• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Brits left surprised after finding out real meaning behind major hit song Gangnam Style

Home> Entertainment> Music

Published 20:14 13 Feb 2025 GMT

Brits left surprised after finding out real meaning behind major hit song Gangnam Style

The song was a huge pop culture moment of 2012

Jess Battison

Jess Battison

Cast your mind back to 2012, everyone’s buzzing that the Olympics is coming to London, The Twilight Saga came to an end in cinemas and no matter what radio station you put on, there was one song that was always playing.

I’m not talking about ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ or ‘Call Me Maybe’ (bet that’s a throwback), but Psy’s ‘Gangnam Style’.

Admit it, we were all doing the dance at the school discos and singing along to it in the car. I mean, even the UK prime minister at the time, David Cameron, was doing it.

Advert

But at the same time, it was one of those songs we basically had no understanding of the meaning of - and now Brits have been left surprised after finding out the real meaning of the major hit.

Go on, you know you loved it (Ian Gavan/Getty Images for MTV)
Go on, you know you loved it (Ian Gavan/Getty Images for MTV)

An absolute global smash, the track from South Korea was originally posted on to Psy’s YouTube channel before topping the charts.

The music video even ended up picking up Best Video at the MTV Europe Music Awards, but despite so many of us viewing it, we still had no clue what it’s actually about.

One Reddit user was so intrigued they asked the forum: “What is the story behind PSY's Gangnam Style and where can I find good information on it?”

Advert

Well, according to the singer himself, ‘Gangnam Style’ is a tribute to the women of the district in Seoul.

“Gangnam is a territory in Seoul, Korea,” he explained in an 2012 interview with NPR. “I describe it as noble at the daytime and going crazy at the nighttime.

"I compare ladies to the territory. So — noble at the daytime, going crazy at the nighttime — and the lyric says I am the right guy for the lady who is like that.”

The song, and dance, were everywhere. (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for MTV)
The song, and dance, were everywhere. (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for MTV)

Meanwhile on Reddit, some reckon the K-pop hit is a bit more of a tongue-in-cheek track, poking a bit of fun at those who live there.

Advert

One responded: “Gangnam Style is a satire about the wealthy/faux-wealthy people walking around Gangnam. I think it blew up partly because of how relatable it was as a social commentary, not just in Seoul but also in many cities where there is a huge class divide.”

Another said it’s ‘poking fun’ at ‘some more modern decadence’ in South Korea with some saying it basically ‘fell in line’ with other popular styles at the time, such as LMFAO’s party hits.

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/@officialpsy

Topics: Music, Viral

Jess Battison
Jess Battison

Jess is a Senior Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include asking everyone in the office what they're having for tea, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021.

X

@jessbattison_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
20 hours ago
22 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Jeremy Clarkson left stunned as presenter's surprising secret revealed on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

    When next you use your leaf blower, remember to thank Steph McGovern

    Entertainment
  • 2 hours ago

    Actor shares full amount he was paid by Netflix to star as an extra in Stranger Things

    The new season will arrive in November

    Entertainment
  • 20 hours ago

    Netflix users have just weeks to watch highest rated Rotten Tomatoes movie ever before it’s removed

    The 2018 thriller-drama film has a perfect score from critics and viewers don't have much time left to watch it

    Entertainment
  • 22 hours ago

    Man throws up after being told he has to let partner sleep with another man

    Apparently, we're in the era of baffling sex shows on TV

    Entertainment
  • Outkast address dark and sad meaning behind their hit song 'Hey Ya!'
  • James Blunt shares true dark meaning behind hit song You’re Beautiful that you won’t be able to unhear
  • Woman left in tears after finding out the true meaning of tattoo she got in Fiji
  • James Blunt confirmed there is a dark meaning behind his song 'You're Beautiful'