Buzz
Gangnam Style parodies have taken the place of the original Gangnam Style. It’s actually quite surprising how little Gangnam fever has spread through the Mytour community. As of this week, the original Gangnam Style video has even surpassed the view count of the top YouTube video, Justin Bieber’s 'Baby'. The hugely popular track by South Korean artist PSY has reached over 840 million views since being uploaded just four months ago.
We can all agree on the infectious beat, the hilarious dance moves, and some funny moments, but what exactly does 'Gangnam' mean? Gangnam is a wealthy district in Seoul, South Korea, often considered the party hotspot of the city. In the song, PSY expresses the type of person he is, as well as the type of woman he desires. The music video showcases the lively crowds that fill Gangnam.
The song's immense success has led to numerous parodies, covering a wide range of topics from political commentary to gaming culture. Here's a list of 10 parodies you should check out if you want to stay in the loop with the trend that’s bizarrely sweeping the globe. First, let’s start with the original – in case you’ve been living under a rock for the past four months and missed it:
10. Romney Style
How can you engage young adults in politics these days? CollegeHumor, a comedic website, found the perfect answer. Let's take the most popular song on YouTube and poke fun at a presidential candidate. In this parody, former presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is portrayed as a wealthy, out-of-touch Republican elitist. The video also references Romney's private comment to donors about the 47% of Americans who 'believe they are victims' and 'will vote for this president [Obama] no matter what.' In one scene, the Romney impersonator places a '47%' sign on a waiter’s back.
9. Kim Jong Style
With all the focus on South Korea, North Korea has become a bit envious. Kim Jong Un feels somewhat left out. This Key of Awesome parody mocks life in North Korea, portraying it as harsh, oppressive, and full of discontent citizens. The Key of Awesome has always been my top choice for parodies. If you haven’t seen their work yet, you should definitely check them out!
8. MineCraft Style
MineCraft is a popular indie game playable on PC or Xbox 360. The game's primary goal is to build things with strategic intent. If you haven’t played the game, this parody may go over your head – but for those who have, it’s definitely a must-watch.
7. NBC Olympic Style
The 2012 Summer Olympics may not have had as many unforgettable moments as the previous Beijing games, but one thing that emerged from London was a surge of internet memes. There was the McKayla-not-impressed face, the Angry-Queen face, various funny diver faces, and the yelling-Swedish-King face memes, just to name a few.
Now, the Olympics have contributed something else to internet culture: Olympic Style. This parody pokes fun at NBC sportscaster Bob Costas and the network’s over-the-top obsession with covering the Olympics.
6. Lo Pan Style
Fans of the film 'Big Trouble in Little China' by John Carpenter will surely love this one. Ranked number five on this list, it features the notorious villain Lo Pan from the film. As always, if you haven’t seen the movie, the references may fly over your head. Nonetheless, the video is still funny and enjoyable for all ages.
5. Vote Obama Style
Across the United States, government professors and high school teachers made it a requirement for their students to watch the presidential debates. I'm sure most of the content went over their heads. So where can you find a simplified and easier-to-understand version of these topics? Look no further—Obama Style is here to save the day!
4. Obama Gangnam Style
Can we ever get enough of Obama?! While this video doesn’t exactly match the typical definition of a parody, I wanted to include it because the lookalikes resemble their real counterparts so closely. When I first watched it, I honestly thought they convinced the real Michelle Obama to take part. After all, she’s been encouraging kids to stay active, and what better way to get moving than by dancing for an hour to our favorite viral song? Another reason I like this video: they added their own unique dance moves, plus a nod to Michael Jackson at the end.
3. Hitler Style
To end on a controversial note, we have to bring in the Nazis. Hitler, in his bunker, has lost his mind – set to the somewhat questionable tune of Gangnam Style. Two of YouTube's most parodied videos collide in a surprisingly harmonious blend. This may very well be how future generations remember us when we're no longer around.
2. Misheard Lyrics Style
Is it cringe-worthy awkwardness, or is it comedy at its finest? I'll leave that up to you to decide. Gangnam Style isn’t the kind of thing that you either love or hate – but I’m fairly certain that after hearing ten different versions of the song, you’ll fall squarely into one of those two categories. At number two, we have Gangnam Style interpreted by a non-Korean speaker. Depending on your sense of humor, the result is either hilarious or just plain confusing.
1. Spartan Style
The top spot on this list goes to a tribute to (arguably) the greatest video game ever, Halo 4. The Halo series has already inspired its own YouTube channels and podcasts, and now, it adds a K-pop remix of the beloved game to the mix.
