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Gangnam Style was a song released in 2012 by Korean rapper Psy. It may seem odd having lyrics from this recently released song on an 80s site, but looking at it's music video, the dance and a quick read of the Gangnam Style's lyrics, you can see a lot of commonalities with the 1980s music and video scene. For a start, it's a song that is fun and despite being listed as a 'rapper', Psy hardly takes anything seriously in the clip. Even the lyrics themselves are very tame by rapper standards and hark back to the days when rappers used to sing about having to eat food their friend's mother had badly cooked (eg Rappers Delight by the Sugar Hill Gang). It's interesting that it has been a long time since a non-English song made it big on Western charts, in addition it comes with dance moves. The last time we recall this happening was the Macarena in 1994/95. While it may be tempting to learn the Korean version of this Gangnam Style, it can be a little tricky. Besides all you really need to know are 'Hey Sexy Lady' and 'op, op, op...oppa Gangnam style'. The English lyrics below are a translation but as yet, no English language version of the song was released. We hope it stays this way. A note on 'Oppa' as in the recurring lyric 'Op Op Op Op, Oppa Gangham Style'. There is no real direct translation of this into English. Oppa is a term of respect used to address boyfriends, and older male figures in known to a woman (eg older brothers, older male friends). Since Psy is male and born in 1977, female friends of Psy in their teens or 20s will refer to him as Oppa. The thing is, he is singing 'Oppa'. In effect he is addressing himself in the third person, which adds more to the parody. In other words he is singing about himself. To clarify, if your name was, for example, Peter and you (Peter) were singing the song, you'd be singing about yourself as 'Peter, Peter is Gangnam Style. ' In light of this, we are translating Oppa as 'I am'. It doesn't do the parody justice, but it's the closest fit. Gangnam Style Lyrics I am Gangnam style Gangnam style I love a lady who is warm and compassionate by day, A classy girl who knows how to enjoy the freedom of a cup of coffee A girl whose heart gets hotter when the night comes A girl with that kind of surprise I'm a guy A guy who is as warm as you during the day A guy who one-shots his coffee before it even cools down A guy whose heart bursts when night comes That kind of guy Beautiful, lovely Yes you, hey, yes you, hey Beautiful, lovely I am Gangnam style I am Gangnam style Beautiful, loveable Yes you, hey, yes you, hey Beautiful, loveable Yes you, hey, yes you, hey Now let's keep going until the end I am Gangnam style, Gangnam style I am Gangnam style, Gangnam style I am Gangnam style Heyyyyy… Sexy Lady, I, I, I, I, I am Gangnam style Heyyyyy… Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh A girl who looks quiet but plays when she plays A girl who lets her hair down when the time is right A girl who covers herself but is more sexy than a girl who bares it all A sensible girl like that I'm a guy A guy who seems calm but plays when he plays A guy who goes completely crazy when the right time comes A guy who has bulging ideas rather than muscles That kind of guy Beautiful, loveable Yes you, hey, yes you, hey Beautiful, loveable Yes you, hey, yes you, hey Now let's go until the end I am Gangnam style, Gangnam style I am Gangnam style, Gangnam style I am Gangnam style Heyyyyy… Sexy Lady, I, I, I, I, I am Gangnam style Heyyyyy… Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh Above the running man is the flying man, baby baby I'm a man who knows a thing or two Above the running man is the flying man, baby baby I'm a man who knows a thing or two You know what I'm saying I am Gangnam style Heyyyyy… Sexy Lady, I, I, I, I, I am Gangnam style Heyyyyy… Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh Yes you, hey, yes you, hey Shall we go all the way from now on? I am Gangnam style, Gangnam style I am Gangnam style, Gangnam style I am Gangnam style |