“The number of coffee shops has gone up tremendously, particularly in Gangnam,” Hong said. (Her English-subtitled translation of the video is at right.) “In Korea, there’s a joke poking fun at women who eat 2,000-won (about $2) ramen for lunch and then spend 6,000 won on Starbucks coffee.” They’re called Doenjangnyeo, or “soybean paste women” for their propensity to crimp on essentials so they can over-spend on conspicuous luxuries, of which coffee is, believe it or not, one of the most common. “I think some of you may be wondering why he’s making such a big deal out of coffee, but it’s not your ordinary coffee,” U.S.-based Korean blogger Jea Kim wrote at her site, My Dear Korea. Psy boasts that he’s a real man who drinks a whole cup of coffee in one gulp, for example, insisting he wants a women who drinks coffee. This skewering of the Gangnam life can be easy to miss for non-Korean. Though the lyrics and message of the song seem pretty goofy, they’re actually quite subversive, at least according to the Atlantic’s Max Fisher: If you think it sounds like he’s saying “open condom style,” you’re not the first. On top of the running man is the flying man, baby baby
What does gangnam style mean how to#
The lyrics translate thusly:Ī girl who is warm and humanly during the dayĪ classy girl who know how to enjoy the freedom of a cup of coffeeĪ girl whose heart gets hotter when night comesĪ guy who is as warm as you during the dayĪ guy who one-shots his coffee before it even cools downĪ guy whose heart bursts when night comesĪ girl who looks quiet but plays when she playsĪ girl who puts her hair down when the right time comesĪ girl who covers herself but is more sexy than a girl who bares it allĪ guy who seems calm but plays when he playsĪ guy who goes completely crazy when the right time comesĪ guy who has bulging ideas rather than muscles Like Weezer’s “Beverly Hills.” Gangham is a wealthy district in Seoul where, presumably, a lot of people wear nice suits while hanging out in stables and riding merry-go-rounds. Think Weezer’s “Beverly Hills,” but not infuriatingly pointless. Psy, real name Park Jae-Sang, is a star in Korea, thanks to his flamboyantly comic, ever enthusiastic persona even his nickname is short for “Psycho.” He has money, but he’s not above poking fun at those with even more money than him. But what kind of rapper, who grew up idolizing 2Pac, mimics horseback-riding, though? Good question, hypothetical person.
Yes, Psy’s trademark dance, which he recently performed at Dodger Stadium, involves him pretending to ride an invisible horse. OK, the second thing you need to know about “Gangnam Style” is: The first thing you need to know about “Gangnam Style” is…well, watch the video first.
But what the hell is it? Well, we’re here to explain. Even Simon Pegg and Katy Perry - yes, EVEN The Katy Perry - have tweeted about it. The single currently sits at #65 on iTunes’ most popular downloads chart, above of tracks from Usher, Taylor Swift, and Coldplay. Since first appearing on YouTube in the middle of July, the music video for “Gangnam Style” by South Korean K-pop rapper Psy has been viewed over 50 million times.