There are many accomplishments that music videos on YouTube can achieve, andthese 2010s pop songs deserve to be celebrated for passing three billion views on the platform. While somerock music videos have gotten into the billions, pop songs deserve their moment, too. Recent pop musicians are working to keepthe genre that many historic artists ruled in the ‘80sthriving and at the forefront of the mainstream.
Some artists have been fortunate enough to see a few of their videos accomplish the feat of hitting three billion views. Others have only achieved it once, but that doesn’t mean they won’t return to this prominence again. Either way,all of these musicians have now cemented their place in YouTube history. These songs have become legendary anthems that are impossible to forget, and there is a chance their success will continue to grow as time passes.
10Mark Ronson - Uptown Funk Ft. Bruno Mars
Album: Uptown Special (2015)
As seen in the past, sometimes one of the most important things a musician in the pop genre can do is find the right partner. The mixing of two brands can create a ton of exposure all while perfectly blending two talents. As producer Mark Ronson created the song “Uptown Funk,“there was one artist he decided could provide the flavor the song needed: Bruno Mars.
After its release,the tune ended up on nineBillboardcharts, placing first on six of them. This even included topping the coveted Hot 100. Beyond the weekly rankings, it has placed on yearly, decade, and all-time charts. Helping extend the 11x platinum song’s reach has been its use in the media, such as an appearance in the movieSonic the Hedgehog 2.
9Katy Perry - Roar
Album: Prism (2013)
AlthoughKaty Perry was known for her tongue-in-cheek songs, “Roar” was not one of those. Instead,this was one of Perry’s more inspirational messages, focusing on standing up and believing in yourself. To promote this tune, Perry performed it at a few prominent landmarks, including the Brooklyn Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.
After finishing in first place on fiveBillboardcharts, including the Hot 100, music pundits took notice of the powerful track. This then led to two Grammy nominations, along with several others. Although it only won a few from all the ones it was nominated for,just the acknowledgments were enough to see how special this track was.
8OneRepublic - Counting Stars
Album: Native (2013)
From the late 2000s into the 2010s, OneRepublic released numerous hits. The band became known for songs such as “Apologize” and “Secrets.“Things got even bigger with the track “Counting Stars,“which came from their 2013 album,Native. This song ended up on nine differentBillboardcharts, placing first on a few and second on the Hot 100.
“Counting Stars” has continued to be beloved, reaching diamond status with over 10 million sales in the United States alone.
Over the years, “Counting Stars” has continued to be beloved, reaching diamond status with over 10 million sales in the United States alone. The band may not be discussed as much as they once were, but their talent is never to be underestimated. They have proven many times thatthey have the ability to take over all forms of media with a great tune.
7Charlie Puth - We Don’t Talk Anymore Ft. Selena Gomez
Album: Nine Track Mind (2016)
As Charlie Puth planned out his debut studio album, he had a few collaborators in mind, including Meghan Trainor, Shy Carter, and Selena Gomez. His song “We Don’t Talk Anymore” with Gomez became an instant hit,praised for being incredibly catchy. Since people couldn’t get it out of their heads, it quickly rose to prominence.
After becoming so beloved,it was nominated for nine awards, winning five of them. To extend its reach, two music videos were released for the song. One was a live performance, while the other, which became a hit, doesn’t feature Gomez in physical form. However, her voice is still used, even with someone else portraying Puth’s ex-love interest.
6Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You
Album:÷(2017)
Since releasing his debut album in 2011,Ed Sheeran has built up his career to become one of the most successful solo artists of all time. Thanks to his long list of hit songs, he had the most successful tour of the 2010s and became a global superstar. One of the key songs from this tour, which began in 2017, was “Shape of You.”
Not only did the song end up as the number one hit onBillboard’sweekly Hot 100 rankings, but it was on their yearly one as well. Along with continuing to chart years after its release,the song has gone on to become 13x platinum. The Grammy Award-winning tune is considered the biggest hit of Sheeran’s career.
5Maroon 5 - Sugar
Album: V (2014)
With all the hits that Maroon 5 has created, it takes a truly special tune to be at the top of their list. One of their most outstanding songs is “Sugar,” which comes from their 2014 album,V. This record was filled with great tracks, butwhat helped this one specifically stand out was its accompanying music video. In an effort to make it as strong as possible, the band enlisted famed director David Dobkin.
The reactions from the surprised wedding guests were priceless, making it one of the band’s most memorable videos of their career.
Dobkin is known for making hit movies such asShanghai KnightsandWedding Crashers. The latter is what the music video was based on.The band was filmed attending several different weddings, where they were seen playing the song. The reactions from the surprised wedding guests were priceless, making it one of the band’s most memorable videos of their career.
4Justin Bieber - Sorry
Album: Purpose (2015)
Justin Bieber rose to megastardom when he was just a teenager. Throughout his younger years, he had many breakout hits, including “Baby” and “Never Say Never.” As he began to grow as an artist, it remained to be seen where he would take his musical direction. His song “Sorry” from the 2015 hit album,Purpose,didn’t stray too far from what fans had come to know.
The music video was unique in that it featured a dance routine from a New Zealand group, ReQuest Dance Crew. This video quickly became a hit,becoming one of the fastest to reach one billion views in YouTube history. Since then, its popularity has only grown, helping this dance group land opportunities with artists such as G-Eazy and Ciara.
3PSY - Gangnam Style
Album:Psy 6 (Six Rules), Part 1EP (2012)
If Psy never wanted to release any new music, what he accomplished with “Gangnam Style” is more than enough to have cemented his legacy. Not often does a song dominate like this one did, butit became a global sensation. The dance became known around the world, and everyone wanted in on what Psy had created.
Some of the highlights include a 5x platinum certification for both the song and its accompanying music video, plus 12 award wins. On YouTube,the video has over 5.5 billion views and is still recognized as one of the fastest rises in the platform’s history. With this legendary song, Psy opened the door for so many artists, making an unforgettable impact.
2Taylor Swift - Blank Space
Album: 1989 (2014)
One of the most famous andsuccessful artists in the world is Taylor Swift. Whether it’s on platforms like Spotify or YouTube, her numbers are always among the very best. While everything she creates becomes adored, one song in particular that has truly managed to stand out is"Blank Space.” This tune debuted in 2014 and has carved its own legacy, thanks in part to its music video.
As with all of Swift’s songs, the accompanying videos tell tremendous stories. For “Blank Space,” it showcases Swift displaying erratic behavior after suspecting her lover of doing something they shouldn’t. The memorable performancewon Swift multiple awards, including Female Video of the Year and Best Pop Video at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards.
1Luis Fonsi - Despacito Ft. Daddy Yankee
Album: Vida (2019)
Luis Fonsi may not have gone into his 10th studio album thinking he would be releasing one of the biggest songs ever, but that is what “Despacito” became. The Latin pop song, which was originally released in 2017, became an absolute hit. With the single gaining so much attention, it created a huge platform for its accompanying music video to shine.
The now 8x platinum tune has over 8.7 billion views on YouTube, and it continues to climb.
The now 8x platinum tune has over 8.7 billion views on YouTube, and it continues to climb. The video, which shows both musicians performing the song, also stars model Zuleyka Rivera, who is also from Puerto Rico.The video would be one of four categories that the song won at the 18th Latin Grammy Awardsand was one of five categories that it won at the Billboard Music Awards.
