With the list of top videos internationally released yesterday, YouTube has now provided South Africa’s Top 10 Videos and Music Videos for 2017. Locally, Bhizer with Gobisiqolo danced its way to the top spot, racking up 4 122 903 views in the process (and counting). It’s followed by two more musicians, with Kaybee’s laid back track, Charlotte, clinching second place, and Sun-EL Musician rising to third place, even though he just had a static image in place for Akanamali.  

Both the Top Videos of the year and Top Music Videos lists are music-heavy, with the difference being that the Top Music Vids list only features artists from major music labels. King of the Top Music Video list for South Africa is our favourite redhead, Ed Sheeran with Shape of You. Internationally, he came second to Luis Fonsi’s wildly popular track Despacito, but here Fonsi only managed fifth place.

YouTube claims that billions of hours of video is watched every month on the video streaming service, and that’s growing 50% year on year. So, what’s key to developing a viral video? YouTube claims popular videos tend to have three key characteristics: 1) They’re entertaining or informative in some way, 2) they’re something that you want to share with other people, and 3) they come from a channel with more videos like it.

Check the lists below, with the top 3 included in each. 

Top 10 Videos watched in South Africa in 2017, excluding major music labels

1. Bhizer (ft Busiswa, SC Gorna, Bhepepe) - Gobisiqolo

2. Kaybee (ft Lady Zamar) - Charlotte (Official Video)

3. Sun-EL Musician - Akanamali Feat. Samthing Soweto

4. Ramscomics - Noko Mashaba - Student Problems #CAClasses

5. Sipho Ngwenya feat Thinah Zungu - Jesu fik'ekuseni

6. Danger Flex SA - New Durban bhenga Dance 2017 (Basky Bhenga dance) They kiĺled it!!

7. South African Videos - Uzalo Mamlambo in real life...wow you can't believe.. So beautiful

8. Mark Angel Comedy - Maths Teacher (Episode 118)

9. Crime Intelligence & Community Awareness  - Porsche driver outwits armed hijackers in Johannesburg

10. Eyewitness News - Simphiwe Ngema remembers late husband Dumisani Masilela

Top 10 Music Videos watched by South Africans

1. Ed Sheeran - Shape of You (Official Video)

2. DJ Khaled - I'm the One ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne

3. DJ Khaled - Wild Thoughts ft. Rihanna, Bryson Tiller

4. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This (Lyric)

5. Luis Fonsi - Despacito ft. Daddy Yankee

6. Bruno Mars - That’s What I Like [Official Video]

7. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do

8. Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE.

9. French Montana - Unforgettable ft. Swae Lee

10. Jason Derulo - Swalla (feat. Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign) (Official Music Video)