What made PSY Gangnam Style So Popular?

Just a few days back when I visited YouTube Top 100 Music section to catch my daily dose of music, I was surprised to see this new Korean music video out of nowhere at No. 2 putting Justin Bieber and Kate Perry behind. The video is Gangnam Style by KPOP singer PSY, also known as Park Jae-sang. And if you check it now its on NUMBER ONE, putting Carly Rae Jepsen’s video Call me may be at no. 2 slot.

The video is more of a dig at the kind of modern Korean women called Doenjangnyeo (soy bean paste women), who will live as frugally as possible on a cheap beanpaste stew so they can save up as much money as possible to spend on designer shoes and handbags, with Psy playing a clownish caricature of a Gangnam man. It’s also completely insane, hilarious, high-energy music videos.

So what makes this video so popular?

Well, IMHO I think its the simplicity of this video. PSY looks like any of your Korean Ajossis with average looks, no six pack abs, no excessive styling, no androgynous looks and other K-POP fluff. But he is so much fun to watch at when all through out the video he is just making fun of himself. The success of his video lies in all its imperfection that it makes every person young or old relate to it. And the music that anyone can groove to it with its simple horse riding steps crosses all barriers of age, culture and language.

People in Korea are really surprised and bewildered at the popularity of this video abroad. With the K-POP industry having all these beautiful guys and girls that have tried to break through to the U.S. market with little success. So how did this chubby 34-year-old rapper known as PSY manage to create a record in US.

Well the answer could be in its international appeal and irresistible pull that would be appreciated no matter what language it was in, has made this video a real rage. Various celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Robbie Williams, T-Pain, Josh Groban, Katy Perry and now Britney Spears, have all shared PSY’s “Gangnam Style” MV through their social networking accounts thus making it a viral hit.

Well if not anything the video atleast manages to put Gangnam on the global map.

So for those coming in late you can watch the much talked about Korean Music Video – PSY Gangnam Style – below.