Gangnam Ice is one of the most famous dance groups in South Korea. It has become popular because of its catchy songs and dance routines. The group has even topped the charts of the international music industry. They have been touring in different countries across the world. One of their albums has already reached the top 20 of the Billboard World Music Charts.
Psy's career
"Gangnam Style" exploded onto the music scene and transformed Psy's career. It became a global sensation, earning over a billion views on YouTube. The song also earned the rapper a spot on the Billboard Hot 100, proving the artist's international reach.
Despite the success, Psy's career has not always been easy. He was questioned by media on several occasions regarding North Korea. Also, he was required to perform mandatory national military service from 2003 to 2005.
However, he had been working in the entertainment industry for more than two decades before Gangnam Style hit the scene. Before Gangnam, he had released six albums. These included the album Ssa Jip ("Cheap House"), which was limited to sale to adults only.
"Gangnam Style" quickly spawned thousands of spoofs, imitators, and imitations. It reached a global audience and helped Psy gain new fans in South Korea. Since then, he has been making big news in the U.S., where he's currently on a tour.
During his time in the US, Psy appeared on NBC's "Today" show, ABC's "Nightline," and the MTV Video Music Awards. After his performance, he led a flash mob outside the Eiffel Tower.
He subsequently signed a deal with Scooter Braun's School Boy Records. YG Entertainment, the biggest talent agency in Korea, also represented PSY.
South Korean success
While Psy's mega-hit, "강남아이스 Style," is not among the most popular songs of all time, it has been a huge hit in Asia. And it has helped South Korea become a global force in pop music.
Before the release of the song, PSY was a local pop sensation. He sold out concerts, attracted 30,000 fans to his shows, and won songwriting awards.
When the song came out, he was a national star. His music video was a viral sensation. It went on to become the most watched video of all time on YouTube. In a year's time, the "Gangnam" video is expected to clock in with over 4 billion views.
The song has even made its way to the top of the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100. It has also garnered over 3.6 million digital single downloads. A whopping US$6.01 million has been generated from the song's five months of release.
The song has also made its way to the top of the on-demand songs chart. This is especially impressive considering that it spent a total of five weeks at the top of that ranking.
The "Gangnam" video has also garnered millions of views on streaming platforms. These views have been a boon to South Korean exports.
International success
The international success of Gangnam Ice could be attributed to the internet. Psy's viral video racked up over a billion views in less than a year. It also became the first video to reach one billion views on YouTube.
However, the video itself wasn't the only thing to make that claim. There were a number of instant hits that caught the public's attention in the early 2010s.
As far as the video's other innovations, the most impressive may have been the eponymous "Gangnam Style," the Korean pop star's viral song about a high-class Seoul neighborhood. This was actually a fairly satirical critique of the city's upper-class population.
Psy's music video was the first to break the billion-view mark, and it's still the most watched YouTube video ever. But how did it happen?
Psy was already a rising star in the South Korean music industry. In fact, he had won several songwriting awards at the Seoul Music Awards.
His success was also due in part to his wildly acrobatic performances. He was a comic relief on a number of variety shows. During his concerts, he kicks and waves his arms like a lunatic.
He's even schooled Britney Spears on her signature dance moves. Even Barack Obama asked about the dance on election night.
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