"Gangnam Style" paved the way for Blackpink, changed the life of "psycho" Psy

"Gangnam Style" - the first Korean song to cause a global stir

On July 15, 2012, Korean singer and rapper Psy stepped onto the world music stage in a blue suit, performing a unique horse dance to the song Gangnam Style. At this moment, he officially became a globally famous Korean music phenomenon.

At that time, Gangnam Style dominated television and social media. The song conveyed the image of an artist who was different, unique, rebellious and humorous. Although he did not possess the stunning appearance of most Korean idol singers, it was this difference that helped Psy become a global phenomenon in 2012.

MV "Gangnam Style" reached 5.1 billion views on YouTube after 11 years since its release (Screenshot).

The song quickly reached 1 billion views in a short time of release. Gangnam Style reached almost all audiences, from rural to urban areas. And with just this one song, Psy naturally stepped into the ranks of international artists.

"Oppan Gangnam style" and the horse dance have made many people, from students, office workers to famous stars, passionately perform. Celebrities and politicians such as Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, and former US President Obama have also praised and are not afraid to perform this unique dance.

Not long after its release, Gangnam Style took the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (USA) and set a record as the first video to reach 1 billion views on YouTube. To date, 11 years since its release, the Gangnam Style MV has reached 5.1 billion views and is one of the 10 videos with the most views on YouTube.

It is no coincidence that Gangnam Style has created such a good effect. It is a song with a typical style of Korean pop music, a MV staged and filmed in the most trendy and vibrant street corners of Korea, and the absurdity in Psy's style is expressed in a way that is both satirical and natural.

"Gangnam Style" brought Psy closer to international audiences (Photo: Getty Images).

Gangnam Style is also a rare Korean song that has created a trend around the world. Millions of YouTubers around the world are racing to release clips recording their lively performances to the song's music. In October 2012, more than 15,000 people performed the song Gangnam Style in Seoul, South Korea.

"Without Gangnam Style, there would be no BTS and Blackpink"

CNN praised Gangnam Style as the song that brought the Hallyu wave (Korean pop culture wave) to spread globally.

Mr. Gyu Tag Lee, Associate Professor of Korean Cultural Studies at George Mason University, also commented: "If there was no Gangnam Style , there probably wouldn't be BTS and there might not be Blackpink. BTS, Blackpink and many other Kpop (Korean youth music) representatives are following in Psy's footsteps, to spread the popularity of the Hallyu wave."

Gangnam Style truly opened the era of Korean pop music entering the American market, becoming a stepping stone for famous Korean groups like BTS and Blackpink to gain a special position in the world. Thanks to the spread of Gangnam Style, international audiences realized that Korean music is also very interesting and creative.

"Gangnam Style" paved the way for Kpop to attack the international market (Photo: News).

Riding on the success of their seniors, Korean music groups confidently appear at international music events, proactively introducing Kpop to global audiences. In less than a decade, Korean music groups with artists who are professionally trained in both singing and dancing have taken international audiences from one surprise to another. Among them, BTS and Blackpink are the most typical representatives.

Boy band BTS performed at the Grammys and appeared at the White House to discuss anti-Asian racism. Blackpink became the first K-pop girl group to perform at the Coachella music festival in the US, collaborating with big stars like Lady Gaga and Selena Gomez. The four members of the group are also ambassadors for the world's leading fashion and beauty brands.

BTS members themselves often mention and thank their "senior" Psy, who helped "globalize" Kpop.

Suga (BTS member) once proactively contacted Psy to collaborate on the song That That and act in the music video. "He paved the way for K-pop in America, which allowed BTS to follow that path more comfortably," Suga shared.

"Gangnam Style" turns "psycho" Psy into a billion-view singer

For Psy, Gangnam Style was the turning point in his singing career. In 2012 alone, the Korean "psychopath" broke 3 Guinness World Records and even performed with Madonna in New York (USA).

