Discussion About The "phenomen" Gangnam Style

I would like to ask all fellow members of this site what do you think about the Gangnam Style (PSY).

I made an attempt to understand all this "phenomen" and looked the videospot three times in a row but either it's me and my stupid love for better art or this is really a *BS*.

The music is a typical "boom-boom" techno beat, nothing original.

The dance is more suitable for a teenager who's experimenting with something, but nothing special unless you believe that "jumping" is a main stream art.

The spot itself is OK, but nothing special or original.

So I am wondering why billions of people think of this Gangnam Style as something special? What do you think?

It's funny and surprisingly catchy. That's basically it.

If your sense of humour is tuned to the limits of high art then you'll find very little redeeming value in PSY's work — or most other mainstream modern artistic expression. As it happens, the song is deeper than you might originally imagine given that it's essentially a self-aware critique of the Gangnam culture.

That said, humour is the one thing no one can reveal to you in a situation if you didn't find it there yourself, so my recommendation is to just accept this as a cultural artifact that falls outside your realm of interest and focus your energies on the ones that do. :thumbsup:

It's nothing less than this month's craze. By April 2013 no one will ever remember what it was about ;) .

It's nothing less than this month's craze. By April 2013 no one will ever remember what it was about ;) .

The song was released more than five months ago and has been steadily increasing in popularity, public awareness, and remix attention since. So while it can be called a fad, it's well past the point where one can trivialize it as a short-term one.

So while it can be called a fad, it's well past the point where one can trivialize it as a short-term one.

Most of you are too young to remember things like Lambada (1989) or Macarena (1995). It's just more of the same. The world just needs a ridiculous, sticky fad every now and then :P .

Most of you are too young to remember things like Lambada (1989) or Macarena (1995). It's just more of the same. The world just needs a ridiculous, sticky fad every now and then :P .

Both of those were fads that lasted longer than a month, which was my point about Gangnam Style.

Not sure why people default to dismissive attitudes about cultural fads...I would think that folks would be more interested in learning from the events that capture the attention of so many at a time rather than trying to trivialize them despite their obvious successes.

That they don't capture your attention I completely understand, but to be so resistant to the notion that there's anything to learn from or appreciate in these things is a bit narrow, in my mind. Even if all you gain is more fuel for the claim that most mainstream musical appreciation is retarded.

Generally people only care about what they can sing to, and what dance they can attempt. It fits both categories quite well for a worldwide young demographic. And its so bad that its good. Not all too suprising. Simplistic writing and complex marketing is the way to make music heard right now.

I have not seen the video myself, but I believe it's popular partly for the peculiar "horse riding" dance moves that are depicted there.

I caught part of it on TV and didn't get at all what the craze is about. I think it might be a reflection of the general decline in the appreciation of high art (such as classical music) in these times of short and superficial attention thanks to the internet and the digital revolution and the possibility of the instant spread of fads through YouTube etc.

Anything can be called a fad because nothing lasts forever. I enjoyed listening to Gangnam style. It provides some pretty clever social commentary without feeling the need to be pretentious about it. Its fun and catchy dance music not meant to be taken too seriously. If your criticism of the song is pretty much that it seems superficial, just know that it also seems pretty self aware of this.

The song doesn't do anything for me, mainly because there is basically zero pitch (which is why I don't like rap in general). However, since rap is pitchless, it is incredibly easy to sing; that is probably why Gangnam Style and related songs are so popular.

The song doesn't do anything for me, mainly because there is basically zero pitch (which is why I don't like rap in general). However, since rap is pitchless, it is incredibly easy to sing; that is probably why Gangnam Style and related songs are so popular.

Actually that is just completely wrong. If you're going to be denigrating, at least get your basic music theory right.

high art (such as classical music)

lol

It's not the song that is popular in the US, it's the video. Even when the song is played by itself, it's because people are thinking of the video.

I think the more interesting thing to be discussing in this topic is the fact that what became so popular was merely a formula rather then true artistry. The people who produce it know from study what will and will not work. They do what will be most successful in the eyes of the corporate money making world. They produce things that can be replicated like textbooks. And it works. There is literally a formula for massive success as long as you can find willing participants. It is cheap though. There is little interest in what is being produced or for those involved. It is not an art. It is not about the music at all. It is just about doing what those bigwigs know will make the money. That is what I find more interesting about this. I think it says something on how superficial we are, or have gotten, on this planet. I also think that it was a localized trend. However, things are becoming so much more global in recent years. Most countries do not hold to a unique cultural history and tradition anymore. The world is becoming so much more similar and synchronized whereas this K-Pop or J-Pop trend is really just the easts version of the 90s pop culture phenomena in the USA. However, less people from different countries actually wear their traditional garb. Cultures around the world tend to not stick to a traditional and unique version of their own architecture. It seems to be true with architecture and musical trends and even regular every day street clothing trends. This modernity that we are experiencing seems to exclude individuality and uniqueness of expression per nationalism. 

Musically simplistic and of no interest. Naturally that doesn't stop it becoming popular.