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Gangnam Style
简体
Gangnam Style
《江南 Style》

Learn English with this music English lesson

Date: Jan 28 2013

Themes: Music, Pop Culture

Grammar: Present Perfect Tense

Intro

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Who would have thought that the first video in the history of the Internet to be viewed more than a billion times would be a Korean pop star dancing as if he’s riding a horse?

The title of the song “Gangnam Style,” by PSY, refers to a neighborhood in Seoul, but the hit is a global phenomenon. The song reached #1 in 30 countries. Everyone from other famous pop stars to President Obama has imitated the video’s signature move on camera.

Despite being one of the biggest hits of all time, there are still people who haven’t heard “Gangnam Style.” Learn English in this music English lesson, and listen to Sara and Greta discuss the most popular video in the world.

谁能想到互联网历史上第一个浏览次数超过十亿的视频会是一段类似骑马的韩国流行舞蹈?

PSY 演唱的这首歌叫《江南 Style》,指的是首尔的江南区,但却引起了全球轰动。这首歌在 30 个国家和地区荣膺歌曲排行榜榜首。众多明星竞相模仿,甚至连美国总统奥巴马也在摄像机前模仿视频中的标志性舞步。

尽管这首歌已经成为当下最流行的歌曲之一,但仍然会有人没有听说过《江南 Style》。学习这节音乐英语课,听萨拉和格里塔讨论这段世界上最风靡的视频。

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Sara

Sara

Greta

Greta

Sara:  Have you heard of this video that’s totally blowing up on the internet? It’s called “Gangnam Style?”

Greta:  No, I haven’t.

Sara:  You’re probably like the only person in the world who hasn’t heard of this thing. It’s a new single by a South Korean pop artist, I don’t know, he’s called PSY or something, and it’s the most-watched video in the history of YouTube.

Greta:  Oh my gosh, like, why did it go viral? Why is it so big?

Sara:  I mean, I guess it’s sort of a catchy song but the idea is it’s totally over the top. It’s this guy in all these situations doing this really fancy choreography. It’s kind of goofy. I think maybe some people like it but maybe some people are kind of just making fun of it.

Greta:  Isn’t it strange how things that are just so random all of a sudden become these huge cultural phenomena that everyone’s seen?

Sara:  Yeah, totally, and almost as popular as the version that this guy has done are these parodies that people have done. Like, the Oregon Ducks did one, I think. All these different celebrities have done their own versions of “Gangnam Style.”

Greta:  Wow, I’m going to have to go home and Google that.

Sara:  You should.

 

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Discussion

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Although it’s already one of the most popular videos of all time, Greta hasn’t seen “Gangnam Style,” so Sara tells her about the #1 hit by Korean star, PSY.

She says the video is over the top and features dancing that is both great and goofy. That’s why she thinks it is blowing up.

The video is such a phenomenon that all sorts of people have imitated its signature style. Greta might be next. She is going to watch it right away.

Is “Gangnam Style” popular in your country? What is your favorite dance move from the video? What do you think it takes for a video to go viral?

 

Comments

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sforostianaia

Ukraine

Kids get crazy about it. It’s really goofy, but somehow touching. And it’s really honest. They don’t want to display themselves as cool singers, they laugh at themselves. But it’s cute!

01:09 PM Jan 28 2013 |

Youssoufy

Cote D'Ivoire

I already saw it on TV a couple days ago but I did not pay attention for it. By the way before I realy appreciate a song I have to understand it and to knowing what is mean. But to do as all of people have done I can’t do so.

12:43 PM Jan 28 2013 |

1 person likes this

naira71

naira71

Azerbaijan

This video is very popular in our country the singer differs by his unusual style of dancing.The song is funny too.I like it.

12:09 PM Jan 28 2013 |

pari.n

pari.n

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

One of my favorite songs is (Gangnam style):)

12:07 PM Jan 28 2013 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

At first I was reluctant  to stream the video  that went viral  all over the world , on second thoughts, I said to myself , what can you lose , join the flock .I must confess that  i liked it.   

11:24 AM Jan 28 2013 |

jeongyaong

jeongyaong

South Korea

Haha I really like how the girl pronounced “Gangnam Style,” and “PSY”!


I heard that he composed the song to cheer up people who were depressed due to the global recession.


10:14 AM Jan 28 2013 |

Csaba.82

Hungary

I think the main success of it thanks to its new dance style what make people very happy and inspired to try to learn and use this in their free time. But tell the truth that there are lot of better songs around the world than Gangnam stlye with less shared in the internet.

09:30 AM Jan 28 2013 |

princessanika

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

wow i love this song,it’s funny and interesting,i like his dance athat dance is very famous now,who doesn’t like this dance and song????maybe a oerson likes my mom,she hates this video,but i love it:)

09:27 AM Jan 28 2013 |

1 person likes this

davidrabbani

Australia

Unfortunately the majority of people are simplistic about art, and this blowed up video clip is an undeniable witness to this fact.

07:13 AM Jan 28 2013 |

1 person likes this

Wielomian

Wielomian

Poland

I have never seen that movie but I have heard it somewhere. It is not my style and I don’t like it. I think it went viral because majority of people make fun of it. I think the second reason is that it is simple and straight. People don’t want do hard thing, we have cars to move, computers to count and music to have fun. We have so many impulses around as and so many information that after all of that we want just listen to something goofy and not demanding to think a lot:) 

07:00 AM Jan 28 2013 |

BlueLotus

BlueLotus

China

lol

06:46 AM Jan 28 2013 |

mojtaba

mojtaba

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I wanna be honest whit you/I never heard about it and don’t like see  it beacuse ….


 

06:29 AM Jan 28 2013 |

saowaros

saowaros

Thailand

#1 hit since and then! oppa gangnam style! ;)

05:58 AM Jan 28 2013 |

I M P E R I V M

United States

I had seen this video thanks for a friend (Mr. Lee) I like how the main guy in this video is NOT handsome or in good shape but he is SUPER confident and is not shy

05:34 AM Jan 28 2013 |

Yuci

YuciSuper Member!

Japan

I had not seen the MV but heard the music many times. Just a minute ago I saw it…


Oh… I liked this goofiness. I will never forget this video.


Some Japanese like to make goofy parodies based on foreign famous songs. Dragostea Din Tei(the original song is from Moldova) is one of the parodies. Those musics have really impressive melody or phrase for us. That’s why the crazy parodies became popular although their original lyrics were very serious.


And this is probabably unnecessary to say, but the title of this song sounds like “Gundam Star” for me…

05:13 PM Jan 19 2013 |

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