What is Gangnam Style ??

Topping the YouTube and the U.S. iTunes charts, Korean Pop King PSY’s number ‘Gangnam Style’ is the current rage.

I’m afraid you have no choice. Get off your high horse and onto that invisible one. Hands in front. Gallop. Shuffle. Imaginary lasso. All done Gangnam style.

Gangnam what? Well, you know… the latest viral video, by PSY.

PSY who? Come on, he’s the current king of K-Pop.

K-Pop what? Oh dear. Let’s start at the beginning. In fact, we’ll be really nice and hand you this cheat sheet. Now you can look cool when you hang with your better-informed ten-year-old nephews and nieces.

What is Gangnam Style anyway?

On July 15, Korean Pop (K-Pop) video ‘Gangnam Style’ by PSY was posted on YouTube. Just 51 days and it had 100 million views. It zoomed to the top of the YouTube chart beating Carly Rae Jepsen and Justin Bieber. A few days ago, the song made it to No. 1 on the U.S. iTunes Top Song chart, which it entered in late August at No. 58.

The singer, PSY, recently taught Britney Spears how to do his ‘galloping horse dance’, coining a new popular catch phrase “Dress classy and dance cheesy.” He also performed live at the Rockefeller Center in New York City for NBC’s Today show.

It’s an accomplishment, considering the song is in his native language, with no translations. PSY is the first Korean artist to go mainstream in the United States. This was largely possible because of the Internet, since the song went viral via mobile phones and computers, on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

So far the official video has 190,978,897 views. Numbers just keep going up.

What’s special about it?

Depends on who you ask.

The aggressively hypnotic techno trance beat that seems designed for hard-core clubbing. The eminently catchy tune, with its peppy chorus, which children love. The dancing with its repetitive steps.

Think ‘Macarena’, or the ‘Birdie Dance’. Only this is hipper, slicker and slightly more challenging. Designed for blasé audiences with short attention spans. High octane pop illustrated in a fresh, flashy video, bouncing with bubble gum bright colour.

Scene changes are as rapid as they are random, in PSY’s romp through conventional urban spaces. He’s snoozing in a deckchair under a bright pink umbrella. He’s in a horse stable in Seoul. He’s spoofing cult videos, walking through an abandoned parking lot in fake snow. It gets more bizarre. Here he’s dozing off in the sauna wrapped in a baby blue and pink towel. There he’s bouncing around a tour bus, jiggling with disco balls.

Next comes the march of Korean celebrities. A solemn dance off with comedian Yoo Jae Suk, dressed in Canary Yellow. The ‘elevator dance’ replete with pelvic thrusts, featuring comedian Noh Hong-cheol. Finally busting some moves with svelte redhead, Kim Hyun-a, the popular K-Pop girl group 4Minute.

Short, plump and bespectacled, PSY’s an unlikely star. Especially in K-Pop where the girls are pretty and the boys prettier. However, his ‘everyman’ persona seems to be his not-so-secret weapon. He’s willing to laugh at the world, and himself. And this sharp subversive humour is what elevates the song from catchy to memorable.

Is PSY his real name?

You wish! Born Park Jae-Song, he’s a 34-year-rapper from South Korea. His stage name comes from his first album Psy From The Psycho World released in 2001. He studied at the prestigious Berkeley College of Music in the United States.

You will probably see more of him now that he has signed a contract with American label Schoolboy Records after being spotted by music producer Scooter Braun. (Best known for discovering Justin Bieber.) Braun famously toasted PSY over glasses of Korean Soju saying, “To PSY, to Korea, to breaking down barriers, to the future.”

But we still don’t get ‘Gangnam’?

It’s a wealthy district in Seoul, South Korea, where people go clubbing, brunching and shopping for new noses. As famous for luxury boutiques as it is for cosmetic surgeons. The song can be interpreted as an attack on the world of the over privileged.

Ironically, the district is drawing tourists because of the song. Korea Tourism has responded to this interest with their ‘One day Gangnam tour’ that begins with some ‘gangnam styling’ at a beauty salon, shopping at the Apgujeong & Cheongdam boutiques, a quick luxury coffee and brunch, followed by the casino and clubbing.

Can we sing it?

