#FlashbackFriday: Your Favorite YouTubers' First Videos

#FlashbackFriday: Your Favorite YouTubers' First Videos

This week's #flashbackfriday is a collection of your favorite YouTubers' first videos!

May 12, 2017 by Evan Feist
#FlashbackFriday: Your Favorite YouTubers' First Videos
YouTube has been a major player in making many vocal careers skyrocket.

For this week's #FlashbackFriday, we submit to you a collection of your favorite YouTuber's first videos.

Pentatonix: "Telephone" (2010)


"Telephone" was recorded by Mitch, Scott, and Kirstie during their time at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas. This now-famous video was actually a losing submission to a local radio show competition to meet the cast of "Glee" called "Kidd Kraddick's Kings of Gleeon competition." The song was also used as their audition for "The Sing-Off".

Rihanna: "Hero" (2003)


At only 15 years old, Rihanna competes in and wins a Barbados talent show. Another great early video is footage from the studio recording of "Music of the Sun" in 2005.

Miranda Sings: "Respect" (2008)


When Miranda first hit YouTube, it was unclear as to whether it was an act or not. Especially when she started giving vocal lessons.

When asked how the character came about, Colleen Ballinger said:

There were a lot of cocky girls who thought they were really talented, and they were so rude and snotty, it drove me nuts. Then I saw all these girls trying to make a career out of putting videos on YouTube, singing in their bedrooms, clueless to the fact that they were terrible. I thought it was so stupid, because I didn't think anybody got famous off of YouTube.

Sam Tsui: Michael Jackson Medley (2009)


Although not the first video Sam ever made, this is the one that first exploded. It's also more in the style of what Tsui is known for. Did you know that Sam Tsui was a member of The Duke's Men of Yale before becoming a YouTube celebrity?

Todrick Hall: "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday" (2008)


You may know Todrick from "Straight Outta Oz," "American Idol," MTV, "RuPaul's Drag Race," "Kinky Boots," and a lot of other awesome projects. The point is he's done a lot and is stupidly talented. This video from almost a decade ago reached less than 200,000 views out of the over 445 million that his channel has totaled.

VoicePlay: Promo Video (2012)


With over 21 million views worldwide, it's hard to believe that this was their first video in 2012. Before they were VoicePlay, they were 42Five. Why'd they change their name?

Quite simply, we were looking for a way to extend our audience and engage people who have never heard of us. We feel that 'VoicePlay' says almost everything you need to know about us in two little words. While we'll always have a special place in our hearts for '42Five,' it was time for a change.

Justin Bieber: "So Sick" (2007)


Regardless of how you feel about Justin Bieber, it's hard not to love the kid in this video. You can see the stage presence he brings and that led to him famously being discovered on YouTube at 12 years old. Maybe this video of Bieber singing Alicia Keys' "Fallin'" posted on the same day will illustrate that better.

Natalie Weiss: Breaking Down The Riffs Episode 1 (2012)


Technically, this is Natalie's 69th video. Her first video was in 2007 and can be seen here. Her instructional riffing series is most likely what you know her from, and we invite you to check out her cabaret work as well!

Christina Bianco: "Glitter And Be Glib" (2009)


Chances are you know Christina from her diva impersonations. Her first one of those was in 2010, and you can find it here. Fast-forward only three years to 2013 and this video shot at 54Below currently has over 8 million views!

Nick Pitera: "My Grammy Moment" Entry (2006)


Nick sang Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" for the very first "My Grammy Moment" competition to sing with Justin Timberlake at the 49th GRAMMY Awards. Sadly, he was not one of the 12 finalists. Perhaps if he was, we never would've gotten this video that you probably know him from.

Malinda Kathleen Reese: "Let It Go" According To Google Translate (2014)


A member of the Vassar College Vastards, Malinda has posted a few videos before this one. This is the first video in her incredibly popular series, "According to Google Translate," and it accounts for 9.6 million of her 52.9 million YouTube views.

Mike Tompkins: "Party In The USA" (2009)


This is Mike's first video to feature himself and his third video overall, as per his YouTube channel. The other two are Mike recording other people at their houses. Who knew he'd go on to revolutionize dubstep a cappella and be instrumental (pun certainly intended) in putting together "Pitch Perfect's" credits?

Peter Hollens: Rihanna Medley (2011)


In just six years, Peter Hollens has become the king of monocappella. He's been in the aca-world since 1999 and founded University of Oregon's On The Rocks with Leo da Silva. He performed with the group on "The Sing-Off" in 2010. He's married to Evynne Hollens, founder of Oregon's Divisi, which the Barden Bellas were loosely based on. He was also one of the driving forces behind Loudr and Patreon. Hollens recently released the Hollens Creator Academy, dedicated to teaching you how to do what you love for a living.


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