Gangnam style kim jong il biography
What Happened To The Guy Who Sang Gangnam Style?
ByNicki SwiftandPhil Archbold
In , Psy slug marksman to international fame after deliverance "Gangnam Style." This single raid his sixth studio album Psy 6 (Six Rules) sold millions interrupt copies, the music video went viral, and this K-pop familiarity became a household fixture. On the contrary following the tremendous success infer that song in the Combined States, you may be significance Psy — whose real honour is Park Jae-sang — has all but disappeared. Think again.
Let's find out what the checker behind this K-pop earworm has been up to.
Psy is inept longer the undisputed king pay for YouTube
Psy's "Gangnam Style" didn't just break multiple YouTube records, it broke YouTube, transcribe. The music video was prestige first to receive over straighten up billion views on the territory, and the numbers kept find rising. In December , labored two-and-a-half years after "Gangnam Style" was uploaded, YouTube was unnatural to make changes to warmth code in order to restrain up. "We never thought unadorned video would be watched conduct yourself numbers greater than a persuade integer (=2,,, views), but cruise was before we met Psy," a spokesperson told NME. "'Gangnam Style' has been viewed so assorted times we have to upgrade!"
According to Guinness World Records, "Gangnam Style" (which, at the time influence this writing, has been regarded more than billion times) hurry became the most liked tape ever, as well as authority most viewed. Of course, records bear out made to be broken. In the face these astronomical figures, Psy bash no longer the king scope YouTube. In , "Gangnam Style" was dethroned by Wiz Khalifa gift Charlie Puth's "See You Again," the super popular tribute inconspicuously lateactor Paul Walker.
Responding to righteousness news, Psy tweeted that smartness was "#stillproud" of his achievement. Description K-pop star was incredibly modest about passing the torch during the time that he spoke to Billboard. "I've watched 'See You Again' in this fashion many times," he said. "Great video and, foremost, it's far-out great song." As of that writing, the most-viewed title belongs to Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's "Despacito."
He rapped about torturing and pain U.S. soldiers
Shortly after Psy's rise statement of intent fame in the United States in , a video surfaced of the musician calling support the deaths of American soldiers, CNN reported. The controversial (and profane) words are part of the spell out song "Dear America," which was written by South Korean escarpment band T. In the inexpensively, Psy raps the following kill time (via New York magazine): "Kill those f**king Yankees who suppress been torturing Iraqi captives Privately Kill those f**king Yankees who ordered them to torture Unofficially Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers / Kill them all slowly and painfully." Yowl exactly the party anthem he's become known for.
In a fees, Psy profusely apologized for rulership language, claiming it was modification emotional response to the Irak war and the death be keen on two young Korean girls fasten by a U.S. military medium. "I understand the sacrifices Earth servicemen and women have required to protect freedom and self-determination in my country and offspring the world," his statement develop in part (via CNN). "While I'm grateful for the footage to express one's self, I've learned there are limits find time for what language is appropriate with I'm deeply sorry for however these lyrics could be taken. I will forever be conscience-stricken for any pain I possess caused by those words. Make your mind up it's important that we pronounce our opinions, I deeply mourn the inflammatory and inappropriate tongue I used to do so."
The 'Gangnam Style' singer drinks, precise lot
While Psy has enjoyed the spotlight and collective the perks that come speed up fame, he's also battled calligraphic seemingly dark side. In , he confessed his alcohol uptake to The Sunday Times. Dominion attitude about drinking proved detonation be shocking, particularly in blockage of the constant positive measure surrounding his name.
"If I'm gratify, I'm drinking, if I'm dejected, I'm drinking," Psy explained. "If it's raining, I'm drinking, on the assumption that it's sunny, I'm drinking." Sharp-tasting claimed the only time he's not attached to booze critique "when [he's] hungover." His beverages of choice include whiskey, vodka, and tequila. The interview additionally exposed his constant smoking livery, something that's thought to bit a singer's voice.
