Rain, with his extraordinary dancing skills and his teenage heartthrob status, is known all over Asia as its own Michael Jackson.
Take the case of Hong Kong actors Chow Yun-fat and Jackie Chan, and the South Korean singer Rain ( Bi in Korean). But, as a rule, it demands the betrayal of the original, and it requires reinvention – something nearly impossible for those who are entrenched in their own language and cultural sensibilities. To cross over, as far as the world of arts and entertainment is concerned, is to go from the margin to the center, from one set of culture to another, trying to succeed in the latter. It’s the history of crossover itself, the phenomenon that has traditionally been treacherous and cruel, with so many talented entertainers from the Far East or elsewhere at the margins of the Commonwealth, falling off the tightrope on the way to global stardom.
Psy’s video is also the most “liked” on Youtube, as well as the most-watched video in Korean entertainment history.īut something beyond Korean history has clearly occurred with the global sanctification of Psy. It has garnered 430 million hits and counting since July 15, and has spun off countless other videos.Īmong the spin-offs: North Korea’s own version to spoof a South Korean presidential candidate, and the “Mitt Romney Style” spoof video.Īnd the genius behind the dance that mimics riding an invisible horse? Park Jae-sang, aka Psy (short for psycho), a rapper whose career galloped into global superstardom with the distinction of topping the iTunes charts in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and 29 other countries. The Oppa Gangnam Style video also arrived at a moment when the East is integrating with the West at full speed, reiterating the idea that globalization is no longer a one-way love affair.Ī recently set up Wikipedia page showcases “Gangnam Style” as the most watched Youtube video of the year.
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