Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Seoul, 90210 – The Musical


I’m a little late on this but, there is a song that is sweeping Korea. It’s called “Gagnam Style” by Psy. The song is so popular, it’s gotten coverage on CNN and a few US musicians have tweeted about it and mentioned it during concerts, etc. The artist, Psy, will appear at the VMAs.

The video is super cheesy and funny. It kinda reminds me of the Offspring’s “Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)” video. The videos aren’t remotely the same but, the almost parody like style is similar.

To give you some background, Gangnam is a very wealthy neighborhood in Seoul; think Beverly Hills or the Upper East Side. From what I understand, it’s probably the wealthiest neighborhood in Seoul (I don’t live in Seoul so, I’m not really sure.) As a result, there are those that think the song makes fun of the neighborhood and its reputation for materialism. To be honest, I don’t speak Korean so, I can’t say if the song is critiquing anything or not. For more on this, here is a really interesting article from TheAtlantic 

This song is everywhere! I hear it all the time, mostly from my students. The kindergarteners love to sing the part of the chorus that goes “Hey…sexy lady!” at me (and other teachers), which is slightly disturbing. They also like to do the funny dance Psy does in the video.

Anyway, if you haven’t seen it yet, watch the video for the song. It’s pretty funny.





Lyrics

English Translation:
Oppa is Gangnam style
Gangnam style
A girl who is warm and humanle during the day
A classy girl who know how to enjoy the freedom of a cup of coffee
A girl whose heart gets hotter when night comes
A girl with that kind of twist
I’m a guy
A guy who is as warm as you during the day
A guy who one-shots his coffee before it even cools down
A guy whose heart bursts when night comes
That kind of guy
Beautiful, loveable
Yes you, hey, yes you, hey
Beautiful, loveable
Yes you, hey, yes you, hey
Now let’s go until the end
Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style
Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style
Oppa is Gangnam style
Eh- Sexy Lady, Oppa is Gangnam style
Eh- Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh
A girl who looks quiet but plays when she plays
A girl who puts her hair down when the right time comes
A girl who covers herself but is more sexy than a girl who bares it all
A sensable girl like that
I’m a guy
A guy who seems calm but plays when he plays
A guy who goes completely crazy when the right time comes
A guy who has bulging ideas rather than muscles
That kind of guy
Beautiful, loveable
Yes you, hey, yes you, hey
Beautiful, loveable
Yes you, hey, yes you, hey
Now let’s go until the end
Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style
Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style
Oppa is Gangnam style
Eh- Sexy Lady, Oppa is Gangnam style
Eh- Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh
On top of the running man is the flying man, baby baby
I’m a man who knows a thing or two
On top of the running man is the flying man, baby baby
I’m a man who knows a thing or two
You know what I’m saying
Oppa is Gangnam style
Eh- Sexy Lady, Oppa is Gangnam style
Eh- Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh


Romanized Version:
Oppan gang-namseutayil
Kang-namseutayil
Naje-neun ttasaroun inkanjeo-gin yeoja
Keopi hanjanye yeoyureuraneun pumkyeok i-nneun yeoja
Bami omyeon shimjangi tteugeowojineun yeoja
Keureon banjeon i-nneun yeoja
Naneun sana-i
Naje-neun neomankeum ttasaroun geureon sana-i
Keopi shikgido jeone wonsyas ttaerineun sana-i
Bami omyeon shimjangi teojyeobeorineun sana-i
Keureon sana-i
Areumdawo sarangseureowo
Keurae neo hey keurae baro neo hey
Areumdawo sarangseureowo
Keurae neo hey keurae baro neo hey
Chigeumbu-teo kal dekkaji kabol-kka
Oppan gang-namseutayil
Kang-namseutayil
Oppan gang-namseutayil
Kang-namseutayil
Oppan gang-namseutayil
Eh- sexy lady
Oppan gang-namseutayil
Eh- sexy lady
O-oo-o
Jeongsu-khae boijiman nol ttaen noneun yeoja
Ittaeda shipeumyeon mukkeot-deon meori puneun yeoja
Karyeot-jiman wen-manhan nochulboda yahan yeoja
Keureon gamkakjeo-gin yeoja
Naneun sana-i
Jeomjanha boijiman nol ttaen noneun sana-i
Ttae-ga dwehmyeon wahnjeon michyeobeorineun sana-i
Keunyukboda sasangi ul-tungbul-tung-han sana-i
Keureon sana-i
Areumdawo sarangseureowo
Keurae neo hey keurae baro neo hey
Areumdawo sarangseureowo
Keurae neo hey keurae baro neo hey
Chigeumbu-teo kal dekkaji kabol-kka
Oppan gang-namseutayil
Kang-namseutayil
Oppan gang-namseutayil
Kang-namseutayil
Oppan gang-namseutayil
Eh- sexy lady
Oppan gang-namseutayil
Eh- sexy lady
O-oo-o
Ttwiineun nom keu wiie naneun nom
Baby baby
Naneun mwol jom aneun nom
Ttwiineun nom keu wiie naneun nom
Baby baby
Naneun mwol jom aneun nom
You know what i’m saying
Oppan gang-namseutayil
Eh- sexy lady
Oppan gang-namseutayil
Eh- sexy lady
Oppan gang-namseutayil

Translation Credits: pop!gasa
Romanizations by: kpoplyrics.net

(Note: Oppa means "brother" in Korean.)

Source: http://www.kpoplyrics.net/psy-gangnam-style-lyrics-english-romanized.html

4 comments:

  1. Let's see if he can do this in English and put some of our bad pop stars out of business.

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  2. Pretty catchy. I feel like I've heard an American song similar to this years ago...

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  3. I really like this song! It's incredibly catchy and I think I'm going to practice "riding the horse" in front of my mirror. I'm going to look like an idiot, but oh well! =) Thanks for introducing it to me "sexy lady!" LoL!

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  4. jen, you have no idea how popular this song is in the US. I hear random Americans singing it all the time. Its hilarious when you see them bust out with the dance too to go with it.

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