Obama Did NOT Go 'Gangnam'
I figured I would take a step away from all the serious news posted on the blog and find an article that can be easily relatable. As many of you may have heard, a controversy has risen around Korean pop star PSY. Although his hit single "Gangnam Style" has been on the Top 10 singles iTunes list and was even #1 at one point, Obama is certainly not his #1 fan. It all started when a video surfaced of one of his old songs titled "Dear America." Lyrics included phrases such as "Kill those f--ing Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives..." and "Kill them all slowly and painfully... daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers." It is quite obvious as to why this would bring up such a dispute. I first heard about this event as I was listening to the radio in the car, and ever since then I haven't been able to think of this singer in quite the same way. PSY has publicly apologized for this offensive song, but is an apology sufficient for these words to be forgiven?
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I had heard that PSY was anti-American, but I had not heard about this specific song. I would never buy his "Gangnam Style" song anyways, so it doesn't really matter to me what he says. We already know that anti-American sentiment is high across the globe, but addressing it in one particular celebrity isn't going to change anything.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the song was written at a time when anti-American sentiment was very popular in Korea, such lyrics and their implications are hard to ignore. The article says that in his apology, he included the statement "'I'm deeply sorry for how these lyrics could be interpreted." It's difficult for me to imagine that there would be multiple interpretations of his explicit lyrics. Even so, only time will tell whether or not his fans diminish in number due to this unexpected skeleton in his closet.
ReplyDeleteAs Kira said, there are only so many ways these lyrics can be interpreted. I of course did not know the meaning of the lyrics and thought it was a catcy song so I listened to it. I feel that many other people have similar opinions and because most of the song is in a different language, most people wont know the meaning.
DeleteAfter seeing the amount of Patriotism in Penncrest alone I believe that his fan base will be hurt badly which, it should be. It is one thing to voice an opinion and it is another to voice your opinion in a vulgar fashion as PSY did. The words he used do not have any underlying interpretations. He meant what he said and an apology so late in the game in invalid.
ReplyDeleteAs Amanda said, the amount of patriotism in Penncrest alone is crazy. I don't think there is one family who doesn't own at least an American flag or something along those lines. In addition, the student body here was crazed with the Gangam Style dance for a while (and still is.) I saw countless numbers of students doing the dance in several locations (football games, school dances, birthday parties.... you get it) and if any member of the student body here were so patriotic to the point that the lyrics offended them, then PSY could and will experience a severe decrease in popularity. PSY can claim to be sorry, but who's to say that he really means it?
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that this song will drastically affect the popularity of Psy because his song was a one hit wonder type song that didnt really get him too much staying power Psy will be finished with his American 15 minutes of fame in the near future.
ReplyDeleteAmericans do attempt to push our patriotism and nationalism upon other nations, and i do feel as if we are too involved in the Middle East; however, our involvement in places such as Iraq has made us a great untouchable country because we appear unbeatable. We are an extremely strong nation and I don't mind people thinking this way about us because at the end of the day they all seem jealous.
ReplyDeletePeople might not like PSY, because of what he previously wrote/sang, I don't think that will change the average citizens' options about his current work. Elites might not endorse his work, but I don't think the average citizen will change his or her option.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thank you for the change of pace. Second, I can see why associating with someone who has said some horrible things might be bad for the president's reputation. However, I do believe that PSY could have, and might actually have, changed. I don't know if his apology is sincere or not, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
ReplyDeleteI think PSY's lyrics to the old song are insensitive. Yes, other nations sometimes see America negatively and PSY apologized, but that does not change what he said. The success of Gangnam Style can not be taken back, but I am curious to see how future PSY music will be received in America.
ReplyDeleteThere are some lines that you don't cross. I think that his fan base will be severely damaged, am amazed at Obama's self control. Not many people could not react. The song is obviously offensive and I don't think that an apology is really good enough to earn forgiveness. I agree with Talia and am curious to see how his future music is received, should a sufficient number of people hear about this.
ReplyDeletePSY knew what he was singing was inappropriate. While he has the right to express his sentiment about the Iraq War, the "Christmas in Washington" charity concert was not by any means an acceptable place to reveal his thoughts in such brutal words. I doubt the sincerity of his apology.
ReplyDeleteAlthough PSY's lyrics were insensitive and inappropriate I do not think that they will severely impact his fan base. His popularity is so strong because of his latest song "Gangnam Style" and his past songs are not as well known, those who are informed of the controversy may develop a dislike for PSY, but I do not think that it will change much.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people don 't even know about this controversy,and most who would have bought PSY's song already have. As patriotic as we claim to be, I don't think enough people would really protest against him by ignoring him.
ReplyDeleteLiz is right. I had no idea about this until i read the article. However out of bounds the song may have been people will still listen his music. That was even showed when "Gangnam Style" got over 1 billion views on youtube. One Billion views is a lot... and I would bet that a very high percentage of views on that video are from many US citizens.
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