There is really no stopping K-Pop anymore. But I do not mean K-Pop as in those mechanized looking boy or girl bubble gum groups that we had been pelted with by South Korea these past few years. The K-Pop hit tune I am referring to and the one that is literally taking the world by storm is Gangnam Style, by the artist who calls himself PSY as in psycho… whatever. Maybe, as the PSY tag suggests, you can label him crazy and that should give you an idea about the sort of music he makes. It is psycho but it is also the biggest dance craze to emerge since the Macarena.
From what I read in his Wikipedia biography, rapper/singer/composer/music producer/recording artist/performer PSY is 34 years old. He was born on Dec. 31, 1977 in an affluent area not far from the posh Gangnam district he celebrates in his song. He attended Boston University and the Berklee College of Music in the U.S. of A. He is married to Yoo Hye Yeon and they have two daughters. He was once arrested for possession of marijuana.
PSY’s recordings, most of them satirical, have been criticized for the acerbic lyrics and for being a negative influence on young people. But it cannot be denied that PSY also has a flair for creating catchy melodies, has a strong sense of humor and comes up with unique dance moves. These have enabled him to sustain a successful career as K-Pop’s foremost rapper but nobody, I suppose even him ever imagined that something as phenomenal as Gangnam Style could ever happen.
Released only last July 15, PSY’s fun commentary on the supposedly hip and classy Gangnam Style averages six million hits a day. It has been viewed over 221 million times and is now a nominee in the 2012 MTV Europe Music Awards that will be held in Frankfurt, Germany later this month. As a result, PSY is now No. 1 in Billboard Magazine’s Social 50 chart, where he lords it over Taylor, Rihanna, Katy, Justin and One Direction. He has just been signed by Bieber’s Schoolboy Records and appeared in the MTV Video Music Awards, Saturday Night Live and the Ellen DeGeneres show where he taught Britney Spears how to do the Gangham Style.
I look at Gangnam Style and I see shades of the Pony and of our very own maskipops. I hear the music and I think of Spagheti pataas pababa of Pamela one, Pamela two and of Totoy Bibo. I look at PSY and I think of Andrew E rapping about Alabang Girls and dancing at Euphoria with his gang of gamols. Not much different really. Save perhaps that PSY is K-Pop and he has conquered the world.
Speaking of K-pop, another pop star from South Korea made it to the Billboard list on 21 Under 21 Music’s Hottest Minors. If I remember right Charice also made this same listing two years ago. She did not this year and I am hoping she will make it again before she turns 21. And now here they are, the most successful young pop stars today:
Justin Bieber, 18. No description needed.
One Direction, Zayn, 19; Harry, 18; Louis, 20; Niall, 19; and Liam, 19. The boy band from the UK.
Demi Lovato, 20, ex-Disney Princess, now X-Factor judge.
Scotty McCreery, 18, American Idol, 2011
Mac Miller, 20. The Blue Slide Park rapper
Selena Gomez, 20. Disney Princess, singer, actress, Justin’s girl.
Porter Robinson, 20. Trance music artist.
Cher Lloyd, 19. X-Factor discovery.
Earl Sweatshirt,18. Rapper of the group Odd Future.
Nick Jonas, 20. The youngest of the Jonas Brothers.
Jackie Evancho, 12. Young soprano.
Cody Simpson, 15. Australian Pop Idol of the big hit iYiYi.
Mindless Behavior, R&B group made up of 15-year-old boys, Prodigy, RayRay, Princeton and Roc Royal.
Megan & Liz, 19. Twins and YouTube covers artists with 300,000 Internet sales.
I U, 19. K-Pop princess of the big hits Good Day and You And I.
Bridget Mendler, 19. Disney Princess from Wizards of Waverly Place and Lemonade Mouth.
3 BallMTY, Erik, 19; Alberto, 19; Sergio, 20. Mexican boy band famous for the Guarachero sound.
Miley Cyrus, 19. Maturing Disney Princess and the list’s longest staying occupant.
Madeon, 18 the electro funk breakout kid from the French YouTube.
Ross Lynch, 16. The heartthrob out of Disney’s Austin & Ally.
Victoria Justice, 19. The star of the Nickelodeon hit show, Victorious.