South Korean Pop hit: Gangnam Style with PSY (Video)

An American takeoff on the video Oppa Chicago style can be viewed here. An imagined North Korean version is here.

"Gangnam Style" is popular Korean single by Korean musician PSY. The music video has been praised for its catchy rhythms and the unique dance moves. As of today the music video appended had over 284 million views! This is You Tubes' most watched K-pop video so far.

K-pop refers to Korean popular music a genre that includes dance, hip hop, R and B, and other pop music originating in South Korea. A popular subculture has also grown up around the music among young people globally. Many celebrities have shared the video on the internet including: Britney Spears, and Tom Cruise. The video has even been featured in the Wall Street Journal, and Financial Times! By early this month the video had also generated "Gangnam Style" flash mobs in a number of cities around the world. Inevitably reaction and parody videos appeared including one by The Oregon Duck, another by a group from the US. Naval Academy and, last but not least, by the North Korean government. PSY brought his dance to The Today Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show among other locations. The song has topped iTunes Charts in 31 countries including the U.S. and Canada.

"Gangnam Style" refers to a lifestyle linked to the Gangnam district in Seoul. People there are supposedly hip, trendy, and "classy" and live a lavish lifestyle. From the video this would seem to involve having horses! The PSY single is a takeoff on the style. For those of you who do not understand Korean I append below an English translation of the lyrics:

Oppa is Gangnam style Gangnam style

A girl who is warm and humanle during the day

A classy girl who know how to enjoy the freedom of a cup of coffee

A girl whose heart gets hotter when night comes

A girl with that kind of twist I’m a guy

A guy who is as warm as you during the day A guy who one-shots his coffee before it even cools down

A guy whose heart bursts when night comes That kind of guy Beautiful, loveable

Yes you, hey, yes you, hey Beautiful, loveable Yes you, hey, yes you, hey

Now let’s go until the end

Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style

Oppa is Gangnam style

Eh- Sexy Lady, Oppa is Gangnam style

Eh- Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh

A girl who looks quiet but plays when she plays

A girl who puts her hair down when the right time comes

A girl who covers herself but is more sexy than a girl who bares it all

A sensable girl like that

I’m a guy A guy who seems calm but plays when he plays

A guy who goes completely crazy when the right time comes

A guy who has bulging ideas rather than muscles That kind of guy Beautiful, loveable

Yes you, hey, yes you, hey Beautiful, loveable Yes you, hey, yes you, hey

Now let’s go until the end Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style

Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style Oppa is Gangnam style

Eh- Sexy Lady, Oppa is Gangnam style Eh- Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh

On top of the running man is the flying man, baby baby I’m a man who knows a thing or two

On top of the running man is the flying man, baby baby I’m a man who knows a thing or two

You know what I’m saying

Oppa is Gangnam style Eh- Sexy Lady, Oppa is Gangnam style