Forget the U.S. -- Korean rap/pop superstar Psy has taken the entire world by storm with his hit, "Gangnam Style." He's even managed to surpass the Prince of YouTube, Justin Bieber, by racking up more views than the Biebs' incredibly popular "Baby" video. Insane! And yet, FOX News' Bill O'Reilly doesn't understand why on earth people are gettin' their Gangnam on and why the video has almost a billion views.
He was so befuddled in fact by "what's going on" in the video that he had controversial Fox psychiatrist Keith Ablow -- known for saying that Chaz Bono on Dancing With the Stars could make children reconsider their gender and that Newt Gingrich's infidelity would make him a better president -- come on to talk about the Psy "madness." And oh yeah, his analysis was reeeeally enlightening ...
Ablow waxed philosophical:
I think what this fellow is tapping into ... is the fact that people don't want any meaning right now. It is just is sort of like a drug and that seems to be what most people seem to want right now. Not reality, not feeling, not meaning. ... The meaning is that it means nothing.
Then, O'Reilly chimed in that it must be blowing up because people want to "numb themselves."
Wooooowwww. All right, so let's get this straight. So, because it's not in English, it means absolutely nothing? Granted, Psy's lyrics don't exactly translate to anything especially deep or poetic, but no less than any other comparable pop song about lookin' for a "sexy lady" that's written in English. Basically, it sounds like Ablow and O'Reilly feel like it might as well be written in gibberish, because they don't understand Korean and are too lazy to look up a translation of the song.
Obviously what Ablow should have said is that the song's popularity is not about people enjoying something fun, frothy, pop-y, catchy, maybe even a little goofy. And it never hurts if a hit song also has its own signature dance move. (Hello, anyone remember the "Macarena"?!) It's a song, a video, an artist, and a phenomenon that doesn't take itself too seriously. You know, O'Reilly and Ablow and delusional Fox News do.
Here's the full segment ...
Are you offended by Ablow's remarks? Why do you think "Gangnam Style" is so popular right now?
Image via FOX
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Comments 13
My kids and I love this song; it's so much fun, has such a great beat and a fabulously fun dance to go with it. Plus, it's something new and different that we haven't heard before.All of these things add to the appeal of the song...and if they bothered to educate themselves and read the translation, they would see that the song is NOT meaningless,especially just because it's not in English.He is singing about a place he likes&is familiar with like so many other singers before him. How close-minded and petty for Bill and baldie to be so negative about something as trivial as a song that brings people joy. Asshats.
It's no different than the macarena, ymca, etc. of bygone days. It's just good mindless fun. It's bigger because youtube/net spreads things faster and wider.
Yes, the comments those people made pissed me off, I love Gangnam Style. They honestly think Bieber is more deserving of fame than Psy? Justin Bieber's songs have mostly dislikes on Youtube, while Gangnam Style has mostly likes.
And seriously, compared Gangnam Style to a dangerous drug is such a gross overreation. This guys need to relax and stop being so damn anal.
Why does everything require some type of deep discussion or interpretation? Sometimes you get tired of hearing people complaining, talking about murders, politics, etc. That's why some listen to music, read books, or do whatever.
Admit it. You're cranked about this because it's Fox. Because it's O'Reilly. If it was Saturday Night Live saying that it was a meaningless song, you wouldn't care. If it was Stephen Colbert saying it was just a gimmick, you'd be totally on board with it. It has nothing to do with the fact that it's not in english. The song IS inane. It IS a gimmick. and you know what? More power to this guy for tapping into that, and making as much as he can off of it. like someone else said... it joins a long list of inane, gimmicky songs that made their singers a lot of money. Macarena. Hammer Time. Thriller. The Hokie Pokie, for heaven's sake!! Why does everything have to be politicized, analyzed, and argued over?
So Bill O'reilly doesn't get it. Who cares? Why is he a "hater" because he disagrees with you or anyone else?