“People who are actually from Gangnam never proclaim that they are—it’s only the posers and wannabes that put on these airs and say that they are ‘Gangnam Style’—so this song is poking fun at those kinds of people who are trying very hard to be something that they’re not.”
The year was 2012. The internet culture was in full throttle. Some people were tuning in to Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen, while some were waiting for the world to end. On July 15, 2012, South Korean singer and rapper PSY broke onto the global music scene with a bright blue tuxedo and an unforgettable horse-riding dance.
In the past, many Korean pop idols endeavoured to broadcast their music abroad. Although renowned and well-known in Korea, most failed to make a long-lasting international presence. The Gangnam Style paved the way for Korean Pop music to the next stage. The energy, the music and the fun accompanying the song make it nothing short of a pop culture milestone.
The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 2012 before climbing to number 2 weeks later. It also became the first video to hit 1 billion views on YouTube.
The international music industry was not the only thing to be impacted. PSY’s Gangnam Style has catalyzed the dissemination of Korean culture worldwide.
“All the people in Korea are cheering me like I’m a gold medalist or something, so I have a responsibility to my country.”
In 2022, Korea’s culture is deeply rooted in our everyday lives. From music by BTS to cosmetic products from Missha. PSY’s idea of fun and sharable video content changed the lives of many struggling idols. Without the big hit Gangnam Style, there may not have been K-pop groups like BTS and Blackpink.
On this day in 2012, Gangnam Style became the first Youtube video to be viewed one billion times. Everyone knows it – from children in India to former US President Obama. The world was fascinated by the horse dance then, and now, we are fascinated by the opportunities it has opened for various new artists.
Celebrating this exciting breakthrough, KarmaPlay is conducting a Things Gone Viral Quiz. Join in and max out your knowledge on things that went viral!