Gangnam Style, Zumba Style! – Miss Write

So you know the song. The crazed South Korean export of the century, ‘Gangnam Style’. Yes, ‘Gangnam’ means ‘new money’ in Seoul, but it now means a new dance. Psy’s parodying the wealthy, the powerful, and the famous, but ironically the 34 year old rapper has ended up a star himself. This week Psy, aka Park Jae-sang, is No.1 in the UK Official Singles Chart and no one seems to know why. 

Apart from my Zumba class.

There’s been much comment made on the social commentary of the lyrics, the spreading of parody efforts (my favourite is Lord of the Rings related!), the man behind the dance, and the song’s rapid rise to fame, but I’m going to look at Psy’s record breaker – Zumba Style.  

Kudos to my Zumba teacher, Red. She had her finger on the pulse before there was an addictive beat to feel for. When Red (also known as Jen) first demonstrated the riding-a-horse-without-anything-equine-between-your-legs dance, we all thought she’d lost it. However Towcester’s Thursday night Zumba class luckily gave her the benefit of the doubt. Before we knew it we were begging her to play it again. We were hooked, Gangnam style. 

And the love of the song is catching. Have you seen this You Tube clip of his recent 80,000 strong gig audience? They’re mad for him and his iconic dance.

The official video has 375 million views on YouTube at time of writing, something the Guinness Book of Records was very impressed with. ‘Gangnam Style’ video has also become the most liked video ever on YouTube. EVER. He’s shoved even Bieber right off the top spot. However, I do wonder who bothers to ‘like’ things on YouTube. Ah, I know. They’re probably all Zumba dance nuts like me!

Part of the initial interest in ‘Gangnam Style’, I have to admit, was maybe a kind of freak-show interest, when you think the guy’s a hoot. But then you look at his (own) choreography (and Alan Carr’s take last night on Chatty Man!) and you realize that you actually need to know how to dance to pull off the Gangnam hop so successfully. Our Zumba class adaptation proves that, and Psy’s got energy, attitude, and a healthy heart any exercise class enthusiast would envy.

He’s broken YouTube video records, he’s broken America, even almost broken Britney’s heels,  and now he’s broken UK Zumba groups.

Maybe the new Zumba outfit should have a black bow tie on it?

Lou x

Find me on Facebook…
…and Twitter