Google Zeitgeist - Keyword Trends 2009

Another year has come and gone, and as always, we're taking a moment to look back at the happenings of 2009—the people, events and memories that made this year unique. Each year, we examine the billions of queries that people around the world have typed into Google search to discover the zeitgeist—the spirit of the times. As we welcome the new year, we hope you enjoy this glimpse at the past

Fastest Rising (Global)

1. michael jackson 
2. facebook 
3. tuenti
4. twitter
5. sanalika
6. new moon
7. lady gaga
8. windows 7
9. dantri.com.vn
10. torpedo gratis

Fastest Rising in Entertainment (Global)

1. michael jackson
2. transformers
3. eminem
4. naruto shippuden
5. beyonce
6. peliculas id
7. paranormal activity
8. anime online
9. natasha richardson
10. poker face lyrics

Fastest Rising in Food & Drink (Global)

1. acai berry
2. picnic
3. クックパッド
4. tesco direct
5. senseo
6. peanut butter recall
7. nespresso commande
8. habibs delivery
9. mocktail
10. masterchef australia 

Fastest Falling (Global)

1. beijing 2008
2. euro 2008
3. heath ledger
4. barack obama
5. amy winehouse
6. kraloyun
7. dailymotion
8. bebo
9. wii
10. emule

Fastest Rising in Sports (Global)

1. real madrid
2. us open
3. ufc
4. sahadan
5. livescore
6. pacquiao vs cotto
7. wbc 速報
8. pga tour leaderboard
9. confederations cup
10. l'equipe football

Yahoo Top Search Terms

Barely more than a few hours after Microsoft revealed the year’s top queries on its new search engine Bing, Yahoo followed suit with its own top 10. Unsurprisingly, Michael Jackson topped both lists, but Twitter fans will be disappointed to learn the microblogging service not only failed to capture the number two spot (where it placed on Bing’s list), it didn’t even make the top 10.

Perhaps that’s not surprising — Bing is a much newer service, and probably appealed to a more tech-aware audience. Yahoo, on the other hand, reaches more users (though it plans to replace its underlying search technology with Bing), and its list skews even more heavily towards celebrities and pop culture:


1.Michael Jackson
2.Twilight
3.WWE
4.Megan Fox
5.Britney Spears
6.Naruto
7.American Idol
8.Kim Kardashian
9.NASCAR
10.Runescape

Yahoo also released a list of the top 10 business success-related searches, and yep, there’s Twitter — and Bing!

1.Facebook
2.Twitter
3.Hulu
4.Bing
5.iPhone
6.LinkedIn
7.Dollar Stores
8.Palm Pre
9.Rosetta Stone
10.Kindle

While we’re on the subject of “year in review” lists, I’ll add that I’m baffled that these lists are coming out now. I understand why some publications feel comfortable doing a list of the best movies or books or whatever (since critics have often received advanced copies or screenings of what’s coming out before the end of the year), but search terms? Really? Don’t we have another month to go?

Bing Top Search Terms

Cue Music. Awwww, 2009. It was a year of UFO shaped dirigibles, mom jeans on pop stars, real housewives, a new president, and a new decision engine. Oh and there may have been something about Vampires too, we weren’t really paying attention. Yes, it was quite a year and what better way to reminisce then by taking a trip down memory lane with a look back at what topped the list of Bing searches. If you’re curious how we determined the top searches, we analyzed billions of search queries and developed the list based on searches made with Bing.

Not surprisingly, we saw a lot of folks using Bing for quick access to favorite sites like Facebook, MSN, Youtube and Craigslist. We also saw a lot of more complex searches such as product related queries in which people used Bing to help decide what MP3 player to buy and travel searches to help find the best deals on a tropical vacation.

And also not surprising were the headlines of the year. So without further ado, let’s do this.

Top Bing Trending Topics:

1) Michael Jackson
2) Twitter
3) Swine Flu
4) Stock Market
5) Farrah Fawcett
6) Patrick Swayze
7) Cash for Clunkers
8) Jon and Kate Gosselin
9) Billy Mays
10) Jaycee Dugard

Are there any hot topics you think should have made the list? Do you think you know the who’s who of Hollywood? If this sounds like you, look for the launch of Bing’s “Most Popular Searches of 2009” Facebook quiz to test your relevance I.Q., challenge your friends and to see who topped off the most searched female and male celebrities, movies, TV shows and much more.

To hold you over, here’s a sneak peek at the top three celebrities searched using Bing for 2009. Megan Fox from the Transformers saga came in third on our list who was beat by our second place favorite Vampire, Robert Pattinson. And the number one searched person this year…. drum roll please…

That’s right folks, Perez Hilton, “Hollywood’s most hated website” owner topped our list of most searched people this year on Bing.

Now it’s your turn, we want to know what YOU think was all the rage this year in search. So fan Bing on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get more details and to be notified on when you can take the quiz.

Here’s to a very memorable 2009!

Danielle Tiedt - General Manager, Bing