Yeah Nah: NZ's top YouTube hits for 2011

What is it that makes us gravitate towards the repulsive?

I ask because YouTube this week released its list of most watched videos - and top of Kiwis' viewing list was Rebecca Black's song Friday, supposedly the world's worst pop song.

You'll have to judge for yourself whether it is that bad, which is presumably the excuse the other 170 million viewers were using when they watched it.

The top 10 list includes eight Kiwi videos, which is encouraging, except those eight include Richard Simmons and Paul Henry in Mile-High Madness. Other entries include the Christchurch earthquake, an All Blacks promo and a Samsung commercial.

Rotorua has a presence on the list in the form of Darcey-Rae Flavell-Hudson, the local star of the Legend road safety advertisement known best as the "ghost chips" ad.

There may be no accounting for taste when it comes to some of the entries on the list as mentioned, but the fact a local lad is one of the reasons so many people watched and shared the vital message that came with the Legend ad is great.

And he gave us a good laugh at the same time.

The ad also appears on another list. "Ghost chips" was the most searched for term on YouTube in New Zealand in November.

They must be doing something right to have beaten Nek minnit.

Only one Kiwi appears on the top music videos list: classy chanteuse Kimbra, who used to spend her summers at Rotorua's lakes, appeared in a video by singer Gotye that has been seen more than 24 million times.

So YouTube viewers do have some taste, then.

Let's hope next year's list includes fewer tragedies and even more great examples of thought-provoking creativity.

And maybe there will be room for the odd so-bad-it's-fascinating song as well.

Most-watched videos:

1. Rebecca Black - Friday

2. Nek minnit

3. Stand in Black

4. Mile-high madness with Richard Simmons!

5. Ultimate Dog Tease

6. Major earthquake has hit Christchurch, New Zealand

7. Samsung Smart TV TVC, New Zealand

8. Legend

9. Cadbury Share the Joy Song

10. Flash Haka @ Sylvia Park, 4 Sept 11

(search these terms to find videos on YouTube)

Most searched-for terms

Jan - Ricky Gervais

Feb - Christchurch earthquake

Mar - Charlie Sheen

Apr - Party Rock Anthem

May - Someone like you

Jun - Man down Rihanna

Jul - Moves like Jagger

Aug - Stereo hearts

Sep - Flash haka

Oct - We found love

Nov - Ghost chips

Dec - Fight for Life