a total 25 percent increase in video streams. See You Again was simply in the right place at the right time.

3. Shape of You - Ed Sheeran

Views:3.7B

If there’s one artist who has rocked the music scene more than any other in recent years, Mr. Sheeran is it. His double lead single from his latest album ÷ (divide) has been his most successful to date, racking up 3.5 billion views on YouTube to date with millions more added each day. It is Spotify’s most popular song ever with 1.5 billion streams and currently holds the record for the most number of weeks spent in the Billboard top 10. It’s was nominated for best single at the Brit Awards 2021 but was pipped at the post by Rag’n’Bone Man with Human.

But why does everyone love Shape of You so much? It’s a pretty simple song, with four basic chords and fairly boring romantic lyrics; what makes it so special? Some of its success is down to the physical construction of the music itself, with a pentatonic scale offering a tried and tested catchiness that’s impossible to resist. Even if you’re not a Sheeran fan, exposure has made this song familiar to you, being popular in clubs, pubs, restaurants and with buskers on street corners (not to mention certain Christmas adverts, right?). Add to all this the rise in general popularity of music videos, it’s clear to see how it’s become one of the most viewed YouTube videos of all time.

4. Gangnam Style - Psy

Views:3.2B

We’d be surprised if you could honestly say you’d never heard of Gangnam Style (and perhaps secretly tried a few horse dance moves), and Psy himself was undoubtedly pretty surprised too when he rocketed to internet fame in 2013. At its peak, this K-Pop legend was racking up 72 views per second and averaged 33 views a second for two whole years. Today, he’s fourth on the list with a total of 3.2 billion views (and yes, people are still watching).

Although it might seem Psy was inherently lucky when his song became such a huge hit, actually what he did was very clever. As well as combining a catchy tune with a ridiculously funny video, he intentionally left copyright off the video itself, almost inviting others to create their own parodies of the video, which they did in their droves. The dance he created was nothing short of genius, easily replicable by others all over the world. Despite being ‘K-Pop’, Psy’s own look is a world away from the polished pretty boy image of other artists in this genre, offering more of an anti-pop image from a guy who is clearly comfortable in his own skin. The result is the full package of measures, and deservedly places Gangnam Style in the top 10 most-watched YouTube videos of all time.

5. Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies

Views:3.2B

A rather unusual entry for our number five slot, Masha and the Bear, as you might have guessed, is not a music video at all. It’s not even an official video, and to top it off it’s in Russian! Masha and the Bear is incredibly popular in Russia and is based loosely on an old Russian folk story, and since all 68 episodes have been uploaded to YouTube, three have surpassed the one billion view mark.

This particular episode is the crowning glory, having racked up 3.1 billion views over the years. The reason for this particular episode’s incredibly popularity is not entirely clear, although it is thought that perhaps the way Masha herself is portrayed has helped its success. Dressed in a folk costume with no legs on show and a headscarf makes the video acceptable to Muslim audiences around the world, which may have helped to spread its popularity.

6. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Views:3.2B

Also with 3.1 billion views, the inimitably catchy Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson has been his biggest hit to date. Boasting chart-topping success in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and many other locations around the world, the single won two Grammys, record of the year, and spent 14 weeks at number one in the US. So, what was it that got people watching, singing, and dancing along with Ronson and Mars?

Part of the success is undoubtedly down to the amazing lyrics of the song. From repeating how hot he is to namechecking Michelle Pfeiffer and Saint Laurent, these are feel-good power lyrics at their very best. The simple four-chord structure and effortlessly funky beat help its appeal bridge the generations, and the video itself just screams fun, fun, fun! Don’t believe us, just watch (the YouTube video, of course)!

7. Sorry - Justin Bieber

Views:3 B

It’s no surprise that the young person’s sensation that is Justin Bieber had to make an appearance in our top 10 most-watched YouTube videos. He is, after all, the epitome of the YouTube generation, and has plenty of other well-watched videos in his archives. Selling 10 million copies in 2016 alone and topping the charts in 13 countries, Sorry has racked up, to date, 2.9 billion hits on YouTube, making it his most successful music video ever. So, what was the secret to this hit’s success?

Actually, we think that the reason for the success of this particular Bieber creation is due in part to the mismatch between the visuals and the audio. A languishing video requesting redemption from a lover would typically be shot in gritty black and white and feature the singer moping about feeling sorry for themselves. Instead, Bieber opted to recruit lively dancers from New Zealand’s ReQuest Dance Crew and furnish them with eye-popping outfits and lively dance moves to make up for the potentially depressing lyrics.

8. Sugar - Maroon 5

Views:2.7B

Maroon 5 had enjoyed a somewhat tumultuous career, achieving fame in the noughties, disappearing for a while, and then returning with outstanding hits such as ‘moves like Jagger’ and ‘One more night’. But this song, Sugar, has been their biggest video hit to date. Why? Well, the proof is in the pudding as they say.

This was a completely new concept video, shot in a variety of locations around Los Angeles and featuring Maroon 5 crashing numerous weddings. The reality is that the band did arrange things somewhat with the groom, although the bride and her guests had no idea. The resulting video is a joy to watch, as the assembled wedding parties express their shock, surprise, fear, and even anger as Levine and his crew pitch up and start singing.

Looking for the best wedding video songs? Check our top lists of the best songs for your wedding video .

9. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift

Views:2.6B

After a long drought of almost a year, devoted fans of Taylor Swift were sick to death of hearing ‘I Knew you were Trouble’ on the radio five hundred times a day, so Shake it Off was almost guaranteed to be a big hit. Going straight into number one on the charts and staying in the Hot 100 for 50 consecutive weeks, its success on YouTube was even greater, boasting 2.5 billion views to date and making it the 9th most-watched video on YouTube. But how?

Swift is a master of generating internet attention. With over 100 million Instagram followers, Taylor set about whipping her ‘Little Monsters’ into a frenzy about the forthcoming release of her new single. As a result, Shake it Off was pretty much all the internet cared about for a full 24 hours. The lyrics tread a thin line between playful mockery of Swift and self-aware empowerment but are also super easy to memories and sing along with. Well played madam, well played.

10. Roar - Katy Perry

Views:2.6B

In 2013, Katy Perry took a short break out of kissing girls and liking it, as well as marrying (and divorcing) Russell Brand in order to release this banging new single. By the end of the year, Roar had sold almost 10 million copies and had topped the charts in 12 different countries. Its success on the radio was only surpassed by the success of the colorful music video on YouTube, where it has secured 2.5 billion views to date.

What’s not to love about this particular video, we ask? The lyrics are super empowering, you can run to it, dance to it, or just belt out your own roar alongside Katy. The visuals are awesome too, in particular the CGI animals and skimpy leopard print bikini, which undoubtedly helped its popularity. In a year that was tough personally for Perry, she hit back and produced this powerful song, showing once again that she is indeed a champion.

Conclusion

All the videos listed above have billions of views after it is on YouTube, however, Rome wasn’t built in a day. If you want to get more views on your YouTube videos, do not miss our guide about How to get more views on YouTube . The most viewed videos on YouTube are constantly changing, and as more and more people choose to consume their visual content in this way, we’ll undoubtedly see more records broken, more changes to this top 10, and more exciting content being produced. Were you surprised by our list? Who did you think should have made the top 10? Let us know!

How to empower your YouTube video? Whether you are targeted in YouTube music video, gameplay video, beauty & fashion, comedy, how-to video, education, or entertainment video, you always need good video editing software to edit the YouTube video. Check our pickups of the best video editing software for YouTube in the below video.

Want to know more statistics about YouTube Reds, check our Infographic about YouTube Facts, Figures here .

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

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