YouTube: a place where anyone can rise to fame within 15 minutes, and those fortunate (or hilariously unfortunate) few remain in our hearts and minds forever in the form of a viral video. In a pre-twerking age, those viral videos would remain a shared inside joke between yourself and your fellow viewers. But now, things are getting commercialized.
In partnership with the music industry, the first ever YouTube Music Awards is coming to a streaming device near you on November 3. The online award show will feature actor and musician Jason Schwartzman as host, will be taped live, and unlike typical three hour long award shows, this one will only be 90 minutes.
The nominations are set to be announced on October 17, and so we'd like to throw into the ring ten Miami viral videos that deserve an award (or at least a nomination).
10. Miami Style (Gangnam Style Parody) by aggressivecomix
Yes, we know, you have finally gotten the song out of your head and after just reading the words "gangnam style," you'll be riding an invisible horse all day. Sorry, not sorry. But instead of mumbling inaudible words to the familiar beat, you'll be singing to yourself phrases like, "Westchester, Little Havana, raise it up / you know what's up" or "My quince was better than yours." Or maybe, since the weather is changing, you'll get cold and pull out your favorite UGGS and short-shorts. Live it up.
Category: Best Parody
9. The Infinite Sadness of Chris Bosh by Tony Parker
Factor in some classic French music, black and white animations, and a smooth French narration for this short clip starring Miami Heat player Chris Bosh, and you've got yourself a sure winner. If Bosh can't solve the riddle to the meaning of life, we might all be doomed.
Category: Best Black and White Video
8. Stevie TV + Twerking Intervention + VH1 by VH1
The YouTube awards should have a category just for twerking and this video would make a fine nominee. Though it wasn't filmed in Miami and features no local celebrities, "Stevie" does blame Florida for her twerking addiction. It all started when she first backed dat ass up while on a trip to our sunny peninsula. In that case, Miami should be awarded the honor of "birthplace of twerking."
Category: Best Video About Twerking
7. South Beach Crasher - Gangnam Style by sloppylaughs
Miamians must really like PSY. The second "Gangnam Style" inspired video features a man dressed in a neon orange Speedo prancing around South Beach with a mini speaker, inspiring people to dance - all very gangnam style. We didn't know that many natives and tourists could dance so well.
Category: Best PSY Impersonator
6. Gayo by Yamil Piedra and Johnny Trabs
An oldie, but a goodie. This video by the guys from A Pair of Nuts deserves a nod. At the very least, it should inspire a category for "videos from the 2000s." Gayo is the perfect mayo substitute used to spice up an ordinary sangwish and turn it into something fabulous.
Category: Best Food Item Invention
5. Pepe y Marquito - Versace (remix) by Pepe Billete
Croqueta, croqueta, croqueta, croqueta, croqueta, croqueta. In this beautiful ode to one of the best Cuban food items in existence, Pepe Billete raps about all the ways croquettas can change your life. This video should take the gold just for existing. Though we do have a note: Pepe says when he wants a croqueta he goes to Versailles, but everyone knows the best croquetas are from Islas Canarias.
Category: Best Original Music Video
4. iPhone Cubano Asiri by El Pichy Films
Remember the days before the new iOS update, when Siri could barely understand a word you said? Well, the boys over at El Pichy Films solved your problem by introducing Asiri: Siri Cubano. Didn't you just hate it when you would ask Siri for the temperature and she responded with "Churro" or when "romantic song" translated to "picason"? If only Asiri was a real application, it would make our lives that much easier.
Category: Best Imaginary App
3. The Adventures of Christopher Bosh in the Multiverse by Borscht Corp
There was some heat (get it?) over this video before it made it onto the viral wave, and it even got a cease-and-desist order from the real-life Bosh himself. But alas, you can't stop destiny from happening, and it was the destiny of this video to be viewed by the masses.
Category: Best Animation
2. Sh*t Miami Girls Say (...and guys) by Wednesday Nite PreRecorded
Okay, okay, we know the awards will only take into consideration the viral videos from this past year, but this is too much of a classic Miami video not to mention. The "Sh*t Miami Girls Say" video has surpassed one million views and, in our humble opinion, is the best parody video out there in the shit-blank-say series. One look, and you'll be saying "irregardless" all day and ordering "sal-min" at restaurants. Lyke, das it.
Category: Best One-liners
1. Prancercise: A Fitness Workout by Prancercise
Who can forget the prancercise lady? We sure can't. This Florida gem taught us how to exercise the fun way: by wearing ankle weights and prancing around like a horse. Joanna Rohrback taught the world how to prancercise - which can only be described as "a springy, rhythmic way of moving forward, similar to a horse's gait and is ideally induced by elation" - and we believe that deserves an award shaped like a...wait, what are the awards going to look like?
Category: Best Video of the Year
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