Of course. Even if you can’t master the Korean verses, chant the chorus ‘Oppan Gangnam Style’ which roughly means something like ‘Your man has Gangnam Style.’

PS: Although ‘Oppa’ literally means ‘big brother,’ it is also a term girls use to address older boyfriends, or — gasp — sugar daddies. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Keywords: Gangnam Style, Korean pop king, PSY, latest viral video, YouTube chart


SOURCE : thehindu

Harsh realities for Democrats

Editor's note: David Gergen is a senior political analyst for CNN and has been an adviser to four presidents. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he is a professor of public service and director of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Follow him on Twitter.

(CNN) -- As Democrats awoke in Charlotte on Thursday morning, there was a euphoric sense that they could be on the verge of breaking open the presidential race. But as they said goodbyes at the airport Friday morning, the mood had changed.

They were still -- and rightly -- congratulating themselves on running a first-rate convention. Every night brought rousing speeches -- from Michelle Obama and Deval Patrick on the first night to Jennifer Granholm, John Kerry and Joe Biden on the third. Of course, the most energizing of all was masterfully delivered by the best orator of his generation, Bill Clinton.

Opinion: We're in for a heck of a ride

In a mark of their professionalism, planners ensured a consistency of themes that would appeal to the Democratic base. And Charlotte was not only a fine host city; it also provided an arena that was much better configured to generate excitement than the GOP convention site in Tampa.

All of this perfectly teed up what was to be the high point of the convention: the acceptance address by Barack Obama. What delegates longed for was the soaring lyricism of candidate Obama in conventions past; what they got was Obama the President, seemingly weighed down by the burdens of office.

There were flashes of inspiration but overall, he was tempered and more cautious. Make no mistake: It was a strong, well-delivered speech --"presidential," as they say. It just didn't sweep people off their feet the way Obama once did. Indeed, he was probably lucky that the speech was moved indoors: it worked much better in a compact arena than it would have in a cavernous stadium. 

The president offered up a series of goals for his second term but even they seemed small and lacking ambition. His biggest jobs promise was to create 1 million manufacturing jobs over the next four years. Why is that impressive? The economy has already cranked out 500,000 new manufacturing jobs over the past 2½ years, so we wouldn't be picking up the pace much. And even with an extra million, the country will still be 500,000 short of the 2 million lost in the recession. That hardly makes the heart pound.

Republicans will surely pounce on how little he offered by way of plans for lifting the economy out of its mess, creating millions upon millions of jobs, and bringing trillion-dollar deficits under control. The Ryan budget is obviously controversial, they will argue, but at least it presents some concrete ideas for overhauling Medicare.

Moreover, Republicans believe they have a theory of economic growth -- lower taxes, spending cuts, fewer regulations -- that may not have worked so well under George W. Bush but unleashed the economy under Ronald Reagan, who inherited a recession and then saw the creation of some 20 million jobs over seven years.

By late Thursday night, over nightcaps, the realization was setting in among Democrats that their hopes for breaking open the election had probably fallen short. When they woke up Friday morning and heard the new jobs report, they knew for sure.

Not only were the numbers a sharp disappointment, but they also showed how tough life has become for so many Americans. In the past month, for every person who found a job, almost four people gave up hope and left the work force. The percentage of people in the work force today is the lowest in more than three decades -- and that is three years after the recovery supposedly began.

What all of this boils down to is this: The Democrats have just completed a very good convention. They may not have brought over many undecideds, but they probably raised the enthusiasm level among key constituencies, especially women. Moreover, Obama still remains a favorite in this election. The auto bailout, for example, could deliver Ohio to his column and no Republican has won without the Buckeye State.

Still, Thursday night and Friday morning brought some harsh realities to Charlotte. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have a serious chance to win this. Underlying economic conditions are working in their favor and with the new jobs report, it is easier to make the election a referendum on the past few years. And they have tons of cash to pour into the fall.

Both sides are thus settling in for a long, tough fight -- and waiting to see each other at the October debates.

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SOURCE : CNN

Believe it or not, weak jobs report likely good for stocks

One of the oldest adages in the stock market is "Don't fight the Fed." Until the economy starts creating more jobs, the Fed is going to be fighting to keep interest rates low - and that's good for stocks.

