What’s up with this crazy wild viral popularity of PSY and Gangnam style? Are millions being entertained because they’re laughing at Psy or laughing withPsy? What’s struck the nerve?
First on YouTube, then appearances on mainstream media on the likes of Saturday Night Live (9/15), TODAY show (9/14), The Ellen Show (9/10), MTV Video Music Awards (9/6), has fanned the flame, and extended the bandwagon for other coat-tailing trend-followers. There’s a surge of color commentaries all over social media and traditional mainstream media speculating as to why:
- ‘… Oddball humour, amusing choreography, silly dance moves, garish colours and interesting set pieces, Gangnam Style has them all.’ — Gangnam Style, YouTube and the cult of social media: PC World looks at what effect YouTube and social networks have on the spread of memes (9/16/12)
- Psy Makes History As 1st Korean Artist To Top US iTunes Pop Chart — soompi.com 9/15/12
- PSY’s Seacrest Interview: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About K-Pop’s New Sensation — spin.com 9/14/12; watch video of Psy interview by Seacrest -> part 1 and part 2
- ‘… the most important difference could be that “Gangnam”‘s appeal is more global. … Korean techno and absurd dance moves (albeit techno with a subversive message) might be a more universally appealing language. Given that viral success like this is often driven by fan videos that mimic the originals… PSY’s rodeo-style galloping dance moves transcend language barriers…’ — The Insane Virality of ‘Gangnam Style’ vs. ‘Call Me Maybe’ in One Chart (The Atlantic 9/13/12)
- Psy Goes on Ellen to Teach Britney Spears How to Dance ‘Gangnam Style’ — via Gawker via Reddit via Youtube (9/11/12)
- ‘There are a lot of winning things about South Korean rapper Psy’s horse dance. It’s pretty easy, for one.’ — Selling ‘Gangnam Style’: Why K-Pop and Commercials Are a Perfect Match (Time Asia 9/9/12)
- ‘… Psy was successful due to his waiver of the copyright, the creativity of the production process and the accurate capture of the consumer’s mentality. Another huge reason for his success was due to the great amount of parodies that were seen online.’ Psy’s “Gangnam Style” was Successful due to Giving up His Copyright Disclaimer? — KpopStarz.com 9/12/12, where there’s hundreds of articles about Psy and Gangnam Style, 28 pages and counting
- ‘A blogger commented that Psy does not seem to be controlled by his management like most K-pop idol groups is and that is what sets him apart.’ — “Gangnam Style” Psy Conquers the U.S.! Unlike the usual slim figured, pretty faced image of the K-Pop industry, Psy is a 35 year old chubby man with crazy dance moves. (9/14/12)
- ‘Gangnam Style’: 6 Things You Didn’t Know About the Korean Rapper Psy and His Party Song — ABC News (9/7/12) with a mention on ABC Nightline too
- PSY: 5 Things to Know About the ‘Gangnam Style’ Rapper (People magazine 9/6/12)
- ‘… while rappers offer a commentary on urban poverty, but Psy, who’s from Gangnam, is commenting on his ‘hood’s over-the-top consumption…’ — Decoding the money message of Psy’s ‘Gangnam Style’ on Marketplace @ American Public Media (9/1/12)
- ‘… the explosive success of his rollicking video for “Gangnam Style,” has been greeted by Koreans with a blinking neon “WTF.”’ ‘… a satirical take on wannabeism‘ ‘… What sets Psy apart is that his song and video are completely catered to the Korean audience, in terms of style and humor. He wasn’t trying to make it in the U.S., so what we saw was something completely novel and unexpected.”’ ‘… some Korean Americans concerned about viewers who don’t get the gag and don’t appreciate the music, and simply tune in to see crazy Asians doing crazy Asian stuff.’ ‘… Its popularity is the result of a perfect storm: The global intrigue around K-pop and Asian party culture.’– Gangnam Style’s U.S. Popularity Has Koreans Puzzled, Gratified (Wall Street Journal 8/28/12)
- ‘… turns out that the video is rich with subtle references that, along with the song itself, suggest a subtext with a surprisingly subversive message about class and wealth in contemporary South Korean society.’ Gangnam Style, Dissected: The Subversive Message Within South Korea’s Music Video Sensation (The Atlantic 8/23/12) referring to Jea Kim’s analysis – What is Gangnam Style? and Behind the Scenes: PSY and Making of Gangnam Style
- ‘… what makes the video so memorable is Psy’s horse-riding dance move…’ — What’s Up With the ‘Gangnam Style’ Video? (Wall Street Journal 8/3/12)
- ‘Everyone needs a little Korean hip-hop now and again…’ — Andrew Sullivan – The Dish (8/1/12)
- Google News has given Psy and Gangnam Style a Full Coverage section >>
- Watch the original video below, or with English subtitles
My take: check the “all of the above” box. Yes, Gangnam style has become viral because it’s silly, fun, easy, satirical, edgy, novel & unexpected, unconventional, surprising, innovative. It’s also the confluence of traditional mainstream media and social media, and the economic engine driving the industries of music, entertainment, and news, all need the attention of masses of people, so popularity feeds popularity.
Comments
8 responses to “10,000 reasons for the popularity of Gangnam style”
10,000 reasons for the popularity of Gangnam style http://t.co/3pA5hTyg
#new 10,000 reasons for the popularity of Gangnam style http://t.co/KdbLSgiP
[new post] 10,000 reasons for the popularity of Gangnam style http://t.co/PfGoGJ9b
RT @djchuang: my links to all the most insightful articles about the popular PSY Gangnam style viral video #gangnam http://t.co/LC4UBuMf
RT @djchuang: #blogged 10,000 reasons for the popularity of Gangnam style http://t.co/axfwLhnU
Was at a Presbyterian church Vision Pathway process and the staff was discussing Gangnam Style. @djchuang http://t.co/OT8aWvwr #justsayin
RT @tbowick: Was at a Presbyterian church the staff was discussing Gangnam Style http://t.co/sUM66EaB // why am I not surprised 🙂
RT @djchuang: RT @tbowick: Was at a Presbyterian church the staff was discussing Gangnam Style http://t.co/sUM66EaB // why am I not surp …