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Infinite Gangnam Style

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Re: Infinite Gangnam Style

#34
post #16

This is a very clever hack and I adore it for that, but it's also a sneaky statement about meaning, and I adore that too. It's like the literature world's cut-up/exquisite corpse work: if you can disassemble an original like this and put it back together in a way that we humans are inclined to extract meaning from, does that change the meaning that you perceive in the original work?

What's unique about Gangnam Style is that it's a cultural meme in America that isn't in English. It would be really interesting to see what sort of different sentiment this project would inspire if applied to a song where Americans could actually understand the lyrics and cultural references, or if it was shown to a South Korean audience.

>cultural meme in America that isn't in English

Yep, it would be interesting to read about things we miss - lyrics, and meaning of obvious references we don't get. For example, I think that dude in the elevator is an actor I saw in some movie, but I don't know if I'm correct. Obviously scene in sauna has some humorous meaning, but, again without lyrics it's unclear.

Re: Infinite Gangnam Style

#35
So I guess this works best because most of us can't understand the lyrics so if we did this with an english song or any song the native listener understands you might end up with nonsense lyrics. It doesn't sound like it's jump around making nonsense sounds, but it might string words together that are really bizarre as it bounces around the lyrics.

Re: Infinite Gangnam Style

#36
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's unique about Gangnam Style is that it's a cultural meme in America that isn't in English. It would be really interesting to see what sort of different sentiment this project would inspire if applied to a song where Americans could actually understand the lyrics and cultural references, or if it was shown to a South Korean audience.

>cultural meme in America that isn't in English Yep, it would be interesting to read about things we miss - lyrics, and meaning of obvious references we don't get. For example, I think that dude in the elevator is an actor I saw in some movie, but I don't know if I'm correct. Obviously scene in sauna has some humorous meaning, but, again without lyrics it's unclear.

This blog[0] provides excellent context for the song, including subtitles for the song (overlaid on still shots) -- the last several seconds of the video will give you the names of the famous people with cameos.

[0] http://mydearkorea.blogspot.ca/2012/08/korean-music-psys-gan...

Re: Infinite Gangnam Style

#37
post #31

Clever. I wonder if the illusion is broken if you actually speak Korean. I would definitely notice if someone chopped and reassembled random words in English.

I have trouble when I'm in American and I order water. I need to soften the t to a d, and drawl the word.

I almost always understand Americans, apart from a few movies where they speak rapidly with background noise.

Here's an example of what it's like: (http://youtu.be/q-cAnFbEXY0) - it's almost recognisable, but not quite.

So, mashing together sounds to create fake words can create something tantalisingly close to what I'm expecting to hear. Mashing a bunch of random words together usually doesn't work, but putting a Markov chain in the again creates something that gives the initial feeling of "this is not nonsense".

And for most songs you probably could sting random words together without so many people noticing; random sentences would probably be fine.

Re: Infinite Gangnam Style

#38
post #28

My 4 year old sat and watched and sung along with this in delight for about 30 minutes (when we turned it off, cause like, enough already...) Someone should analyze why this song is so catchy.

The electronic music and sugary pop beat. Also the irreverent fun on the video. Compare lady gaga music.

And it has its own dance. The Macarena, Cupid Shuffle, etc. are as popular for their dance as they are for the music.

Re: Infinite Gangnam Style

#39

Anybody else hate these jumps in commercials to fit the 30s or whatever budget they have? Always makes me wonder if they think noone would notice? Duh, of course people do! :) Btw, quick bug report: doesn't work for me if open in non-active tab in Chrome 22.0.1229.94 on Mac OS X 10.8. Good fun and now do an automated version where ppl can paste their youtube links. Greetings, lx

I can confirm the same bug in Chrome 22.0.1229.96 on x86 Windows 7 Home edition
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