Best of Youtube 2007

Have you ever heard of Youtube? In Jan. 2008, of the 9.8 billion videos viewed in the US, 3.4 billion were seen on Youtube. It accounted for one out of every three online videos (34.4%).

Some Youtube Stats for Jan. 2008:

• 80 million viewers


• 3.4 billion videos watched


• 109 minutes per person per month
  


• 150,000+ videos uploaded daily

It would take 412.3 years to view all the videos available on Youtube.

80% of all videos posted on Youtube are user generated (amateur) videos.....and Youtube has just announced the 2007 Youtube video awards. There were 12 categories:


Category................................................Winner

Adorable..........................Laughing Baby
Comedy..................................The Mysterious Ticking Noise
Commentary........................Lonelygirl15 is Dead
Creative.................................Human Tetris
Eyewitness...........................Battle at Kruger
Inspirational......................Blind Painter
Instructional......................Rubik's Cube
Music......................................Chocolate Rain
Politics...................................Stop the Clash of Civilizations
Series......................................The Guild - Episode 1
Short Film............................My Name is Lisa
Sports.....................................Balloon Bowl

I personally like the following two videos the best. User generated content is really great!!!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXXm696UbKY&eurl=http://id842bnj-a.gmodules.com/ig/ifr?url=http://contests.labpixies.com/gadget/ytva/gadget_winners.xml&synd=labpixie]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiRHyzjb5SI&eurl=http://id842bnj-a.gmodules.com/ig/ifr?url=http://contests.labpixies.com/gadget/ytva/gadget_winners.xml&synd=labpixie]

Yes, We Can!

First off let me say that I am not a Barack Obama supporter. However I do agree with a lot that he has to say and would not be totally disappointed if he did capture the Democratic nomination from Hillary Clinton. Obama does have an excellent organization that is working very hard to get him the nomination.....but the key is Obama himself. He is a charismatic speaker and has the unique ability among all the other politicians to inspire hope and a sense that there could be a better way. He generates excitement in the oftentimes dreary world of politics. His supporters are energetic, highly motivated and talented as evidenced by the following video done by the rapper, songwriter and producer Will.i.am, front-man for the Black Eyed Peas.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY]

There is an infectious melody to this song that encourages you to sing along but more importantly there is the message that has been echoed throughout the history of the struggle for equality and human rights -Yes We Can!

Below are selected verses from the song that highlight the message and the emotion that Barack Obama brings to politics.

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation - Yes, We Can!
It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed the trails towards freedom - Yes, We Can!
It was sung by immigrants as they struck out to distant shores.....pioneers who pushed westward against the unforgiving wilderness - Yes, We Can!
It was the call of workers organized, women who reached for the ballots, a president who chose the moon as our new frontier, a King who took us to the mountain top, pointing the way to the promised land - Yes, We Can!

Nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We've been asked to pause for a reality check, we've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope, but in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

We will remember that there is something happening in America, that we are not as divided as our politics suggests, we are one people, we are one nation and together we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast, from sea to shining sea - Yes, We Can!

Will.i.am who made the video says he was inspired to create it while watching Obama's speech after his second-place finish to Sen. Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire primary:

"It was as if he was talking to and defending everything that made me who I am. I took that speech, and I wanted everyone else to be inspired by that speech as I was."

Obama is a fan of the video and recommended it to reporters on his campaign plane after he saw it Saturday. The campaign posted it on its Web site with a form so people can share it, and aides played it to warm up the crowd at an event headlined by Oprah Winfrey in Los Angeles on Sunday.

His wife, Michelle, is also proud of what her husband's fans can do, saying that the video touched her deeply, she encouraged people to share the video:

"Sharing this video, which was created by supporters, is one more way to help start a conversation with your friends, family, co-workers, and anyone else who will be voting soon about the issues important to them in this election."

Will.i.am who would like to see Obama become president says that he made the video not just to encourage people to vote for Obama but also to "remind people how powerful they are"

"The idea of 'Yes We Can' doesn't stop because he doesn't win."

The Royal Channel

Queen Elizabeth II of England announced the creation of "The Royal Channel" on Youtube. In acknowledging the worldwide popularity and acceptance of the video-sharing website, the royal family has once again shown its willingness to embrace new technologies as a means of reaching out to the public.

From her televised coronation in 1953, to her first live broadcast on Christmas Day 1957, to her podcast last year Christmas, the queen has shown a remarkable fondness for using the mass media and keeping up with the changing times. This year's Christmas message is available on the new Youtube Channel.

On the newly launched channel there are clips dating as far back as the silent news footage in 1917 of Queen Alexandra, the wife of Edward VII. Other topics of interest include: The Queen Mother's wedding (1923), Death of King George VI, Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, State Banquets, Garden Parties and much more. It is a real look back in time at the Royal Family. It is also very popular. It is the 2nd most subscribed to channel this month with more than 17,000 subscribers. Almost 1 million visitors have already been to the site.

In her Christmas message this year she started and ended with clips from her 1957 broadcast - 50 years ago. She also wore the same pearl necklace that she had on back then.

The Queen, Christmas 1957:

"That it's possible for some of you to see me today is just another example of the speed at which things are changing all around us. Because of these changes I am not surprised that many people feel lost and unable to decide what to hold on to and what to discard, how to take advantage of the new life without losing the best of the old."

The Queen, Christmas 2007:

"One of the features of growing old is the heightened awareness of change, to remember what happened 50 years ago means that it is possible to appreciate what has changed in the mean time. It also makes you aware of what has remained constant."

No matter what you may think of the British monarchy, Queen Elizabeth is one of the most beloved public figures in the world. She has reigned for 54 years and at 81-years-old, is Britain's longest reigning monarch. Her role today may only be ceremonial but she has lived a life that her subjects, the British people, can be very proud of. With all the troubles and scandals in the world, it almost makes one nostalgic for "The Good Old Days".

Hillary or Barack? The Video Showdown

This one is just for fun. There are two music videos going around. One is I Got a Crush on Obama by the Obama Girl. The other one is Hott 4 Hill by Taryn Southern. I thought it would be fun to put both of them together and have a vote on which one is the best. Tell me what you think in the comments section.

"Hott 4 Hill" by Taryn Southern

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sudw4ghVe8]

"I Got a Crush on Obama" by the Obama Girl

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKsoXHYICqU]

No matter what your political affiliation is, I think it is safe to say that the Democrats are having much more fun with their candidates (so far!!) than the Republicans. Maybe someone should come up with a "Rudy Video" or a "McCain Parody!!" on second thought.......Maybe Not!

Anyway let me know what you think. Exercise your constitutional right to.............VOTE!!