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Gangnam Style
简体
Gangnam Style
《江南 Style》

Learn English with this music English lesson

Date: Jan 28 2013

Themes: Music, Pop Culture

Intro

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The video for the song “Gangnam Style,” by Korean star PSY, is completely over the top. It features goofy dancing in all sorts of settings. It’s not the sort of thing you would expect to go viral, but it is a global phenomenon. People everywhere love the video and its signature dance moves. It is now the most popular video ever on YouTube.

Vocab

go viral expr.

Definition

Example We are hoping the video will go viral and we will become famous.

over the top expr.

Definition

Example "Natasha always has fun parties, but her birthday party last week was _*over the top*_."

Example "Jeff's Halloween costume this year is _*over the top*_. He's going to dress up as an alien astronaut!"

Example "New Orleans is way too _*over the top*_ for me. It's fun to see on TV, but I wouldn't want to go there."

Example "The Rock's latest movie is totally _*over the top*_. It's a great action movie, but it goes a bit too far sometimes."

goofy adj.

Definition

Example We were acting pretty goofy last night after drinking all that beer.

phenomenon n.

Definition

Example Jennifer Lopez is an entertainment phenomenon. She's an incredibly popular actor, singer and dancer.

Example The disco phenomenon became widespread during the 1970s.

signature adj.

Definition

Example James has some pretty impressive signature dance moves.

move n.

Definition

Example This is a difficult situation. What move do you think we should make?

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Quiz

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Discussion

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Is “Gangnam Style” popular in your country? What is your favorite dance move from the video? What do you think it takes for a video to go viral?

Comments

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Hiva Sh

Hiva Sh

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I don’t Like it…I Just Like the part that BigBang’s Sungri and Taeyang (I’m not sure) Show up as two unique oldmen :)


I think there are greater singers and Idols than Psy in K-Pop (Korean Pop)...


But there are so many people out there that LOVE Psy…


A few months ago, A two years old boy was dancing with this song on the street and it was really cute :)

06:21 PM May 30 2014 |

bravevivian

Ecuador

That video was really popular in my country.  I even learned to dance it :D


I think what a video needs to go viral is to have something new, different, easy to learn but fun.


The music is good :D I love dancing, maybe that’s why it was good for me :D

11:26 PM Jan 18 2014 |

Fatima888

Russian Federation

I’ve noticed :all the kids like this song:) Kids random do mistake :))

06:20 PM Sep 06 2013 |

Sandra95

Sandra95

Sweden

The way they dance and move & the lyrics n beat of song was attractive.. the first time that i saw  the video on youtub i couldn’t stop watching that.. i replay it from first again and again.. that was unique and awesome n emusing ;)

10:18 AM Jul 28 2013 |

AppleRome

AppleRome

Antarctica

Oppa means “older brother” in Korea.


And opa means “grand dad” in Indonesia.


Just random trivia ^^



Anyway, I liked this song first (stuck in my head for weeks).


But I hate it extremely now. :(


You experimented something, Psy? 

04:13 PM Feb 03 2013 |

zoebaby

zoebaby

China

just dont know why it goes viral..just me,,,it’s suck and sick song…

10:16 AM Feb 03 2013 |

tamilytam

tamilytam

Viet Nam

This song is very popular in my country. There are a lot of fanpage on Facebook where crazy fans can share informations. And there are a lot of people used this song for dance and exercise in the morning. Many dance club in my country taught how to dance GangNam Style


in my opinion, I like this song, cool background-music, its fun, creative. But I dont know korean, I cant understand lyric and the meaning of this song. All what I can hear is “hey sexy lady” and “gangnam style”. Anyway, I think Psy’s success was very significant respected K-Pop artists have been building up the K-Pop image globally.

10:10 AM Jan 30 2013 |

wannicho

wannicho

China

in a sense , yeah, but i never liked it in the first place , because  some day i got online, i found everyone was talking about it , so i google it trying to find out what it is , just out of curious. sometimes we watch a video not because we like it , but it is everywhere to be seen .

03:36 PM Jan 29 2013 |

1 person likes this

Liana's Dream

United States

the best video in this year;)maybe,after Justin;)

08:43 AM Jan 29 2013 |

yuminaga

yuminagaSuper Member!

China

sure, We love it because  you cant help but laugh and feel relax when you watch it on the video, you dont need to think too much ,in our modern  lives ,its really incredibly fantatic thing

12:13 AM Jan 29 2013 |

Lully

LullySuper Member!

Brazil

;)

11:32 PM Jan 28 2013 |

irinz'

irinz'

United Kingdom

hey sexy lady ;D

09:55 PM Jan 28 2013 |

Flyaway

Flyaway

South Africa

yes de video its blowing up everywhere, wth goofy dance moves and lyrics going together wth instruments.. its a hit indeed!

09:39 PM Jan 28 2013 |

Nabilo

Nabilo

Germany

I like this song and dancing. So far I don’t know any one who didnt’ see this video. I think PSY seems to be a likeable and pleasant singer. He deserves this big popularity;)

08:33 PM Jan 28 2013 |

modaher

modaher

Iraq

I do not like the songs a lot, but there was a religious songs or national

06:37 PM Jan 28 2013 |

Shadyy

Shadyy

Slovakia

gagnam style !!!!!!<33333333333

06:33 PM Jan 28 2013 |

knuschu

knuschu

Germany

First I liked the song. The rythm/beat, melody – great. But now I hear this song daily about 2 times per 8 hour work shift, and I am starting to hate it ;)


Honest, I am not a realy fan of bulks-hysteria, so I left the dance floor, when it was playing.  ;)

04:45 PM Jan 28 2013 |

ola33

ola33

Japan

This song looks like has got everything to appeal to the public. The kids, teens, adults – all imitate the signiture move of horse riding or just do their signiture moves :). Though, when I first listened to the song, it didn’t sink in until a couple days later i turned it on again. And now I’m totally love it! What made this song a phenomenon I think rhythm, humor, goofy dancing and love :) that was my fav piece of the video of Psy and the subway girl. He was like “riding a horse” the whole song and all of a sudden he saw her! and it kind of stopped him, transformed him for a second and made him flying to her and in a minute he got back to himself :) involving her into his goofy style and the girl instead of her cool dance in a subway followed his rhythmic movements.


P.S. He’s really blowing up. Was performing on Times Square on New Year’s Eve. And being parodied is the best compliment to him. Every one wants gangnam Style.:)


Opa Gangnam Style !! :)

02:14 PM Jan 28 2013 |

Reshad_86

Reshad_86

Azerbaijan

COOOL song / From the first time i like it /  I wish you every success

01:53 PM Jan 28 2013 |

1 person likes this

Maiwil

Maiwil

Philippines

I haven’t heard this Gangnam before this. It got some cool moves as well as goofy. No wonder it goes viral. It is different, there are new moves to it. The music video ideas how its performed is way over the top.

01:39 PM Jan 28 2013 |

1 person likes this

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