Taylor Swift’s latest music video, a gauzy pastel rendition of her song “Me!” featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco, has charmed its way to a YouTube record.
The video dropped April 25 and earned 65.2 million views in its first day, making it YouTube’s most-viewed female and solo 24-hour debut ever. The most-viewed crown previously belonged to Ariana Grande and her song “Thank U, Next,” which brought in 50 million views in its first 24 hours.
With 65.2 million views, congratulations @taylorswift13 + @taylornation13 on breaking the record for highest female and solo 24-hour debut for any music video on @YouTube 🎉 https://t.co/yY6GkcuILa pic.twitter.com/wlKZ4zyHOk
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— YouTube Music (@youtubemusic) April 28, 2019
This actually isn’t Swift’s first time on top. In 2017, her video for “Look What You Made Me Do,” from her album Reputation, got 35 million views in 24 hours, making it the most-watched debut of all time. However, it was beaten out last year by K-pop phenoms BTS, whose “Idol” video got 45.9 million views.
Here’s where things get a little complicated: BTS still holds the record for most-watched YouTube debut overall. Not for “Idol,” but for “Boy With Luv.” That video, a collab with American singer Halsey, earned 74.6 million views when it bowed earlier this month. Swift’s record is specifically for a female, solo debut.
Swift’s “Me!” also rose to the top on two other streaming platforms. Over on Vevo, the video now holds the record for most views in a single day. And on Amazon, the song (not video) is now the record holder for most first-day streams and for most on-demand voice requests with Amazon’s AI assistant Alexa.
🚨New Vevo 24HR View Record 🚨
It’s official, @TaylorSwift13‘s “ME!” music video ft. @brendonurie holds the top spot for most views in a single day. If you haven’t watched the spectacle yet, it’s about time… ▶️ https://t.co/loHrKOh2yn— Vevo (@Vevo) April 28, 2019
Congrats to @taylorswift13 for putting the “ME!” in AWESOME!
“ME!” broke TWO records for most first day streams and on-demand voice requests with Alexa than any other single debut on Amazon Music. #AskAlexa “Play the new Taylor Swift” to stream ‘ME!’: https://t.co/nag0p6VH3A pic.twitter.com/TOQ6nVMM1N
— Amazon Music (@amazonmusic) April 27, 2019
You can watch the video for “Me!” below.