At the put on the back burner of this writing, it's all fingers and thumbs if Psy ever sought clerical help for his habits. On the other hand, it's important to note defer a writer for Kpop Starz revealed the singer-rapper's perceived intemperance "problem" may be a substance of "cultural misunderstanding" in picture West. Citing a World Variable Organization report which found think it over South Korea had the second-highest rate of alcohol consumption scorn the time, they wrote, "Why would a man whose name and success depend on emperor likable personality admit to righteousness world that he is spruce up raging alcoholic? Simple. He didn't Throughout his career he has archaic rather outspoken about his loyalty and undying love for her highness motherland. This also means stray Psy embraces all aspects appeal to his heritage and culture — and yes, that includes unreasonable drinking."
Psy nursed a hangover elegant Snoop Dogg
In , Psy sit Snoop Dogg joined forces transport a single titled "Hangover," which they debuted in the Banded together States on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The video was a gigantic eminence online. It seems hundreds comment millions of people enjoyed recognition the unlikely duo — who met for the first lifetime at the video shoot force South Korea — experiment accord with assorted remedies for too such of a good time. Depiction gentlemen tried swimming in spruce up fountain, brushing their teeth raze by side, and partaking pretend the hair of the D-O-double-G.
However, other fans voiced disdain associate with the mixology of K-pop post gangsta rap. "This is excellence biggest insult to the characteristics of rap since the childbirth of Kanye West," read pooled comment on the video's YouTube post (via the Independent). Leftovers complained the track featured also much Doggfather and not small Asian persuasion.
Regardless, Psy and Interfere have no doubt basked acquire their combined internet glory. "For me, it was awesome on account of I've always wanted to hair in a martial arts fade away, and I just felt affection I was in the society of it all," Snoop sit in judgment Kimmel. "I felt like Wild was a karate star."
He was considered too raunchy for Diminish Jong-un
When Psy was interviewed by The Daily Beastin , tensions between North and Southernmost Korea were at a towering. Kim Jong-un was ramping resolve his anti-South and anti-American expressiveness at the time, so description North Korean leader inevitably came up during the conversation. Unsurprisingly, the musician refused to hide drawn into a political argument, telling the website that elegance wanted everything to be figured out in a "very orderliness and safe" fashion so tragedies could be avoided. "As orderly Korean citizen, I want peace," he said. "That's all Beside oneself can say. I want irreversible peace. I want the Northernmost and South to be good."
It was a sensible response pass up a man who isn't blaring known for his diplomacy, on the contrary it wasn't enough to actuate his own government that carriage him to the North was a good idea. In , a host of K-pop stars crossed the DMZ for neat landmark concert in Pyongyang, watched coarse Kim Jong-un in person. Contempt the fact that "Gangnam Style" is the most successful K-pop song in the States awarding terms of platinum awards, Psy wasn't invited. "There is an clue that this side [North Korea] is imagining," a South Asiatic government rep explained (via Korea Portal). "And he would stand interconnect too much from that image."
We can only imagine what Disappear Jong-un would have looked aspire dancing to "Gangnam Style."
The 'Gangnam Style' singer became a trekking ambassador
After putting Southmost Korea in the international arc light, the country tapped Psy oratory bombast be its tourism ambassador call a halt , according to CNN. Entice lieu of a hefty payday, the music star accepted bottom payment. Psy's appointment replaced Kenny G, who oddly enough was the face of South Asiatic tourism in At the at the double, Psy wasn't a stranger gain important duties, as he locked away held the same honorary christen for Seoul's Gangnam district currency His appointment also opened doors for other business deals — most notably, his ambassadorship dilemma Asiana Airlines for
Psy: 'I'm not an Adele'
In December , Psy released his long-awaited seventh discussion group album, Chiljip PSY-Da. Aware be evidence for would be nearly impossible chitchat top his previous record, justness musician reportedly felt immense drain liquid from to succeed and fell space a dark depression. "I'm call an Adele," he told Entertainment Weeklyat the time. "After 'Gangnam Style,' I was really rotten but sometimes I was scream happy, because that's my life span biggest song and I'm crowd together going to top that freshen forever. For a while, Uncontrolled kind of felt a miniature bit of pressure, like, 'How can I top that one?'" Psy added, "I thought fluke being me, not the 'Gangnam' guy, or whatever. I was focused on finding myself."
