The 39 Most Important Viral Videos Of 2013

These are the videos that inspired the conversations, drove the memes, and dominated the culture of 2013.

1. The NFL: A Bad Lip Reading

youtube.com

Uploaded: January 15

Total views: 45, 053, 711

A 100% completely accurate representation of how sports work. 100%.

2. A Pep Talk from Kid President to You

youtube.com

Uploaded: January 24

Total views: 30,741,265

If we learned anything from the Kid President this year, it was to "stop being boring". Always remember that life isn't a game, people.

3. DO THE HARLEM SHAKE (ORIGINAL)

youtube.com

Uploaded: February 2

Total views: 50,464,500

The video that set the biggest trend for the first half of 2013. Oh, and there's a guy wearing a pink bodysuit.

4. Taylor Swift - I Knew You Were A Goat When You Walked In

youtube.com

Uploaded: February 9

Total views: 2,284,490

Because T-Swift and goats.

5. Norwegian Army Harlem Shake

youtube.com

Uploaded: February 10

Total views: 96,703, 582

Even soldiers got in on the Harlem Shake craze. Watch for the guy that danced so hard he fell out a window.

6. "To This Day"

youtube.com

Uploaded: February 13

Total Views: 11,835,426

This animated spoken word poem has been shared by everyone who's ever been bullied or depressed or simply felt alone in the world. It is both tender and fierce, making you acknowledge your emotions while also encouraging you to step up and fight for the life you want.

7. Meteorite Crash In Russia

youtube.com

Uploaded: February 14

Total views: 38,619,210

The meteorite crash in Russia literally shook the world in 2013. Thanks to mandatory dashboard cameras in all Russian cars, the entire event was caught on camera from multiple angles.

8. Mozart vs Skrillex. Epic Rap Battles of History Season 2

youtube.com

Uploaded: April 8

Total views: 43,016,478

Two musical titans (lol, jk, only Mozart is a titan) taking each other on in a rap battle. #teammozart

9. How Animals Eat Their Food

youtube.com

Uploaded: April 8

Total views: 90,878,834

And, well, now you know. Bon appetit.

10. Dove Real Beauty Sketches

youtube.com

Uploaded: April 14

Total views: 60,666,826

Part of Dove's "Real Beauty" campaign, this ad led to a lot of discussion about how women are told to understand their own bodies - both pro-Dove and anti-Dove.

11. News Anchors Lose It Over Hilarious Ryan Lochte Interview

Uploaded: April 18

Total views: 2,112,049

You can't really blame her. Ryan Lochte interviews are just always hilarious.

12. Baby & Me - The New Evian Film

youtube.com

Uploaded: April 19

Total views: 68,414,633

This video answers the all-important question, "What would babies look like out at da club?"

13. Kaycee Rice - Werk (10 years old)

youtube.com

Uploaded: April 26

Total views: 4,056,739

This 10-year-old girl just might be the next Beyoncé. Who knew this young girl could move better than most people twice her age.

14. "Fire With Fire"

Uploaded: May 5

Total Views: 3,019,638

Aptly named, "Fire With Fire" is a documentary short which tells the story of a young girl with terminal cancer who is rescued by the unlikeliest of cures. Your jaw is guaranteed to drop.

15. Charles Ramsey

youtube.com

Uploaded: May 6

Total views: 7,807,436

All eyes were on Charles Ramsey this year when he found the three Cleveland women who had been missing for over a decade. His interview after the fact was nothing short of delightful.

16. 2 yr old and her mom ... Kills choreography !!! 2years old !

youtube.com

Uploaded: May 8

Total views: 2,507,752

This little girl kills the choreography to Beyoncé's "End Of Time" and then finds herself on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Kids these days.

17. Space Oddity

youtube.com

Uploaded: May 12

Total views: 19,600,701

Anything that combines zero gravity and David Bowie instantly demands a medal. Especially when the performer is the commander of the International Space Station.

18. Porn Sex vs Real Sex: The Differences Explained With Food

youtube.com

Uploaded: July 29

Total views: 10,242,392

Turns out that plenty of fruits out there look plenty phallic. An interesting look into how porn shapes our perceptions of sexuality.

19. Drunk vs Stoned

youtube.com

Uploaded: August 22

Total views: 3,716,135

In which we learn that watching people attempt to do simple tasks while totally drunk/high is actually a lot of fun.

20. Ylvis - The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)

youtube.com

Uploaded: September 3

Total views: 290,568,548

Thanks, Norway, for asking the truly important questions.

