Dancing to a Scientific Fluke?

Taken from: www.es123rf.com

Normally, when one thinks of a scientific mistake that turned into a great discovery, they think of penicillin, microwave ovens, x-rays and chocolate chip cookies.  However, according to arts writer and film critic Jason Anderson, the song “Gangnam Style” by PSY constitutes as “a freak incident. To have a song of this scale, it doesn't create any kind of precedent. It's a scientific fluke” [Ligaya].  PSY never meant his chart-topping, goofy song to become a hit as he only wrote and filmed the music video for his local fans [Bub].  Yet why is it so popular?  What part in this song resonates with its audience?  By reviewing "Gangnam Style," one can see whether its aspects have contributed to its international success, or if this song is just a scientific fluke.

Taken from: www.bigbrownboxblog.com.au

First, the music itself mimics a variety of dance and pop sensations, and many people who first listened to "Gangnam Style" even thought that it was a new song of the group LMFAO.  Perhaps that is why it has been such an instant sensation as it is mimics others while creating its unique twist.  Mark Simos, who is the associate professor of songwriting at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, also found that PSY used rather complex sound techniques in “Gangnam Style” by pairing the mesmerizing dance tempo with rapid sound flashes and surprising music pauses [Ligaya].  Simos adds, "That pause is just a little bit out of time… It doesn't come in quite where you expect it. It's a cool musical effect" [Ligaya].  Indeed, when I first heard the song on the radio, I was with my friend, and we both instantly loved it and started to dance to it ... but that was before we even were exposed to the special cowboy dance in the song.

Taken from: www.cbc.ca

Then, the second most memorable (and omnipresent) aspect of PSY's "Gangnam Style" is the dance moves done by the singer and several others in the music video.  The omnipresent aspect of the dance, which further  promotes the song's popularity, lies in the 900 and counting parodies and group dances that can be found on Youtube [Ligaya].  Mark Simos affirms that the horse dance itself is the key to the song's popularity, and he adds that it "is a throwback to the dance craze songs of the '50s and '60s such as the twist" [Ligaya].  While I personally find the dance moves to be idiotic in nature, I have many friends who love this crazy cowboy move, and I know that many celebrities and political leaders have joined to throw the invisible lasso as well.

Taken from: www.youtube.com

Finally, the words in "Gangnam Style" are important to the song's success, for if the original audience in South Korea did not like it, how would the song ever spread further than Asia?  The song's premise, according to the singer, is generally ironic as he portrays a man claiming to be fashionable, like the affluent Gangnam district  of Seoul, South Korea, yet he is everything but cool [Bub].  Besides this humorous twist, PSY repeats the (roughly translated) line, "Girls, your big brother is Gangnam Style" [Bub] and he raps descriptions about his ideal, conservative girl and guy.  From an American point-of-view, however, the song is anything but conservative as the only understandable line is "Hey sexy lady!" [Bub].  Nevertheless, this one comprehensible phrase seemed to be a driving factor into American popularity, according to Mark Simos, for "[w]ho wouldn't want to sing that?" [Ligaya].  

All in all, the music, dance and words to "Gangnam Style" has conjointly played a part to this song's success. Yet the question still remains; was this song a planned, meticulously-made work, or was it just a hugely-successful fluke?  According to PSY himself, this work was meant for fun as he remarks, "The YouTube video never targeted [at] foreign countries. It was for local fans," and, "My goal in this music video was to look uncool until the end. I achieved it" [Bub].  I must disagree, however, for the song's aspects are well-thought out and so collaboratively planned that I instead believe that PSY is a genius.  Indeed, from the addicting sound beats and pauses to the insane dance step and ironic, catchy wording, PSY has it all purposely in his song "Gangnam Style."  The real test of his genius, nonetheless, is time — what new hit song will PSY make next?

Works Cited:

Bub, Adam. "'Gangnam Style': How a Korean Viral Sensation Beat Justin Bieber and Katy Perry on the US Charts." Music Fix. NineMSN, Aug. 2012. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

Ligaya, Armina. "What's the Secret to Gangnam Style's Success? - Arts & Entertainment - CBC News." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 28 Nov. 2012. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.