Time is just a concept, and looking back on 2017 definitely exemplifies that. There’s been a lot that’s happen throughout the 300-odd days that’ve passed us, and admittedly there’ve been arguably more downs than ups this year than in recent times. But, as we like to stay hopeful for the future, we’re taking life easier as the holidays draw closer and we begin focusing on festivities like shopping gifts for our colleagues on Amazon Prime and listening to our favourite music on Spotify.
Late last week, YouTube released their yearly edition of #YouTubeRewind, combining the forces of YouTuber superstars to create a video montage of the year’s hottest (spicy-noodle-challenge hot) goings-on. Often done away with a ton of cameo appearances due to time constraints, this year’s rendition was explicitly sped up to cram in the multitude of activity that went out online and the world at large. Here’s what we thought about what went on:
1. Fidget Spinners
Fidget spinners are the physical manifestation of that catchy pop song that you couldn’t stop stop looping on your playlist for weeks that suddenly whittled into a grating, whiny tune. Kids have glorified this thing as an object to look up to, from performing tricks with multiple spinners and even considering the purchase of high-end versions! Like we said, we thought it was cool for a moment when it first came out, but now we can’t look at it without flipping out.
2. DIY Slime
Do you spend hours on end scrolling through hands destroying indestructible lumps of slime sure to induce the worst of goosebumps for tyrannophobics? We’re guilty as charged. There’s something oddly therapeutic about destroying perfectly shaped goo, especially if it transforms from separate orbs of colours into a pretty ombre rainbow.
3. The Floor Is Lava
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyLmnXxhPFU
This viral online challenge has have had people literally jumping at their feet — basically someone unsuspectingly utters the phrase, causing whoever they’re speaking to to scramble in a frenzy such that their feet don’t touch the floor. Watching people freak out and hop onto the closest available elevation, however, bizarre, is pretty hilarious.
4. Natural Disasters
#YouTubeRewind tends to remain positive and casual, but it couldn’t ignore the multitude of tragedy that transpired, from natural disasters to terrorism to political chaos. There was a moment of B-roll footage of such news coverage, but ended off on a note of unity and reinforced the power of coming together in times of hardship.