21. "I Killed A Man."

youtube.com

Uploaded: September 3

Total views: 2,558,139

Matthew Cordle confessed, on Youtube, to killing a 61-year-old man when he was driving drunk. The confession is unbelievably honest. Cordle received 6 1/2 years in prison for driving drunk and causing an accident that lead to the the death of the man he confessed to killing.

22. Worst Twerk Fail EVER - Girl Catches Fire!

youtube.com

Uploaded: September 3

Total views: 14,802,421

Twerking? Check. A random person experiencing extreme pain? Check. This one had all the makings of a good viral vid, even if it did turn out to be a hoax from Jimmy Kimmel.

23. Spencer's Home Depot Marriage Proposal

youtube.com

Uploaded: September 11

Total views: 10,961,168

Basically everything that makes a good viral video - a flash mob, a great soundtrack, and proof that romance isn't dead after all.

24. Lily's Disneyland Surprise....AGAIN!

youtube.com

Uploaded: September 12

Total views: 3,797,443

The title says Lily, but really this one's all about sister Chloe. She gave the greatest side-eye of all time, quickly becoming a Tumblr sensation.

25. Little boy dancing to Lady Gaga

youtube.com

Uploaded: September 19

Total Views: 1,016,378

This young boy dances flawlessly to Gaga's "Applause", which is fitting, because he deserves all of it for his killer moves.

26. Hedgehog "Wrecking Ball" Parody

youtube.com

Uploaded: September 20

Total Views: 1,393,880

Sadly, it's not the whole song, but you get a good glimpse of that hedgehog writhing around in a tiny white tank top and darn it, that is good enough!

27. An Interpretive Dance For My Boss Set To Kanye West's Gone

youtube.com

Uploaded: September 28

Total views: 17,035,851

The "I quit" that was heard around the world. Bosses beware: this could replace resignation letters from now until forever.

28. Telekinetic Coffee Shop Surprise

youtube.com

Uploaded: October 7

Total views: 51,382,668

Everyone freaked out when they thought this coffee shop was possessed by some sort of Carrie-like character. Thus, the greatest prank of all time was born.

29. Chris Koo - Crazy In Love Dance Cover

youtube.com

Uploaded: October 14

Total views: 1,746,027

And Chris Koo shows us that us normal people can actually move and dance like Beyoncé. Until now, claims of such were highly doubtful. Thank you for making us believe again, Chris.

30. Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock performs Katy Perry's "Roar"

youtube.com

Uploaded: October 21

Total views: 3,439,231

Nothing more touching than kids with enough hope to fill the whole world. Hope you got your tissues ready.

31. The first walk on the ice

youtube.com

Uploaded: October 24

Total views: 5,499,770

In these 15 seconds, the entire beauty of humanity is explored. THIS IS LIFE. WE ARE ALL THIS GIRL FALLING ON ICE.

32. Baby's Emotional Reaction to Mother's Song. PRICELESS!!!

youtube.com

Uploaded: October 29

Total views: 1,190,991

This adorable little baby is moved to tears as his mom sings him Rod Stewart's "My Heart Can't Tell Me No". SO MANY FEELS.

33. The Epic Split feat. Van Damme

youtube.com

Uploaded: November 13

Total views: 61,142,799

Was there anything better than seeing Van Damme spread his legs in 2013? No, no there wasn't.

34. Girls Who Read

youtube.com

Uploaded: November 17

Total views: 2,908,101

An ode to girls who enjoy literature. Snaps to you sir, snaps all around.

35. Harry Potter in Real Life

youtube.com

Uploaded: November 19

Total views: 3,543,668

Because who hasn't dreamed about receiving their acceptance letter to Hogwarts? The fantasy we all wish would happen to us.

36. Detroit Pistons | Dance Cam: Nov. 19, 2013

youtube.com

Uploaded: November 22

Total views: 8,187,509

Antwain Alexander, 11, and NBA usher, Shannon Sailes, 46, launched into a dance-off over the Detroit Pistons dance cam, and it was the most epic dance battle ever.

37. Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball (Chatroulette Version)

youtube.com

Uploaded: November 26

Total views: 80,621,077

Steve Kardynal has done this kind of thing before for other songs, but there's nothing quite like seeing a burly naked man riding an inflatable ball in his living room.

38. If Only For A Second

youtube.com

Uploaded: December 4

Total views: 13,544,236

The Mimi Foundation surprised cancer patients with special makeovers, which turned out to consist of crazy wigs and out-of-control makeup, to help them forget the disease "if only for a second."

39. #XMAS JAMMIES - Merry Christmas from the Holderness Family!

youtube.com

Uploaded: December 11

Total views: 12,118,080

Not your typical Christmas card. Congrats to the Holderness family on their fly jammies.