Why Are YouTube’s Top Videos of 2010 So Popular?

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Just because a video goes viral doesn’t mean it’s actually good.

Take YouTube’s recently-released list of the most popular videos of the year. Subtracting the typically-dominating music video category, these viral hits contain a few gems (like the hilarious Old Spice commercials and Bieber-to-be Greyson Chance). But mostly, we have to wonder why they got so popular in the first place.

(See YouTube’s 50 best videos.)

The most popular video is “Bed Intruder Song,” an Auto-Tuned version of a video that exploits a young man’s rage about his sister’s attempted assault. Kind of a downer, no? Coming in second is a trying-too-hard, not-even-funny parody of Ke$ha, an artist who’s just too easy of a target. And in fourth place is a parody of an already-overdone Budweiser commercial, enacted by talking fruit.

Come on, Internet. Can’t you enjoy something of better quality? Videos #2-5 are below, and you can see the rest at YouTube.

2) Key of Awesome – “Glitter Puke”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7n8GqewJ2M&w=450]

3) Greyson Chance – “Paparazzi”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxDlC7YV5is&w=450]

(See the 10 best viral videos of 2010.)

4) Annoying Orange – “Wazzup”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL_qGMfbtAk&w=450]

5) Old Spice – “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE&w=450]

For a palate cleanser, see the best talented web videos of the year.