A YouTube winner in Google’s top trending searches

Each year here at YouTube, we take a look back at the videos that captured our attention and our imagination during the year. We’ll be releasing the top trending videos of 2012 next week, but today our friends over at Google are taking a look at the year through the eyes of search.

Google’s 12th annual Zeitgeist Year-In-Review, a.k.a. a “spirit of the times,” reviews the people, places, and topics that captured the world’s attention this year. YouTube favorite “Gangnam Style” came in as the #2 global trending search term this year, and topped dozens of country’s charts. PSY’s smash hit also left a lasting impression on search, with questions like “How to Gangnam” popping up in Malaysia, and “Gangnam Style costume” coming in as the #4 trending Halloween Costume search in the U.S.

For a quick ride through 2012, check out the Zeitgeist video:


Make sure to check out the Google Zeitgeist site to see the hottest trends, people, and topics that were top of mind this year.

Kevin Allocca, YouTube trends manager, recently watched "Simon's Cat in 'Icecapade'"

This week's Trends: lights, wind, guitars

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:
  • We took in some dazzling videos of the Northern Lights captured on camera.

  • We collected video from Egypt's one-year anniversary of its revolution.

  • We examined how a certain very popular trend of 2012 has gone local.

  • We checked in on the ever-growing popularity of dubstep.

  • We were blown away by crazy footage of a California wind storm.

  • And we met an 8-year-old girl who might just be one of the best elementary school metal guitarist that we've seen:



Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Ignition."

A big YouTube winner in the year of Google search

Each year here at YouTube, we take a look back at the videos that captured our attention and our imagination during the year. We’ll be releasing the most viewed videos of 2011 next week, but today it’s the turn of our friends over at Google to take a look at the year in search.

And one of our homegrown YouTube stars - Ms. Rebecca Black - topped the fastest rising search term list in the U.S. and around the whole world! Congratulations Ms. Black … Google is one thing, but come back here next week to see if she also managed to top the list of the most-viewed YouTube videos around the world in 2011.

Meanwhile, you can visit Google’s Zeitgeist site for a sneak peak at some of the year’s biggest searches on YouTube.

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "YouTube Challenge: I gave my kids a terrible present."

This week's Trends: wind, tears, and sailors

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:
  • We looked at how a recent ad from candidate Rick Perry has stirred up lots of interest and parodies.

  • We saw on-the-scene footage from some wild windstorms in Scotland.

  • We tracked rising searches around tent monsters in "Occupy Australia."

  • We reflected on how children football fans deal with defeat: very very poorly.

  • We collected popular college videos from across the United States.

  • We measured how Justin Bieber's finding a sizeable audience for his holiday videos.

  • And even Mariah Carey herself declared this "the best thing I've ever seen":



Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Why Men and Women Cant be friends."

This week's Trends: mustaches, coasters, and shoppers

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:
  • We saw how one young man's speech went viral TWICE in 2011.

  • We waived goodbye to everyone's Movember facial hair.

  • We got a first person view of some really wild roller coasters.

  • We collected the craziest videos from the Black Friday shopping chaos.

  • And one of our Most Shared videos was this train station flash mob captured in Mumbai:



Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Miracle on 42nd Street."

This week's Trends: billions, spots, jelly beans

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:



Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Jian Sword Dancing."

This week's Trends: commercials, conflicts, light shows

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:



Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Japanese Monkey Potato Feeding Frenzy."

This week's Trends: breaking news, music videos, and corn

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:
  • We discovered a viral video trending amongst the 55+ crowd.

  • We saw a stadium stunt that spread from Iowa in popularity.

  • We looked at some of the trends around the big Col. Gadhafi news out of Libya.

  • We studied how two major music videos were gaining popularity around the planet.

  • We checked out a viral political spot from North Africa.

  • We tracked last weekend's "Occupy" protest footage from different parts of the U.S. and the world.

  • And we experienced what it would be like to kayak with blue whales:



Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Bobby Brown - Every Little Step."

This week's Trends: Wall Street, Nicki Minaj, antelope

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:



Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Wilson vs. Wilson."

This week's Trends: hits, protests, and Steve Jobs

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:



Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Brad Pitt!."