After Gangnam Style , Psy seems to have no product that can surpass his own "shadow", but he is still an irreplaceable Korean artist. In 2021, he was on the list of 10 most influential Koreans of the year announced by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Korean audiences and media believe that Psy's success comes from his sense of humor, creativity and uniqueness. Even when he became the "boss" of an entertainment company (P Nation), Psy still maintains this spirit. The artists under P Nation's management are all rebellious and individualistic faces such as rapper Jessi, the couple HyunA - Dawn, Crush, Heize...

Psy became an international star thanks to the success of "Gangnam Style" (Photo: Naver).

Psy was born in 1977, his real name is Park Jae Sang. He once explained that Psy is an abbreviation of the word Psycho. He is the only son of a wealthy family in Gangnam District (Seoul) - the richest and most prosperous area in Korea.

As an adult, Psy was sent by his parents to study Business Administration at Boston University in the United States. However, he dreamed of becoming an artist and liked to express his rebelliousness and individuality.

During his time studying abroad in the US, he used the money his parents sent him to buy musical instruments and study music. He then dropped out of Boston University and enrolled at Berklee College of Music (USA). However, his artistic studies were not complete.

At the age of 24, Psy decided to enter the Korean entertainment industry with his own ability and personality. He did not have the advantages of most Korean idol artists because of his unconventional appearance and chubby figure. What he possessed was his passion for music and his unique way of making art.

Psy revealed that his stage name is an abbreviation of the word Psycho (Photo: News).

In 2001, he released his first album, Psy From the Psycho World, as a personal statement for his artistic path. The album was not a commercial success and was criticized for containing many inappropriate words for the general public.

Psy did not give up, continuing to release other albums, still carrying the color of "a crazy guy, like no one else". Psy's third album, Champion, brought him the first music award of his career, but he himself was not welcomed by most of the Korean public because of his unusual musical taste.

The Korean media called Psy the "weird singer" because of his differences. In 2001, he was arrested for drug possession and released after paying a fine. The male singer had to serve 4 years of military service (while most artists only have to serve in the army for 2 years) after being discovered to have secretly participated in performances to earn money during his military service.

In 2010, Psy joined the entertainment group YG Entertainment (Korea) after being discharged from the army. From here, the male artist's musical path was oriented more professionally. Two years later, he became the pride of Korean music and a global music phenomenon thanks to the hit - Gangnam Style.

Psy collaborates with "junior" Suga in the MV "That That" (Photo: Naver).

Thanks to the launch pad of Gangnam Style , Psy became a famous and influential star in Korea and around the world. In addition to the awards, Gangnam Style also brought Psy a huge profit. In the first year of the song's release, the Korean music star pocketed millions of dollars.

From 4 million music downloads on iTunes, Psy earned 4 million USD. The male singer also earned nearly 8 million USD from an advertising contract with Samsung thanks to his reputation as a global star. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the number that Psy earned from Gangnam Style was up to more than 20 million USD before taxes and fees.

Not only did Psy enrich himself, he also earned a lot of money for his family thanks to the spread of Gangnam Style . The stock price of the company founded by Psy's father also increased at a dizzying rate. According to Naver, the rapper's family earned a profit of nearly 30 million USD thanks to the success of Gangnam Style.

In 2019, he founded his own entertainment company called P Nation to gather and sponsor many young stars. In 2022, he released the album Psy 9. However, Psy's later music products are unlikely to surpass the shadow of Gangnam Style.

Eleven years after the release of Gangnam Style , Psy is still "gently" making money from this song. As of April this year, Celebrity Net Worth estimated that the Korean rapper's assets had reached 60 million USD. This amount of assets helps him support his family and has enough potential to continue pursuing his passion for music.

"Creating fun music, fun dances and bringing joy to fans. That has always been my big dream. I had this thought 10 years ago and maybe 20 years from now I will still hope for the same thing," Psy happily said.

Psy's "Gangnam Style" MV reaches 5 billion views on YouTube (Video: YouTube Psy).

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giai-tri/gangnam-style-mo-duong-cho-blackpink-thay-doi-cuoc-doi-ga-tam-than-psy-20240613151029230.htm