Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Psy's 'Gangnam Style' celebrates 1st anniversary

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin
A year ago yesterday, Korean rapper Psy released a quirky and funny music video titled "Gangnam Style" on YouTube that featured a horse-riding dance.
"Gangnam Style" was the title track of Psy's new album "Psy 6 (Six Rules), Part 1," which was also released on July 15, 2012.
Psy performing in Korea, on the "Ellen Show" and gracing the
Billboard magazine. (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com, "Ellen" show and Billboard)

By the first week of August, the music video accumulated 12.3 million views and became viral. CNN, Billboard, Wall Street Journal and artists praised the music video.
American rapper T-Pain tweeted on July 30, "Words cannot even describe how amazing this video is."
Josh Groban posted, "It's a Gangnam Style world, we're just living in it. Amazing video."
"Gangnam Style" climbed to the No. 1 spot Billboard's K-pop Hot 100 and No. 15 on the YouTube charts.
 On CNN, reporter Shannon Cook said, "It's the video to watch. I have to admit I've watched it probably about 15 times."
 Billboard.com said, "The now-signature horseracing dance move has also gone viral as with Psy's fellow stars of K-pop. Don't expect this craze to die down anytime soon as both the public and idols have all embraced Psy's latest creation."
 The Wall Street Journal blog wrote that "a considerable slice of the U.S. blogosphere has been obsessed with Psy’s new video 'Gangnam Style.'"
 "Gangnam Style" has completely changed Psy's career.
 Scooter Braun, who manages Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen, tweeted "How did I not sign this guy!?!??! Gangnam Style!!!! #THEGREATEST."
 On Aug. 15, 2012, Psy flew to the US to meet Braun, who eventually signed him up under his School Boy Records.
 "Gangnam Style" spawned parodies and was performed by artists. Grammy winner Nelly Furtado performed the song at her Manila concert on Aug. 16.
 By the first week of September 2012, the music video has reached 100 million views on YouTube and Psy started his promotions in the US.
 He attended his first MTV Video Music Awards and appeared on the "Ellen" show in the US and taught Britney Spears and Ellen DeGeneres the horse-riding dance.
 "Gangnam Style" debuted at No. 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 and zoomed to the No. 1 spot on iTunes.
 On Sept. 14, "Gangnam Style" became the most liked video on YouTube with 1.6 million likes and had 162 million views.
 Psy eventually claimed the official moniker "YouTube sensation" when Guinness World Records declared "Gangnam Style" as the most liked video on YouTube with 2.14 million likes, edging out LMFAO, Bieber, and Adele's music videos.
 In October last year, "Gangnam Style" climbed to the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and would stay there for weeks.
 The music video reached 500 million views on YouTube on Oct. 22. Psy then graced the cover of Billboard magazine.
 The following month, Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that Psy would be awarded the Order of Cultural Merit for his contribution to spreading hallyu or Korean Wave.
 Psy performed "Gangnam Style" together with Madonna at the latter's concert in New York City. The rapper also performed on the American Music Awards.
 In the last week of November, "Gangnam Style" amassed 816 million views to dethrone Bieber's "Baby" as the most viewed video of all time on YouTube.
 "Gangnam Style" reached 1 billion views on Dec. 21, 2012 and set another Guinness World Record as the most viewed video on YouTube.
 The song became the third bestselling single in the world in 2012 with 9.7 million copies sold, according to a report by theThe International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
As of today, "Gangnam Style" has 1.74 billion views on YouTube and maintained its position as the most viewed video on the site.
Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online:

Email me at sangchusan(at)gmail.com

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