PSY - Gentleman

It is hard for anyone to have missed that PSYs new video Gentlman is out. As his first video after Gangnam Style it has already got a lot of attention. The most usual though about it is that it is a catchy song and a funny video but not at all in the same class as Gangnam Style.

Gentleman have right now got almost 19000000 views and it is said that PSY now also got the "most views in one day on youtube"-record, a record that Justin Bieber earlier held even with the Gangnam hysteria. 

So what is the fuss all about? A lot of people is talking about how the video and song is lacking the deeper meaning, that Gangnam is famous for. It is also a lot of voices out there who is sad that it isn't Gangnam once again. To the first group of people I can say that somehow I can find a deep meaning even in this song, even if it maybe isn't done in the same kind of way. To all those who is sad because it isn't a replica of Gangnam I also say; If you want Gangnam, watch the old video. You cant make the same thing twice, and if you tried it would be totally ruined. PSY have still a lot of the Gangnam Style references in the Gentleman-video so you should find stuff there that satisfies you. 

So what do we really find in the video? If we shall start with the Gangnam-stuff you find a crazy PSY doing not so good stuff and at the same time makes you kind of like him. He spend times with this old people, having crazy clothes, doing crazy things (some really mean things) and at the same time have these hot girls surrounding him. You find once again a elevator in the video, this time it is Jae-Seok in his yellow suit that is in it, and by the look by it he really need to go to the bathroom. PSY also have one really famous kpop artist in the video dancing with him. This time it is Ga-In (or Gain) from Brown Eyed Girls and not HyunA from 4minute. Maybe best of all, you once again finds a silly dance to adapt.The dance is in fact taken from Brown Eyed Girls hit-song Abracadabra, well known for people that have  been interested in kpop for years. As you understand the video is packed with stuff and you have to watch it a couple of times to really understand and notice all of them. 

 

So is this video really nothing more than a silly video, and is the lyrics really as blunt as they say? I think it is some different ways to think when it comes to it but first I want to really remind you all that even if the video doesn't have a meaning more than that PSY is a party-freak, he isn't the only one with empty lyrics and a fast beat, a lot of the songs in the radio doesn't have a deeper meaning at all. 

If we still shall try to find something we have to lift the biggest thing about the lyrics thats up for discussion. It is the use of Mother Father Gentleman. Of course you can translate it as "I am a gentleman, you can let me meet your parents" but the worlds Mother Father is also used in Korea as a substitute for Motherf***er, something you cant openly sing about (or talk about on national television). If this is what PSY really mean with the chorus, then we have something to use. The meaning of the song suddenly is mor in the lines of "I am a bad boy who likes to party. You are so sexy. I can trick you and pretend to be a gentlman (who can met your parents) just to get what I want from you". I hope you understand what I mean? 

This makes PSY seem like a really bad guy and some would argue that this is not the meaning of the song because it would ruin his reputation. I just wants to remind you how many songs there is out there about sex and using each other, who is really popular!  You should also remember PSYs way of doing things. In Gangnam Style he sung about being one of those hypocritical people from Gangnam that works hard on there image by day but party all night. This would only be another way for PSY to show the bad behaviour from an inside point of view. 

I don't know if this is really the true meaning about the song and video, but it is interesting to speculate. What do you think? I myself is at least trying to not think to hard about it, I like the song, it is catchy, and I think that is enough. It is also fun that I kind of already know the dance to the video, I can stand up and dance right now! Here, I posted abracadabra for you who haven't already seen it. Be sure to check it out, it is really a classic!

On a side note I can tell you that I watched PSYs live stream of his Happening-consert in Seoul yesterday. That man knows how you keep the audience happy. You should really watch it if you have the time. He even got guest performances from 2ne1, Lee Hi and G-dragon and there were over 150000 watching over the live stream at the time.

HyunA - Ice Cream

HyunA is back! She is maybe the most well known of the members of 4minute, at least for me, and she is really fun and sexy most of the time. The MV Ice Cream is one of the track of her new mini album Melting and maybe is the most talkative because PSY is a guest star in it?

