The music video for “Despacito” is not just the all-time most-viewed clip in YouTube history and the first upload to ever reach three billion views; it’s also the official “song of the summer.” According to YouTube data, Luis Fonsi‘s Latin megahit drew more viewership between Memorial Day and Labor Day than any other music video on the site.
“Despacito” was driven by its own infectious rhythms as well as the rising popularity of Latin music on YouTube. The video site split its “song of the summer” data into global and domestic divisions, and on the former list, which was shared by Billboard and others, 15 of the top 25 most-viewed music videos come from Latin America. Among US viewers, “Despacito” was one of the only songs from that region to reach the top 25, but it held on to the top spot, ahead of Top 40 staples like Bruno Mars’ “That’s What I Like” and DJ Khaled’s “I’m The One.”
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In the US, “Despacito” can trace part of its rise to Justin Bieber, whose April 2017 cover helped the song become an international phenomenon. Invigorated by the assist it received by The Biebs, Fonsi’s anthem soared up the YouTube charts, ultimately supplanting Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” as the site’s most-trafficked offering. While it currently holds that title, “Despacito” could soon face a challenge from Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do,” which cracked YouTube’s song of the summer list despite only arriving at the tail end of August.
For now, though, “Despacito” is still el rey. Here is the full list of YouTube’s songs of the summer in the US:
- Luis Fonsi – Despacito ft. Daddy Yankee
- Bruno Mars – That’s What I Like
- DJ Khaled – I’m the One ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne
- Post Malone – Congratulations
- Lul Uzi Vert – XO TOUR Llif3
- Ayo & Teo – Rolex
- Ed Sheeran – Shape of You
- DJ Khaled – Wild Thoughts ft. Rihanna, Bryson Tiller
- Future – Mask Off
- Cardi B – Bodak Yellow
- French Montana – Unforgettable
- Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE.
- KYLE – iSpy FT. Lil Yachty
- Rae Sremmurd – Swang
- 21 Savage – Bank Account
- Playboi Carti – Magnolia
- Migos – Bad and Boujee
- Imagine Dragons – Believer
- Donald Glover – Redbone
- Taylor Swift – Look What You Made Me Do
- A Boogie wit da Hoodie – Drowning
- YFN Lucci – Everyday We Lit
- Migos – Slippery
- Tee Grizzley – First Day Out
- Maluma – Felices los 4
