Ylvis Photo: IC

A Norwegian comedy­ duo and South Korean rap music sensation­ Psy topped a list of hit videos shared at Google-owned YouTube this year.

YouTube's annual Rewind collection of online videos that won the most attention­ at the website was headed by Ylvis musically wondering what "The Fox" might say.

Fox outfits also wound up the most searched-for Halloween­ costumes this year, according­ to Google.

The video had logged more than 278 million views as of Thursday.

Since its release on September­ 3 the clip - featuring people in animal costumes dancing in a forest to the refrain "What does the fox say?" - had more than 276 million views on YouTube, the site said.

"The Fox" shot to eighth place in the popular music chart compiled by US music magazine Billboard in October, ahead of major artists such as Lady Gaga and Lana del Rey.

It even led to a children's book deal for the Norwegian­ comedy duo Baard and Vegard­ Ylvis, who first released the music video with the intention of promoting a TV comedy show.

The brothers, simply known as Ylvis, were not available to comment on their latest success, but they have previously called their unexpected viral hit a "rubbish­ song."

Topping the YouTube music video list was Psy's "Gentleman," watched nearly 600 million times.

"While each annual list is unpredictable, trending videos just get bigger each year," YouTube head of culture and trends Kevin Allocca­ said in a blog post.

"And with 80 percent of all views on YouTube coming­ from outside the US, the global community is driving­ pop culture unlike ever before."

AFP