For several years now, Canadians have been the world's most avid viewers of online videos. It's true that news-related footage -- like the alarming scenes of March's tsunami sweeping across the Japanese coast or U.S. President Barack Obama's sombre speech about the demise of Osama bin Laden -- often grabs our attention. However, the truth is that most of the time, it's the web videos extolling the quirky, the silly, the adorable and the unexpected that draw our collective gaze.

CBC Arts takes a look at some of the most entertaining viral videos that ensnared us in 2011.

Cover me

Impressive covers are prolific online and some of the year's top-viewed videos put precocious kids in the spotlight for belting out chart-topping hits. Winnipeg's Maria Aragon made a big splash with her take on Lady Gaga's Born this Way, which ultimately landed her on-stage with the outrageous star. Meanwhile, a pair of feisty, tutu-clad British girls sassed their way through Nicki Minaj's Super Bass and eventually met the eclectic rapper-singer herself on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Little-known musicians also got their big breaks in 2011 with remarkable cover performances, including Montreal-born, Freddie Mercury doppleganger Marc Martel (ultimately chosen to join a forthcoming Queen tribute band) and fledgling acoustic pop duo Karmin, whose repertoire spans U.S. hip hop star Chris Brown to acclaimed chanteuse Adele.

Kids do the darndest things

Like cute-as-a-button pets, babies often make for compelling viral video subjects. Two examples that stood out in 2011 include the "talking" twin tots who carry on a passionate, babble-filled conversation in the family kitchen and the bug-eyed baby who finds his mother's nose-clearing both alarming and hilarious.

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel understands the power of kids, as well as their entertaining flare for the dramatic. When he urged parents to play a post-Halloween prank -- to tell their kids they'd eaten all the candy so diligently collected and to film the reactions -- the results were golden. The recap Kimmel featured on his show proved so popular that he recently issued an appeal for a similar stunt timed to the holiday season.

Leave it to the experts

Every once in a while, we also have to tip our hats to the professionals. Several videos from the corporate world became major hits, including the Star Wars-inspired Volkswagen commercial starring a pint-sized Darth Vader and featuring John Williams's iconic music (it also inspired a spoof by Greenpeace and other parodies) and T-Mobile's exuberant, dance-filled tribute to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding. These creators also get extra points for perfect timing: the Volkswagen ad was unveiled during the Super Bowl -- one of TV's most-watched events each year -- while the wedding dance video debuted just weeks before the actual royal wedding.

Comedy experts The Lonely Island tapped into their tried-and-true formula of celebrity cameos coupled with absurd wordplay to produce some worthy new additions to their already notable video collection. Who else would match Michael Bolton with The Pirates of the Caribbean (Caution: foul language) or John Waters with Nicki Minaj?

But is it real?

Even when we're talking about time-wasting internet videos, authenticity is of utmost importance to viewers. Almost as soon as certain entries go viral, skeptics begin to sniff around. Examples? A Slovakian man was able to offer his side of the story about a nearly unbelievable, camera-stealing seagull, while Matt Lauer challenged the U.S. couple whose toddlers doused their home with flour. But it was an attentive online audience that detected that an overly emotional cat-lover and purported eHarmony newbie was actually an actress.

Resistance is futile

Finally, how can we look back without tipping our hat to Rebecca Black? The year's most-watched online video, the ubiquitous Friday, was universally derided, yes, but it was also utterly irresistible.