The Top 10 Most Underrated Viral Videos

Since Hannah decided that her post on the viral video effect warranted calling me out and making me seem like some kind of RickRolling obsessed Internet geek (which I’m not), I unilaterally decided that her post needed a companion post celebrating the wonderful world of viral videos.

You see, I’ve watched and passed along a lot of these so-called viral videos, so I feel qualified in attempting a task as daunting as listing out what I consider to be the 10 most underrated viral videos of all time. And just to make things easy, I am proceeding with a very simple criteria for what makes a viral video “underrated”: if it’s not on this Mashable list of the top 20 viral videos of all time then it qualifies for my list.

Certainly there will be arguments and disagreements, but that is what comment sections were made for.

(Plus, if you leave a comment, which you are encouraged to do, you’re automatically entered in the drawing for a $50 Maggiano’s gift certificate!)

So here we go. Prepare to be entertained. [Click to continue...]

Honorable mention (but left off because Hannah hates these videos):

• Get on my horse
• Brendan Fraser’s goofy clap at the Golden Globes
• Chimpanzee riding on a segway
• The amazingly lame Purdue University “give back” video

#10 Most Underrated Viral Video: Dramatic Prairie Dog

You might argue that this one isn’t so underrated because it does pop up on a good many viral video lists, but I still don’t think it gets the credit it deserves. And in the age of Internet ADD, anything that takes less than 10 seconds to consume fully gets extra credit. (Also, the Keith Olbermann vs the Dramatic Prairie Dog video is good too.)

#9 Most Underrated Viral Video: Cap’n Crunch Rap by NFL player Martellus “Marty B” Bennett

This is not the funniest nor the most interesting viral video by a long shot. However, and Matt will agree with this, Marty B’s scintillating ditty about his favorite breakfast cereal has not gotten the credit it deserves outside of Dallas and NFL circles. The juxtaposition of a (supposedly) rough-and-tough NFL tight end, a breakfast cereal, and the Mario song make this one of the more unique video creations ever to gain viral status in the sports blogosphere.

#8 Most Underrated Viral Video: Yes We Can by Will.i.Am, et al

Now look, this is not a political statement. Whether you like Barack Obama or don’t like him though, the power and pitch-perfect tone of this video when it came out cannot be overstated. Even if you are cynical about the President now, and even if you watch this video and think it seems a little (a lot?) overdramatic and/or perhaps even disingenuous in hindsight, this was one of the more influential and galvanizing viral videos we’ve ever seen. I mean, come on, the Star Wars kid may be funny, but it didn’t help a minority get elected President.

#7 Most Underrated Viral Video: “Build a Turtle Fence” by Auto-Tune the News

I know, I know…two straight videos that use the somewhat played out method of auto-tuning voices. But there is a reason why auto-tuning has become so integrated in music and popular culture: when done right, it can be entertaining and really, really funny. This video is both. There aren’t even really words to describe it. You just have to watch.

Seeing as how it came out recently, during a time when most Americans are sick of the congressional partisanship and gridlock we hear about every day, the timing of this video is perfect. (And if you do enjoy well done auto-tuning, you need to subscribe to this YouTube channel.)

#6 Most Underrated Viral Video: DJ Steve Porter “Practice” Remix

Crap, I did it again. Another auto-tune. But I guarantee that if you are even a casual sports fan that you’ll enjoy this one.

#5 Most Underrated Viral Video: The “Give Me Back My Son” Remix (NSFW language)

Are you noticing a trend here? I tend to think that musical videos don’t get the love they should. I mean, anyone can throw on the video camera for a few minutes after their kid leaves the dentist office, but it takes a lot of skill and time to produce a well done musical video. This is one of the better ones.

#4 Most Underrated Viral Video: I Threw It On the Ground

Yep, another music one. Andy Samberg pops up on a lot of the lists of best viral videos, and with good reason. Lazy Sunday, D**k in a Box, this one too…they are all outstanding videos. Trying to choose between them would be like picking between Kobe, LeBron, D-Wade, and Kevin Durant to start an NBA franchise; no matter which one you pick, you made a great choice. I just think that what separates this video is the complete randomness of it combined with the slow motion and then the hilarious ridicule of the children at the end.

Believe me, there was no way this list was getting made without Samberg popping up on it. He is one of most underrated comedians out there, mainly because of his ability to produce such hilarious music videos.

#3 Most Underrated Viral Video: Boom Goes the Dynamite

Poor Brian Collins. He really does seem like an earnest, good-natured kid who was unprepared, nervous, and just happened to be in front of rolling cameras.

While the video below is never something that he’d put on his resume, it is something that he’ll be tell his grandkids about. Why? Because the now-famous catchphrase that Collins coins about halfway through the video – “boom goes the dynamite” – can now be heard everywhere from sports blogs to the NCAA Tournament, to the Academy Awards. Add to that the fact that this video still makes me laugh after at least 100 views and it is, in my mind, underrated if it’s not in the top 20 of every viral video list.

#2 Most Underrated Viral Video: Louis CK on Conan

The more I watch this one, the more I love it. I cannot be totally certain, but I’m pretty sure that this has become my favorite routine by a comedian ever. In 10 years, when who-knows-what technological advancement is the Next Big Thing, we’ll be able to watch this video and laugh because all of us will complaining about what it can’t do rather than marveling at all of the amazing things that it can do. And the fact that this particular video also features Conan O’Brien is just an added bonus.

#1 Most Underrated Viral Video. Embrace Life seat belt PSA

I do believe it would be possible to produce a more perfect public service announcement for wearing your seatbelt than the Embrace Life seat belt PSA below. It is dramatic, poignant, and has great production value.

You probably thought that someone funny would occupy the top spot, but this one trumps all the others for me. It’s a good, worthy cause and the execution is flawless. That is what a viral video should be.

So, now the obvious question is: where did I screw up? If you had 100 bloggers put together top 10 viral video lists, you would undoubtedly get a wide spectrum of responses. Use the comment section below to post your nominee for most underrated viral video. Not only will you be participating in a great conversation, but you’ll also be eligible for the $50 gift certificate that we are giving away as part of How-to-Blog.TV’s official launch.

Have at it.

What do you think is the most underrated viral video?

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Jerod Morris is the Director of Blogging and Social Media for Orangecast, a web marketing firm located in Dallas that specializes managing the online profiles of small- and medium-sized businesses. Jerod is the managing editor for Corporate Compliance Insights as well as Midwest Sports Fans, where he hosts a podcast, has been a guest on ESPN’s Outside the Lines, makes regular radio appearances, and has hexes named after him. Follow Jerod on twitter (@jerodmsf) or email him: jerod [at] orangecaster [dot] com.

Tagged as: humor, rickroll, viral videos