1. Arcade Fire – Suburbs

A joint venture with Google and Arcade Fire created the most innovative music video of the year. Yes, I ragged on it, but that’s because the significance hadn’t fully soaked in. If you haven’t tried it then I would suggest doing so.

This is an interactive video in that you type in your address and the video comes to life using Google Maps. By utilizing HTML 5, Google and Arcade Fire were able to bring something truly original to our eyes and ears in 2010. That’s why this is the best viral video of 2010, not the biggest.

2. Double Rainbow

Both videos had to be included because it’s funnier that way. The Gregory Brothers, the hyper talented band of internet nerds created a new niche in 2010 with their parody songs. Although the group had been making Auto Tune the News to great effect, it’s really with Double Rainbow that they got mainstream attention.

The number two and three entries on this viral chart are interchangeable for me. Both are bloody hilarious, done by the Gregory Brothers, timely parodies, and both made it into the iTunes charts. In fact because the Gregory Brothers knocked another one out of the park with the Bed Intruder, Antoine Dodsen was able to buy his family a house!

3. Antoine Dodsen – Bed Intruder

4. Hollerado

Yay my favorite Canadian band, Hollerado, made a great video this year that got them plenty of acclaim. Even perennial gadfly Bob Lefsetz came out in support of this great band. Buy their record!

5. Ok Go

Finally we have Ok Go. At this point it feels like Ok Go have created a marketing team rather than a band. Every video is bigger than the last, and has somehow involved another corporate sponsor. But the great thing is that Ok Go have their own fanbase and are able to work these sponsorships in without being too cheesy about it.

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