The Year That Was, 2012
As the year draws to a close, we’re recapping on The Year That Was, bringing you some of the top Tweets, trends and stories that have hit the headlines this year!
Top UAE Googles of 2012
What were the top Googled terms of 2012 by residents of the UAE? Well according to the internet giant, we’re an entertainment hungry bunch, with Gangnem Style, iPad3, and Olympics 2012 topping the list.
The firm’s Zeitgeist report, which revealed the 2012 trends from around the globe and by country, showed that UAE residents are fascinated by the Korean rap phenomenon PSY and his hit ‘Gangnam Style’, which is now the most viewed video ever on YouTube.
Interest in political and social issues is also high on the list, with the conflict is Syria, Kony, and Hurricane Sandy also making the Top 10.
Amongst the Top 10 searched for celebrities of 2012 is Whitney Houston, following her sudden death in February, Kate Middleton, and Usain Bolt for his record-breaking 100 metre sprint at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Trending in 2012: Searches
Gangnam Style
iPad 3
Olympics 2012
Samsung Galaxy S3
The Avengers
Skyfall
Hurricane Sandy
Ramadan Shows 2012
Kony 2012
Syrian Revolution
Trending in 2012: People
Whitney Houston
Shama Hamdan
Kate Middleton
Yousef Al-Qardawi
Felix Baumgartner
Usain Bolt
Karina Kapoor
Mohamed Morsi
Adele
Ibrahim Al Fekki
Read more here.
**Most Popular YouTube videos in the Arab World 2012 **
Whilst Psy’s Gangnem Style took over the world, it was Arabs Got Talents’ 10 year old star, Hala al Turk, that took YouTube Arabia by storm in 2012 with her catchy tune Zahgana. With over 17,765,996 views, Hala beat the competition hands down, with 7A2Y BER2ABTY FILM GAME OVER coming in second with 11,058,990 views.
Also making the list are parodies Psy’s Gangnam Style, with Saudi Gangnam Style and Hobba Egyptian Style making the Top 10.
حلا الترك – زهقانة | Hala AL Turk – Zahgana
7A2Y BER2ABTY – GAME OVER / اغنية حقى برقبتى من فيلم جيم اوفر
Ahmed Mekky – Atr El Hayah / أحمد مكي – قطر الحياة
Saudi Gangman style
Eysh Elly 211 ايش اللي
La Yekthar Show: Episode 14 / برنامج لا يكثر: الحلقة الرابعة عشر
Disalata: Hobba Egyptian Style / هوبا ايجيبشان ستايل
#ArabsGotTalent الموسم الثاني – الحلقة التاسعة – شما حمدان
حلا الترك – عاشت البحرين
Start With yourself Tamer Hosny / كليب ابدأ بنفسك تامر حسني
Read more here.
Top YouTube Video of 2012
And would you have guessed it…Gangnam Style tops the list of the Top Trending worldwide YouTube video of 2012 with 1,090,765,453 hits, making it the most viewed YouTube video of all time! Others making the list include Walk of the Earth’s cover of Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know, and a lip synced version of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” featuring the likes of Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and Ashley Tisdale amongst other celebs, who helped kick start the summer trend of Call Me Maybe lip sync parodies.
Gangnem Style – Psy
Somebody That I Used to Know – Walk off the Earth (Gotye – Cover)
KONY 2012
Call Me Maybe’ by Carly Rae Jepsen – Feat. Justin Bieber, Selena, Ashley Tisdale & MORE!
Barack Obama vs Mitt Romney. Epic Rap Battles Of History Season 2
A DRAMATIC SURPRISE ON A QUIET SQUARE
WHY YOU ASKING ALL THEM QUESTIONS? .. #FCHW
Dubstep Violin- Lindsey Stirling- Crystallize
Facebook Parenting: For the troubled teen
Felix Baumgartner’s supersonic freefall from 128k’ – Mission Highlights
Read more here.
Tweets of 2012
“Four more years”
Image courtesy of Twitter
Three words, 810,000 retweets. President Obama’s Tweet announcing his re-election became not only the most retweeted Tweet of the year, but broke the record the most retweeted Tweet ever, resonating with Twitter users in over 200 countries around the world.
Other top Tweets of the year include @justinbieber “RIP Avalanna. i love you” with 220,000 Retweets, and @TeamGB “29 gold, 17 silver, 19 bronze – We finished 3rd in medal table after most successful Olympics for 104 years #OurGreatestTeam RT your support” with 67,000 Retweets.
Read more here.
Top 10 from Arabian Bytes
What would The Year That Was be without our favourite stories from the year?
It’s been a spectacular year for the team here at Arabian Bytes, and on behalf of all of us, we wish you an amazing 2013!