Celebrating 10 Years of YouTube’s Billion Views Club and the Video that Started it all: Psy’s 'Gangnam Style'

On July 15, 2012, music video history was forever changed as Psy’s “Gangnam Style” video made its unforgettable debut on YouTube. Psy immediately took the world by storm, with viewers around the globe flocking to YouTube to experience and share the viral sensation. Less than six months later on December 21, 2012, the game-changing video would go on to earn the honor of the first music video ever to hit one billion views on the platform, establishing YouTube’s Billion Views Club (BVC).

With over 4.4 billion views on the video to date, Psy demonstrated the immense power that music videos on YouTube have in connecting artists with their fans around the world, while inspiring others to reach record breaking milestones of their own.

As YouTube’s BVC turns 10, we look back on these and many other unforgettable music videos that have made their place in history as part of the club; including a genre- and generation-spanning collection of some of the most memorable music videos ever made. The elusive list features the likes of Luis Fonsi’s record-breaking sensation “Despacito ft. Daddy Yankee,” BLACKPINK’s “How You Like That,” Drake’s “Hotline Bling,” a-ha’s “Take On Me,” Shakira’s “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again ft. Charlie Puth,” Katy Perry’s “Roar,” Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow,” Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters,” Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk (Official Video) ft. Bruno Mars,” Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy,” and the club’s most recent entry with BVC first-timer Coolio for his ‘90s hit “Gangsta’s Paradise”.

Cyndi Lauper recently shared, “A lot of people don’t realize this but ‘Girls’ is really a political song. When I got my feminist hands on it, I knew I wanted to make it into an anthem for all women. Sonically, I wanted the song to be uplifting, joyful. When it came time to make the video it was really important to me to make sure we included women from every walk of life. I wanted every little girl watching the video to have the joyful experience of seeing herself on that screen. I wanted us to be a community.

Years later, at the Women’s March I saw that community in action. I saw all types of women and girls carrying signs saying ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun-damental Rights.' And now here we are at a Billion views. Back when we made the video there was no YouTube, so when you think about it it’s really extraordinary. The reach that this song has. The longevity. That people still purposely seek this video out and press play. Wow. I’m really grateful. Thank you.”

Alan Walker, who has 3 videos in BVC shared, “Youtube is where it all started for me! The community has been such a massive part of my life. Since the beginning, I have loved scrolling down the comment section to see how the community reacts to my uploads. The comments section has become a place that keeps my feet on the ground, gives me inspiration and even new connections. To have three videos that have amassed 1 Billion views goes so far beyond what I imagined was possible when I started. And it wouldnt be possible without you. Thank you!”