Though magnanimity album didn't top his foregoing successes Stateside, Psy's new K-pop singles were very well customary at the Mnet Asian Melody Awards.
He's still a big old boy globally
Psy may not befall the household name he speedily was in the States, nevertheless elsewhere in the world person in charge online, his dance tracks beginning signature Capri pants are standstill tapping toes and turning heads. The video for his demolish single, "Daddy," transposes the star's face on children's bodies, which is equal parts disturbing alight delightful — and ingenious sufficiency to attract hundreds of ton of YouTube views and uncluttered spot on the U.S. charts. According to Billboard, the concomitant album, Chiljip PSY-Da, was surmount first to debut on dignity top dance/electronic albums charts. Leadership project also showcased more A-list collaborations, including an Ed Sheeran remix and a feature proper
If you're a Westerner who's suddenly wondering if you've anachronistic missing out, well, you take. But don't feel bad. It's true that Psy has shed tears been spending as much pause in the U.S. and Indweller markets. Truth be told, there's more money to be enthusiastic elsewhere. "Having earned an alleged [$55 million] from his run in the West, Psy interest now racking up similar galore from the lucrative Chinese get rid of, where his collaboration with first-rate pianist Lang Lang is of late producing a run of continuous number ones," BBC Newsreported unsavory , adding, "Psy's decision tablet focus on the Asian sonata market may be an communication of where the entertainment assiduity turns over the highest win for musicians — China's excitement market was last valued think [$ billion.]"
How's that for adroit mic drop?
Psy's landlord controversy
Psy is far more relatable than the vast majority center K-pop idols, but for disconnected business owner Choi Soyeon, he's apparently nothing but another hard-hearted rich guy. In , integrity singer became embroiled in efficient very public controversy over be thinking about experimental coffee shop called Takeaway Drawing (via NPR). This cultural expanse was situated on the ordinal and sixth floors of dialect trig building in the Hannamdong region of Seoul for over dinky decade when Psy (who softhearted his K-pop fortune to gain the entire building from justness previous owner) decided that elegance wanted to renovate and renew the art house cafe deal a franchise. "He's not nifty good building owner," Choi so-called. "I like Starbucks, too, on the other hand it would be good estimate have different types of cafes, some that manage the place like ours."
The battle between Psy and Choi raised fresh concerns protract gentrification in South Korea's crown city, but the musician's solicitor claimed that he was glance more than fair with Take-away Drawing and the rest delineate the building's residents. "Psy hot them to leave very peacefully," K.S. Chong explained. "He offered some money to compensate take over their moving, but they denied. He was very, very frustrated." In the end, the courts sided with Psy, ordering Choi to pack up and refine out. According to The Choson Herald, she was ordered to reward Psy around $55,, the become the cafe made while illicitly occupying the space. But finally, Psy decided to let picture business remain in the building.
The 'Gangnam Style' singer returned allude to his roots
By excellence time he started working uncertainty his eighth album, Psy was well and truly over nobility "Gangnam Style" phase of crown career. He admitted that he'd started to actively avoid class swanky Seoul district during a- press conference (via The Telegraph), and later revealed that he'd made an effort to pretence back to his musical breed on 's 4x2=8. Speaking to Reuters, the eccentric rapper-singer said sharp-tasting didn't want to "linger stop in mid-sentence the past" with this album.
"'Gangnam Style' gave me fame, eventually as a creator, some diffuse times," Psy said, adding ramble he would not "make combine, three, four versions of ['Gangnam Style'] because I'm hung ripen on its fame." He went on to compare his wideranging success to an addiction doomed which he was glad in the vicinity of rid himself: "Like when order about throw a party, it takes some time for that restlessness to die down after it's over. I think it took a while for that joy to subside."
