5 Pop Music Videos With Over 1 Billion Views
- Shelbi Baker
- Jul 4
- 3 min read
Have you ever wondered where your favorite pop anthems rank in the grand scheme of the YouTube algorithm? Today, we're listing five of the most watched pop music videos of all time, all with over one billion views! It's time to test your viral video trivia knowledge. Can you guess all five? Let's get started and find out!
5. Despacito - Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee
We all remember the release of "Despacito" back in 2017. This song was everywhere. It was on the radio constantly, serving as a milestone that Latin American music could become even more mainstream. This late 2010s classic about taking romance slowly and passionately has amassed a whopping 9 billion views by present day. Clearly, the world was ready for a surge of electric, Latin beats mixed with a melody that's impossible to stop singing. "Despacito" is still one of our favorite songs for the summer!
4. Sign of the Times - Harry Styles
It seems like 2017 was quite the year for popular music, because this next one hails from the same year. Harry Styles' "Sign of the Times" is next on our list, having garnered 1.5 billion views of its own as of 2026. While popular, this track is incredibly emotional, with its story being the likely reason for bringing in so many views. "Sign of the Times" tells the tale of a mother who has just given birth, but is told she won't make it to see her child grow up. She uses her last five minutes to advise her newborn to go forth and conquer. It's a touching, melancholy song that has captured the hearts of many, and it's easy to see why. Styles' deeply captivating songwriting and performance say it all. Give this one a listen for some great storytelling, and maybe a good cry.
3. Shape of You - Ed Sheeran
Now, this is a song that everyone knows. Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" also took the world by storm in 2017. Much like "Despacito", this song was, and still is, everywhere. And let's be real, most of Sheeran's hits are absolutely timeless. "Perfect" and "Shivers" are the other two examples that come to mind. However, "Shape of You" has something extra special about it, because the music video has now collected a massive 6.7 billion views. The lighthearted and extremely danceable tune about attraction just has the catchiest melody imaginable. It's hard to picture a world without this song. It's just that iconic. If you've somehow missed out on "Shape of You", go and see why this song is deeply fixed in the 1 billion club.
2. Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye feat. Kimbra
This artistic video from 2011, believe it or not, is still the number 49 music video on YouTube right now in 2026. With over 2.6 billion views, Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" is a musical landmark. This rather melancholy song about found and lost love swept across the mainstream music scene with unique flare and a sound unlike anything else. The song became even more popular with the release of Doechii's "Anxiety" in 2025, which used the iconic backing track. This brought the video into the spotlight once more (not that it ever really left). Of course, the video didn't need any help to reach such a high number of views. It speaks for itself. If you haven't managed to see this artistic masterpiece, definitely give it a watch.
1. Shake it Off - Taylor Swift
Now, we all know we couldn't have a milestone post without our queen, Taylor Swift. 2014's "Shake It Off", a carefree song about literally shaking off the haters, currently holds 3.6, nearly 3.7 billion views. At the time of release, this was the hit of the season, charting at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for nearly a year with a total of 50 weeks at the top. While we're looking at "Shake It Off" for this list, Swift actually has two videos that have amassed more than 1 billion views, "Blank Space" being the other with 3.8 billion. She's truly iconic for a reason. "Shake It Off" is truly the perfect song for any party and we say bring it back!
So, what did you think? Did you know these five music videos had so many views on YouTube? Did you happen to guess any of them? Give these songs a listen and let us know your thoughts at any of our socials below!
Written By Shelbi Baker
*copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.
