For the benefit of those who do not yet know of Gangnam Style, here is a brief introduction. Known for its catchy tune and absurd but funny dance moves, this song is sung by 34-year old South Korean rapper Psy. Since its debut on 15 July 2012, this song/video has topped the Billboard charts in many countries, broken the Guinness World Records as the most “liked” video in YouTube history, shared on the internet by many celebrities and featured in international media outlets such as CNN International, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, the Harvard Business Review and the global politics magazine Foreign Policy (Ref 1).
Psy’s original Gangnam Style video
This viral video has spawned thousands of parody videos worldwide. I could understand why it is so popular as I am myself afflicted by this current craze, having watched the video and numerous parodies many times. Even my 2-year old son knows about Gangnam Style.
One of my favourite parodies is by the US Navy which has made the life of the navy appear so enjoyable.
There are various Melbourne versions but I like the followng video the most in which you can see popular Melbourne icons such as the Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, St Paul Cathedral and the UNESCO-listed Royal Exhibition Building at Carlton Gardens.
The following parody was filmed in Little India, Singapore and though a lower-budget version compared to others, it is really funny.
One popular remake strategy is the changing of lyrics in different countries and cities to reflect styles peculiar to the place and people. An example is the following Jewish Style video, which appears to be professionally made.
Sandra Wilson, one of the spokepersons of the Altona Loop Community Group, commented on Facebook that she can’t wait and is asking her two sons to teach her the dance steps first. I guess she will even be more motivated after watching this “mum and son” video on Ellen Show.
For those who are interested in learning the dance steps, there is now a “How to” video on YouTube:
