PSY's hit song 'Gangnam Style' inspires University of Michigan students to dance on Diag
There's no escaping it, the latest internet dance craze has reached Ann Arbor and is coming to a Diag near you. Haven't heard the K-Pop song produced by South Korean rapper PSY (pronounced “sigh”) yet? Well, turn up the volume on your speakers and click play on the video below, but be warned: "Gangnam Style" may be stuck in your head for the next few hours:
To date, the song has garnered more than 220 millions views on YouTube, thousands of parody videos from those produced for weddings to one by the U.S. Naval Academy, and even controversy after several Los Angeles lifeguards were fired for their video interpretation.
Now the University of Michigan is getting in on the action with the Nam Center for Korean Studies hosting a parody contest giveaway and a student flash mob in the works. Will a half-time show featuring the U-M marching band be next?
The success of the video hasn't been limited to YouTube, however, as the song now tops the iTunes sales chart and is quickly climbing the Billboard top 100. Surprised by the popularity of the song? So is the 35-year-old artist who explained that it was "the dance and the humor that ultimately led to its overcoming of language barriers."
Have you mastered the dance? Send us a link to your "Gangnam Style" video in the comments below or on Twitter.
Comments
Tom Teague
Thu, Sep 20, 2012 : 5:35 p.m.
Its ALL a generational thing, XMO. It's designed that way. I Heard Ozzy Osbourne once complaining that HIS kids liked the Hansons. Decided then that complaining to my son about music only encouraged him to play stuff that I hated, so I shut up and there were modest, but welcome, changes in the home playlist after that. All that said, I like PSY, like this video, and if I could join the UM students without having to bring my own personal orthopedic surgeon, I would.
Tom Teague
Thu, Sep 20, 2012 : 5:37 p.m.
PS - at least I think that's what Ozzy was saying. It's hard to tell.
Tex Treeder
Thu, Sep 20, 2012 : 1:38 a.m.
Awesome. This explains what I say the other day while I was stopped at a red light near north campus. Three guys suddenly started dancing Gangnam style across the road. Bizarre at the time, but now it all makes sense.
julieswhimsies
Thu, Sep 20, 2012 : 12:28 a.m.
I love this! Dance Ann Arbor!
jns131
Wed, Sep 19, 2012 : 11:33 p.m.
OMG! Got to see the one on the Navy. Something about a guy in a uniform. I found the video on You Tube for the life guard one and I don't get it. This is not something to get fired over. Someone really goofed there. They will get jobs somewhere else. It is just a music video with people dancing to it. No biggie.
almightydanish
Wed, Sep 19, 2012 : 8:59 p.m.
Trying to up your search engine rankings, eh?
xmo
Wed, Sep 19, 2012 : 7:23 p.m.
I guess this is a generational thing?
Lola
Thu, Sep 20, 2012 : 4:27 a.m.
Hey, I'm no Spring chicken either but I LOVE it!
5c0++ H4d13y
Thu, Sep 20, 2012 : 3:09 a.m.
No, you're just lame.
julieswhimsies
Thu, Sep 20, 2012 : 12:30 a.m.
Hey! I get it! I'm 61!
jns131
Wed, Sep 19, 2012 : 11:24 p.m.
Has to be. Because I am still not getting it.
cinnabar7071
Wed, Sep 19, 2012 : 7:10 p.m.
I'm not feeling it!
julieswhimsies
Thu, Sep 20, 2012 : 12:29 a.m.
Well, you guys are no fun!
jns131
Wed, Sep 19, 2012 : 11:20 p.m.
Neither am I. Wonder if the girl child might. She likes this stuff.
Matthew
Wed, Sep 19, 2012 : 6:37 p.m.
The Michigan Marching Band already did the dance at a halftime show - last weekend against UMass. They played the actual song over the sound system in the third quarter but the timeout ended early and only about 7 seconds of the song played.
Kyle Mattson
Thu, Sep 20, 2012 : midnight
I didn't make it to last week's game Matt, but I guess I called it! I'm sure its not the last of it we'll see this season too.
smokeblwr
Wed, Sep 19, 2012 : 5:06 p.m.
I think Kim Jong Un should do a Best Korea remix.