> Really? To me it seems to be more American than anything else. There are guys dancing and pretty girls and special effects. That seems pretty much like an outgrowth of MTV culture, rap videos, etc. which are of American origin. I'll grant it has a unique sense of humor.

I would like to differ. People dancing, pretty girls as eye candy is a universal trend that definitely didn't start out of the MTV generation. See for e.g. Bollywood movies.

Dancing and pretty girls are uniquely American now?

> To me it seems to be more American than anything else.

Actually, my understanding is that the lyrics are a parody of the Gangnam district of Seoul, and how the rich people there try to act as if they're American, not Korean.

If anything, it's a parody/rejection of Western culture.

Except PSY himself rejects that explanation: http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/120oqd/i_am_south_kore...

I remember reading elsewhere that he accepted that explanation (right in the beginning when the video went viral first) as well. He was recently signed up for some record deal by the man that talent spotted Justin Bieber. Perhaps there was a diktat/mandate from those circles as to to not antagonise the "prospective audience" for his music anymore.

Jackie Chan had similar problems when he made the crossover to Hollywood (Source: his autobiography and Wikipedia entries). So, I won't be surprised if PSY was made to temper his views lately to avoid unnecessary controversy to his new paymasters.

Exactly. This was discussed on many talk shows as well and that was the consensus arrived at regarding the message of the video.

I was really trying to find the links to this, but couldn't.

"unique sense of humor."

I think the appropriate word you're looking for (or rather, to be used instead) is "satire". And that completely changes how you view the whole thing.