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Indian audiences were in for a complete surprise on the evening of October 7 when they saw a euphoric West Indian team break into an impromptu jig following their victory over Sri Lanka during the Twenty20 World Cup Finals. While the rythmic movements of hands and legs reminscent of a horse has taken the world by storm, for average Indians this was their first taste of what is now popularly called the Gangnam Style.
Like our very own viral hit Kolaveri Di that made a star out of a certain Mr Dhanush, till then largely known in the south of India, Psy or Park Jae Sung, a South Korean singer, has become an overnight sensation following release of his foot-tapping Gangnam Style - a dance pop single - three months ago.
Much of this success can be attributed to Youtube. Psy and his producer-partner Yoo Gun-Hyung realised early on that the number could become a rage provided it was put on the right platform. On July 15, 2012, Psy released the single and put an entertaining music video of the song on Youtube through his official Youtube channel. There has been no looking back.
Uptil yesterday - October 7, that is - the music video had been viewed 400 million times on Youtube and has entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the most liked video in Youtube history.
Like Kolaveri Di, Gangnam Style has spawned numerous parodies and continues to make people dance every time one hears it.
It is also finding its way into comic strips, popular culture, dance and music videos. Psy has already appeared on numerous talk shows across the World, most notably in the US, and is rumoured to be talking to music companies there to record songs for them. Closer home, he has been signed by consumer electronics giant Samsung to endorse its new line of refrigerators.
Psy has been quoted in the international media as saying that he would like to bring a smile on people's faces in the midst of economic gloom with his song. Gangnam Style has done that and much more.
