> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://capitolcommunicator.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# A Viral Phenomenon – YouTube Rewind
- URL: https://capitolcommunicator.com/a-viral-phenomenon-youtube-rewind/
- Published: 2018-12-06T18:31:13.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T23:49:21.000Z
- Author: Capitol Communicator
- Tags: Media, Video, #Import 2026-10-08 18:49

**When *YouTube Rewind* *2018*** **was uploaded** on YouTube Spotlight Channel, it was viewed nearly five million times within two hours of posting. [***YouTube Rewind***](https://capitolcommunicator.com/youtube-releases-2017-rewind-video-which-reviews-2017s-pop-culture-news-and-showbiz-trends/) is a video series produced and created by [YouTube](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) and [Portal A Interactive](https://www.portal-a.com/?ref=capitolcommunicator.com). The videos are an overview and recap of each year’s [viral videos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral%5Fvideo?ref=capitolcommunicator.com), events, people, trends, music and moments on YouTube. With over a billion views, Rewind has become a viral phenomenon.

**History (Data as of October 31, 2018 provided by Wikipedia)**

**On December 13, 2010**, the first *YouTube Rewind* was uploaded, titled “2010 YouTube Rewind: Year in Review”. It featured the top 10 most popular videos on YouTube for the preceding year. **Views: 4.32 Million**

**On December 20, 2011**, “YouTube Rewind 2011” was uploaded. It featured [Rebecca Black](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca%5FBlack?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) as the host. Her music video [Friday](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday%5F%28Rebecca%5FBlack%5Fsong%29?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) had become a viral video in March 2011\. **Views: 10.11 Million**

**On December 17, 2012**, “Rewind YouTube Style 2012”, referencing [Gangnam Style](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangnam%5FStyle?ref=capitolcommunicator.com), was uploaded to YouTube Spotlight. **Views: 187.55 Million**

**On December 11, 2013**, “YouTube Rewind: What Does 2013 Say?”, referencing [What Does the Fox Say?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FFox%5F%28What%5FDoes%5Fthe%5FFox%5FSay%3F%29?ref=capitolcommunicator.com), was uploaded to YouTube Spotlight. [DJ Earworm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DJ%5FEarworm?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) mashed up six songs from the year. [Jimmy Fallon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy%5FFallon?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) and [The Roots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FRoots?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) from [*The Tonight Show*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FTonight%5FShow?ref=capitolcommunicator.com), made guest appearances. **Views: 127.76 Million**

**On December 9, 2014**, “YouTube Rewind: Turn Down for 2014”, referencing [Turn Down for What](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn%5FDown%5Ffor%5FWhat?ref=capitolcommunicator.com), was uploaded to YouTube Spotlight. Over 10 songs were mashed together by DJ Earworm for the video. Its main features were the YouTube Rewind Button flag, with which YouTubers and characters run from the beginning of the video all the way to the end. The flag was run through the sets of [*The Colbert Report*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FColbert%5FReport?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) by [Big Bird](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big%5FBird?ref=capitolcommunicator.com); [*Conan*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conan%5F%28talk%5Fshow%29?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) by [Conan O’Brien](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conan%5FO%27Brien?ref=capitolcommunicator.com), running through his own with [Freddie Wong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie%5FWong?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) acting as the host’ and [*Last Week Tonight with John Oliver*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last%5FWeek%5FTonight%5Fwith%5FJohn%5FOliver?ref=capitolcommunicator.com), by [Kid President](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robby%5FNovak?ref=capitolcommunicator.com). **Views: 126.57 Million**

**On December 9, 2015**, “YouTube Rewind: Now Watch Me 2015”, referencing [Watch Me](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watch%5FMe%5F%28Whip/Nae%5FNae%29?ref=capitolcommunicator.com), was uploaded to the YouTube Spotlight channel. It was the first one to feature a hashtag; #YouTubeRewind. The video heavily incorporated previous years of YouTube due to 2015 being the website’s 10th anniversary. The music mashup was composed by [The Hood Internet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FHood%5FInternet?ref=capitolcommunicator.com). Additionally, [Avicii](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avicii?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) composed an original [remix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remix?ref=capitolcommunicator.com#Electronic%5Fmusic) for the video. The video featured more [gamers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamer?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) than previous years, such as YouTube personality [Markiplier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markiplier?ref=capitolcommunicator.com). It was set up to resemble the [*Five Nights at Freddy’s*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five%5FNights%5Fat%5FFreddy%27s%5F%28series%29?ref=capitolcommunicator.com), an [indie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indie%5Fgame?ref=capitolcommunicator.com), [survival horror](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival%5Fhorror?ref=capitolcommunicator.com), [point-and-click](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point-and-click%5Fgame?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) [video game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video%5Fgame?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) that has gained recognition since its first release in August 2014\. **Views: 141.38 Million**

**On December 7, 2016**, “YouTube Rewind: The Ultimate 2016 Challenge”, referencing the increasing number of [challenges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5FInternet%5Fphenomena?ref=capitolcommunicator.com#Challenges) that took place in 2016, was uploaded to the YouTube Spotlight channel. Music was developed by The Hood Internet with an original remix by Major Lazer. The video begins with [Dwayne Johnson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne%5FJohnson?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) showing a miniature Rewind button, and YouTube personalities hunting for ‘Rewind’ symbols in the style of [Pokémon Go](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon%5FGo?ref=capitolcommunicator.com). The video also references objects being crushed by a [hydraulic press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic%5Fpress?ref=capitolcommunicator.com), Hodor from [Game of Thrones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game%5Fof%5FThrones?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) and the [dabbing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dab%5F%28dance%29?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) dance move. The video ends [James Corden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James%5FCorden?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) and other personalities in a car, in reference to the [Carpool Karaoke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpool%5FKaraoke?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) segments from [The Late Late Show](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FLate%5FLate%5FShow%5Fwith%5FJames%5FCorden?ref=capitolcommunicator.com). **Views: 222.12 Million**

**On December 6, 2017**, “YouTube Rewind: The Shape of 2017”, referencing the song [Shape of You](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shape%5Fof%5FYou?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) by [Ed Sheeran](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed%5FSheeran?ref=capitolcommunicator.com), was uploaded to the YouTube Spotlight channel. **Views: 203.73 Million**