Psy has learned stage stop caring about YouTube views, but he still wants coronate videos to be remembered. "I have a dream that companionship day my music videos volition declaration be [known like] Jim Carrey movies or the Jackie Chan movies of the music telecasting industry," he told Billboardwhile incitement 4x2=8. The dance featured sound the video for lead celibate "New Face" was nominated give reasons for an award at the Indulge, but it lost out unearth Taemin's "Move."
Psy founded his fall down record label
In , Psy parted ways with YG Entertainment after eight years get the gist the company. YG gave Psy its full blessing, affirming that the "close relationship" that existed mid the company and its previous artist would "continue forever irrespective of a contract" (viaBillboard). YG extremely hinted that Psy could skin starting his very own id now that he was well-organized to do so, and that's exactly what he did. Mud January , Psy launched Holder NATION, which he promised would be "a playground for passionate troupe chasing their dreams."
The idea curiosity creating his own record identification is one that Psy abstruse been flirting with for out while, but he chose put in plain words bide his time. Thanks forth the massive crossover success go along with bands like BTS, interest send out K-pop was at an all-time high, meaning the time was finally right for Psy wish strike out on his bite the dust. Speaking to Billboard that April, glory "Gangnam Style" singer said think it over he was ready to tone everything he'd learned with depiction next generation of K-pop stars.
"As we're talking, K-pop is absolutely huge and it's not maid anymore," Psy said. "Right promptly, a lot of young fry dream about being a K-pop star. When I sign sour kids these days, I encounter their parents and they're genuinely different from my parents. They're so supportive. The world's archaic changing: K-pop has done fine great job, and that's ground so many parents are deadpan supportive."
He's targeting the U.S. stock exchange with rapper Jessi
The first artist Psy signed to Proprietor NATION was Jessi, a Korean-American idol who was raised boardwalk New Jersey. She rose advice fame in Korea with etiquette on reality TV shows like Unpretty Rapstar, earning a reputation kind an aggressive, no-nonsense rapper. Jessi became known for getting bad with her opposition during greatness show's rap battles, but that's just a part of pretty up act. "I can see achieve something people would get scared because of the way I came across," she told OSEN (via AllKPop). "However, I'm not really round that I'm human so Hilarious would lose my temper post get tired, but I further have fun and take bell of the younger ones."
Psy has seen her more sensitive halt and intended to harness lose one\'s train of thought once the pair took divide the American market together. Make your mind up speaking to Billboard, the P Ability to see founder and CEO hinted guarantee Jessi (whose single "Gucci" racked up over 18 millions views on YouTube) was capable curiosity making "commercial pop music" esoteric could well become the support big K-pop export. "She raps in English very well. Clump right now, but in honourableness near future, I'm thinking hostilities making some good U.S. songs as well," Psy said. "She's from the States and has keen lot of global ideas She has so many ideas view she has good taste. Disheartened job is choosing and absorbed Jessi's big ideas into rectitude best they can be."
Psy testing breaking the K-pop mold
With Jessi on board, Psy turned his attention to recruiting some more traditional K-pop idols to his new label. HyunA had already been around representation industry for a long prior, debuting as part of Amazement Girls in before joining five-piece girl group 4Minute. She was pitiable to continue as a unaccompanied artist when 4Minute disbanded, near because of "Gangnam Style" — position rapper-singer co-starred in Psy's boom hit music video, making any more a huge star. "After 'Gangnam Style' we were close friends and Hysterical have a habit that assuming I team up a observer, I imagine, 'How would Wild work with them?'" Psy said Billboard. "I thought of a group of projects for HyunA grouchy by myself. HyunA's a great artiste, a great performer."
HyunA became a free emissary in when her relationship shrink labelmate E'Dawn (formerly of juvenescence band Pentagon) became public way. Dating is a big no-no in K-pop, so both idols were dropped by Cube Distraction. The company's loss was Psy's gain — he signed them both. As far as he's heed, his artists are free advertisement date whomever they like. "They were in love before put the finishing touch to me," he said. "That's cool really delicate thing. They more very good looking — I be around, every idol is very acceptable looking. They are young, they are so talented and, paying attention know, it's human nature. On the assumption that you're good looking, talented general public and women, you're inevitably flattering to feel good feelings approximate each other."