Revealing the True Meanings Behind These Misunderstood Songs

Published on 07/06/2023
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Gangnam Style

Psy’s earworm, with its invisible horse dance, was Korea’s first great global musical export, and it came with its own ridiculous music video, in which components of Psy’s big-money lifestyle are exposed to be outrageously sad. It’s easy to think Psy is only making fun of himself if you don’t know anything about Korean culture, but the song and video are both mocking a specific lifestyle of seeking the look of luxury while neglecting your basic needs. The song by the Gangnam neighborhood (think Beverly Hills), where trust-funders eat cheap cuisine in order to purchase costly coffee that they gulp in one sip, exemplifies the false commercial attitude (instead of savoring).

Gangnam Style

Gangnam Style

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Hey Ya

Andre 3000 was correct when he sung near the end of a tremendously euphoric jam with deeply melancholy lyrics about the state of modern relationships, “Y’all don’t want to hear me/ you just wanna to dance.” His child adores him! Perhaps she’s simply terrified of being alone! Separate is always preferable! If nothing lasts forever, why should love be any different? Outkast tweeted a meme featuring Andre 3000’s face from the music video in May 2021, with a little piece labeled “A bop” and a large portion labeled “The saddest song ever written.”

Hey Ya

Hey Ya

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