YouTube Rewind 2018 Puts Storyline In The Hands Of Creators (Watch)

By Geoff Weiss • 12/06/2018 •

A whole year on YouTube has seemingly led up to this: the annual Rewind compilation, which is produced by digital studio Portal A, and which sees the video giant taking a look back at the creators, videos, and memes that had the biggest impact in 2018.

This year’s installment, subtitled Everyone Controls Rewind, differs from past iterations in that YouTube gave creators and commenters control over the storyline. More than 100 top YouTube stars appear in the video, including Marques Brownlee, Liza Koshy, James Charles, Casey Neistat, The Dolan Twins, Ninja, Lilly Singh, and Emma Chamberlain. That marks a substantial trimming from the roughly 300 creators who appeared in last year’s video. And the illustrious crop of digital-native stars are joined in Rewind 2018 by traditional celebrities like Will Smith, Trevor Noah, John Oliver, and Adam Rippon.

This year’s video was shot over 17 days in Rio De Janeiro, Seoul, London, Abu Dhabi, Los Angeles, and Chicago, according to Portal A. In addition to referencing Fortnite, Drake’s “In My Feelings” challenge, K-Pop phenoms BTS, and more, Rewind 2018 also takes time near its conclusion to commemorate the platform’s do-gooders and minority communities, including educators, the LGBTQ community, and powerful women.

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The video is set to a soundtrack by Chicago-based production duo The Hood Internet, which specializes in mashups of hip hop and indie rock. It features some of the most popular songs on YouTube in 2018, including Cardi B’s “I Like It,” “Idol” by BTS, Drake’s “In My Feelings,” “High Hopes” by Panic! At The Disco, and Marshmello’s “Happier.”

YouTube has shared Rewind videos every December since 2010 on its YouTube Spotlight channel. The most popular version thus far has been 2016’s Rewind (223 million views), followed by 2017’s (204 million views), and then 2012 (188 million views). All told, Rewind has amassed over 1 billion lifetime views.

Check out this year’s video, which debuted live using the YouTube Premiere feature as 147,000 viewers watched on, right here: