Gangnam Style Explained: Breaking Down Psy's Viral Hit

August 21, 2012 from LinkAsia via LinkAsia

It's the music video that has been viewed 32 million times and counting. But what does it mean? And WHAT is going on? Freelance music journalist and K-pop expert Jeff Benjamin explains Psy's hit "Gangnam Style" and what it means for the Korean pop music industry.

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Psy

Park Jae-sang, better known by his stage name Psy, stylized PSY, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, rapper, dancer, record producer and television personality. Psy is known domestically for his humorous videos and stage performances, and internationally for his hit single "... Explore this topic

K-pop

K-pop is a musical genre originating in South Korea characterized by a wide variety of audiovisual elements. Although it incorporates all forms of Korean popular music, such as trot and folk music, the term is more often used to refer to songs produced by idol groups. In 1992,... Explore this topic

Gangnam Style

"Gangnam Style" is the 18th K-pop single by the South Korean musician Psy. The song was released in July 2012 as the lead single of his sixth studio album Psy 6, Part 1, and debuted at number one on South Korea's Gaon Chart. On December 21, 2012, "Gangnam Style" became the fir... Explore this topic

Music journalism

Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism, comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and ... Explore this topic

Seoul

Seoul, officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of more than 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world. The Seoul Capital Area, which includes the surrounding Incheon metro... Explore this topic

South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a sovereign state located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. The name "Korea" is derived from Goryeo, a dynasty which ruled in the Middle Ages. Its neighbors are China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea ... Explore this topic

Music video

Music video for the promotion of music in video form. Explore this topic

Viral video

A viral video is a video that was created and becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email. Viral videos often contain humorous content and include televised comedy sketches, such as The Lonely Island... Explore this topic

LinkAsia

From Beijng to Tokyo, from Seoul to New Delhi and beyond, LinkAsia takes viewers into media about Asia -- from Asia -- offering unfiltered insight into one of the most diverse, fast-paced regions of the globe. Each week, LinkAsia brings you a unique half-hour program that co... Explore this topic

Yul Kwon

Yul Kwon is an American television host and former government official, lawyer, and management consultant based in Virginia. He first gained national recognition as the winner of the reality TV show Survivor: Cook Islands in 2006. He is currently hosting the TV series America ... Explore this topic

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Psy

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Yul Kwon:
Over in South Korea, a new music video by Korean pop singer PSY is taking the country by storm. It's received more than 32 million hits on YouTube since it was posted a month ago. Freelance music writer Jeff Benjamin tells us how the video expands on a new approach known as Gangnam style.

Jeff Benjamin, Freelance Journalist:
It's truly remarkable what PSY has been able to do with Gangnam style and this very stylized, glossy world of Korean idol pop. He's not only been able to create an entertaining video like his fellow idols, but he's been able to go a step further and show his personality and create this ridiculous, unpredictable video that captures everyone's intrigue.

I think the song itself is really resonating with viewers as well, because it plays off this dance, popular dance style. And PSY's been able to stay in the Top 200 Songs; he's been around the 150, 180 range. And I think that truly shows that people are really dedicating themselves to this song. They're literally purchasing it. I think with the continued media coverage and more press as well, Justin Bieber's manager is going to be working with him. You know, this is huge for PSY, and I don't think it's going to end any time soon.

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