Everyone has a genre of music that they listen to, whether it is country, rap or blues. Teenagers are trying to find the best music to “fit in.” Over the past few months, Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” was branded the summer anthem; radio stations were saying it was the song of the summer. Now many artists from all around the world are starting to become famous in the U.S.
The latest phenomena in the music business is South Korean rapper, Park Jae-sang, also known as Psy, short for psycho. His new hit song, “Gangnam Style” has taken the music industry by storm.
“I heard it about a month ago because someone asked if I’d seen the video yet,” junior Hai Van said.
He released his song in July of this year, and it has been at the top of the charts in South Korea and the United States. Gangnam style music is a new phrase that refers to the South Korean lifestyle of Seoul and their trendy, hip class.
“The best part of the song is the catchy tune,” Van said.
There have been many occurrences in which people have imitated Psy and created their own covers of the song. Students at the University of Oregon and New York University have made their own versions of the hit song, which have become equally as popular.
“It has inspired many people to do their own parodies to the song,” Van said.
There have even been sightings of the song at West.
“The first time I heard the song was in Michael Vivier’s campaign song for JCP when they played it on the announcements,” senior Jackie Guida said.
People are starting to act a different way when the song is being played and it is becoming a new style of life. However, the bad part about some songs is they do not stay popular for long. For a song to become popular, it has to attract listeners from a variety of groups. If only one type of person likes it, then it will not be a hit song for long.
“I don’t think that it will last as long as people think,” Van said. “It will probably last as long as the song ‘Sexy and I Know It’ by LMAFO.”
Psy has made his song popular for every type of person and has every factor of a popular song. According to CNN, Psy has made his song number two overall on the Billboard 100 behind Maroon 5.
“I think that people are making parodies for Gangnam Style because it is a fun song to imitate,” junior Evan Brown said.
His song is making people in South Korea go crazy and many are taking an interest in the music industry. He is one of those rare stars who becomes famous when they emerge with a “one hit wonder.”
“It has a very catchy tune to it,” Guida said.
