PSY's "The Trueman Show" - Part. 1

PSY shows shows up at a press conference to celebrate the sucess of "Gangnam Style," the title tune of the sixth album "Six Rules, Part. 1" at the Ramada Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, on September 25, 2012. [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

It was a short but incredible journey riding the wave of "Gangnam Style" craze.

"It feels like watching Jim Carrey's 'The Truman Show.' I'm wondering if there are any hidden cameras around here," the musician said at a press conference in Seoul September 25, expressing the overwhelming attention he has been receiving from the world with the hit single.

Keeping a solid foothold in the No.1 spot on countless number of international music charts, PSY's name filled the news last week by sitting at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 after the chart-topper Maroon 5.

Without a question, PSY is at a critical juncture in his career and is steering the wheel to bring a bigger surprise anytime soon.

At the news conference where about a few hundred reporters gathered hours before the event began, PSY opened up another surprise in store for his future music activities and how the last two to three months has been for the musician.

<#10_QMARK#>You often mention that you regard yourself as a B-list celebrity. Do you think that unique humor of B-list singer PSY has appealed to the global audiences? If not, why do you think the world is focusing on PSY?
<#10_AMARK#> I like being a B-list celeb. In fact, I'm born to be one. It just makes me jump on my feet whenever I come up with something tacky. I've asked many foreigners why they think my ranking is rising on music charts. One of them told me that I'm like Austin Powers. I've heard that a lot from people.

<#10_QMARK#>How do you feel about the U.S. audience?
<#10_AMARK#>When I'm doing music in Korea, I really concentrate and focus a lot on the lyrics. For this song ["Gangnam Style"], many foreigners don't get what the lyrics mean. Fortunately, even without the lyrics, the American audience I met at Today show were nice to me. Even if they didn't know what the lyrics mean, they just danced to the song. They even sang along to the part "Sanai," which means "man of man," and repeated saying "Sanai, sanai, sanai" though they didn't know what it means. They were trying to follow my pronunciation. It makes me feel proud because Americans are trying to learn Korean.

<#10_QMARK#>So you're a global star now.
<#10_AMARK#>I'm still embarrassed whenever call me a "global star." I've prepared an alternative. I think "international singer" sounds way better. International singer. Not global singer [because the combination of the words 'international' and 'singer' brings out a corny feeling when pronounced in Korean].

PSY talks about "Gangnam Style" and his future activities abroad at the Ramada Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, on September 25, 2012. [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

<#10_QMARK#>What do you think is the key to your success in the U.S. music market?
<#10_AMARK#> Actually, I have no idea. I didn't plan anything this big when I first released the song. But I'm assuming that it all began just because the video's funny. It's a bit awkward to say as a musician that my success comes from being funny, but that makes a lot of sense. In any part of the world, people seek for laughter. Some people told me that it's fresh because it's not too serious.

<#10_QMARK#>How does it feel ranking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100?
<#10_AMARK#>We Korean artists like to joke about topping the Billboard chart, wondering how it would feel like. But I've never imagined myself going up on the Billboard because I thought it's always going to be someone else's story. What's more, the "Gangnam Style" lyrics are all in Korean except the part "Hey, sexy lady." So I'm just like... Wow... How can this be even happening right now? It feels like watching Jim Carrey's "The Truman Show." I'm wondering if there are any hidden cameras around here.

<#10_QMARK#>After ranking at No. 2, you must have a lot of pressure for the next release. What's your goal and plan?
<#10_AMARK#>Well, to be the first of anything is a huge honor. I've never thought that I was going to be the first of something. This is all by luck. It's not I dreamed of, wanted or intended to achieve. It's something that just happened by luck, so I do want to score something bigger. I want to top the Billboard and wish this never goes away. Entering Billboard's top spots is difficult even if you try your best for an album. I'm still in negotiation about the format of the U.S. album but I don't have that much pressure about it. Actually, it's more burdensome for me to release a new song in Korea. It took me ten years to make a hit after releasing "Champion" in 2002. I don't know how long it'll take me for the next hit. Ironically, I don't have that pressure abroad because "Gangnam Style" is just the first song I've shown so far.

PSY talks to reporters at a press conference held to celebrate the success of "Gangnam Style" opened at Seoul's Ramada Hotel in South Korea on September 25, 2012. [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

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10 아시아 Editor : Monica Suk monicasuk@