Today's job reports showed only 96,000 new jobs created in August, vs. 125,000 estimated by economists. The unemployment rate fell to 8.1%, but that's not enough for the Fed to back off from its policy of ultra-low rates and easy money.

"I think the Fed will go ahead and do some kind of QE3 here - small steps, meeting by meeting," says John Silvia, chief economist for Wells Fargo. "The Fed has said they are disappointed in the pace of job growth, and this just solidifies that."

QE3 stands for a third round of quantitative easing, a Fed technique to keep interest rates low by buying bonds with newly created money.

The Fed's dual mandate is to keep the economy moving and to keep inflation in check. By keeping interest rates low, the Fed is allowing companies and consumers to refinance their debts, giving them extra money to spend. That's good for stocks.

But keeping rates low is good for stocks in another way: It makes stocks look more attractive in comparison with bonds. 

The 10-year Treasury note now yields just 1.67%. Money market funds yield a miserly 0.03% on average. Since Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke announced the second round of quantitative easing on Aug. 27, 2010, the broad Wilshire 5000 stock index has gained 36.5%, or $4.6 trillion.

Further quantitative easing will also likely propel gold higher, as investors fret about the Fed fueling inflation.

The Fed's job isn't to prop up the stock market. But the Fed wouldn't mind seeing a stock rally, either. Investors have seen their retirement accounts slashed by two massive bear markets in the past 12 years. If their balances rise, they'll feel more prosperous — and more inclined to spend. And that, too, is good for stocks

new 4K TVs may get to market faster than expected ( LG Electronics )

 
Those new 4K TVs may get to market faster than expected -- and at lower, but still-admittedly pricey costs.
LG Electronics has announced plans to be the first to bring a 4K TV to stores next month. Its 84-inch display is scheduled to hit stores in October; priced at $19,999. That means the LG model can be expected to be priced as low as $17,000 in some outlets.
4K TV sets promise four times the resolution of current HDTVs. While there's no current movies or TV content that takes advantage of the higher-res format, many films are being remastered for Blu-ray Disc in 4K. And some TV series are being shot in 4K.
New sets are, however, able to upscale incoming high-def video to improve picture quality. "Ultra-definition television will transform the giant-screen viewing experience in the years ahead, and LG is proud to bring this new technology to market so that discerning U.S. consumers can enjoy a fully immersive home theater experience," said LG's Jay Vandenbree in a statement accompanying the announcement.
The LG Ultra Definition display is a 3-D Smart TV that uses LG's magic remote, which supports gesture and voice commands, and connects to the LG Cloud for storing content online.
Sony's own $24,999 84-inch model is due in November with pre-orders being taken at Sony stores. Originally, 4K sets were expected by year's end.
Also apparently joining the 4K scene is JVC, which has -- as reported by Digital Trends -- a sub-$20,000 set in the works.
See photos of: Sony, LG Electronics

SOURCE : USATODAY

Apple has a music streaming service in the works

Apple has a music streaming service in the works.
A customizable Internet radio service, similar to that of Pandora, paired with its popular iTunes service would further cement the company's importance in music delivery.
Apple recently began talking with record labels about licensing for the service, according to The Wall Street Journal. Once deals are made, it would still take months for the service to launch, the Journal reports, citing sources familiar with the negotiations.
An advantage that Apple would have on other streaming music services – and in attracting label support -- is the ability to seamlessly wed iTunes song sales to its Net radio delivery, says Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter. "Due to the dominance of iTunes and the depth of integration with Apple devices, we envision that an Apple Internet radio offering would allow users to purchase and download songs during play on Internet radio virtually instantaneously," he said in report.
It is unlikely that the new streaming service will be unveiled at Apple's iPhone 5 event next week, he says.
Even though an Apple streaming service would only be available on iPhones, iPads and other iOS devices, it could have some features that outperform Pandora, which has 150 million registered users across computers, as well as Android-based and iOS devices.
Pandora does not play more than four songs from an individual artist in a three-hour period, for instance, Pachter said. "We believe Apple could try to take share from Pandora through greater flexibility around song selection or skips, among other items," he said, adding that "Apple service reports are likely to negatively impact Pandora shares for the foreseeable future."
He did not expect the Apple service to be unveiled at next Wednesday's planned iPhone 5 event.
See photos of: Apple


SOURCE : USATODAY