But beside PSY's and HyunA's continuing collaboration I want to talk about the video itself. As you all can understand she is singing about ice cream! And not just that, the lyrics is about how she is changeable as ice cream, with a lot of different flavours and sides, and also that she is going to get someone to melt like ice cream. Easily put, she is going to be as hot and interesting that everybody is going to melt for here. 

the lyrics isn't really that sensational, a lot of girl band sing about stuff like this in a way of being sexy without saying the really sexy things out loud. I don't really know what I think about the lyrics, what can you be thinking? it is kind of main stream and the usual play with english words. It is not an important message, it is more shallow and I really don't like the way she sings for example about the diamond ring:

Ma diamond ring so bling bling
I’ll show you my sexy swag
One look at me and they all fall for me
You better surrender

  

It feels like she is a gold digger, she will show you here sexy side if you give here diamonds... Nothing I can relate to or like.   

The video then?  I hate the long intro, I almost always do. But I can understand why they wanted PSY in the video, he is really big right now and it is good PR to work together with someone like that. 

When the video begins I cant understand if they are serious or not. It feels like a parody with the colours, accessories and the truck and everything but then the dancing starts and suddenly it all become so serous again with the sexy message in the lyrics an all the pelvic movements. 

And then you see the furry steering wheel and the clown and once again you cant decide... Maybe it is both? a parody of being sexy or a girl being sexy while shooting a parody?... This is why I don't really like the video >___< 

And for being such a good dancer you don't really get to see how she is melting us with her dancing. The clean cut dance sections is mostly some hip hop steps and nothing more exciting than that. 

 

Though, there is one scene I do like in the video. Believe it or not but it is the most sexy shot, with HyunA bathing in bubbles. If you are going to sing about being sexy then you have to have these kinds of pictures, not just crazy accessories and heavy make up. The one where she is standing behind a mans body and caresses him is also really hot. 

Maybe it is time to wrap it up now? I don't have anything more to talk about I think... So I don't like the lyrics and not really the video either even if I do like sexiness... hmm... I don't know what that tell about me?...
 
  

Gangnam style-hysteria

To begin with; yes, I am writing in English. Have to try if I can. I was thinking that this way I would be able to exercise my English and at the same time maybe reach more people. We will see if I continue like this or switch back to Swedish.

But at least I hope you can overlook the mistakes I surely will make.

So, back on topic: I am going to write about PSY and Gangnam Style and the phenomena it has become. Again! I got the energy to start up the topic again yesterday when Nyhetsmorgon (on of the morning news shows in Sweden) brought up the subject. They talked about how this P.S.Y (yes, they did take it letter by letter xD) suddenly had brought k-pop around the world through Youtube. They also talked about the Gangnam Style-flashmob in Stockholm last weekend where like 300-400 people partisipated. 

I don't know what I should feel. I think it is wonderful for PSY (and all the other band/artist) who is getting the attention, they really deserve it. But at the same time it bothers me that so much people, who doesn't know enough about k-pop and its industry, talk about it. It feels as if the world suddenly is full with wannabes and people with the wrong impression of what it is all about. 

I am also a little bit afraid that PSY is going to be the mental picture of k-pop and the Korean music industry. Don't get me wrong, PSY is awesome and have many years behind him as an icon in Korea, but he is not the average k-pop idol.  PSY have unusual control and influences over his music and a lot of other idols in Korea doesn't have that opportunity. PSY also have a little different style than most of them, He isn't gorgeous to look at but instead his music is filled with humour and happiness. I am afraid that all the new interested people somewhat gets disappointed when the later on encounters other k-pop artist and doesn't give them the love they deserves. 

Hopefully my fear is not going to be fulfilled but only time can tell, in the meantime I will try not to worry about it. Some of us was here long before Gangnam Style and if the interest decreases we will remain!