Psy’s Gangnam Style Most Watched YouTube Video in History

Pre discussion questions

What types of videos do you think are the most watched on YouTube or the Internet?

Do you watch YouTube? What do you mostly watch? How do you use YouTube?

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YouTube has changed the world.

Ten years ago the first YouTube video was uploaded of a man at a zoo looking at some elephants. Now we all know what YouTube is. YouTube is now a household name.

But it is YouTube’s music videos that are the most popular. It is not the funny or crazy videos of people doing bizarre things that are most watched.

Psy’s 2012 hit “Gangnam Style” is the most watched YouTube video ever. It has more than 2 billion views and that number is increasing. These days, Katy Perry has snuck up the list of most watched videos with her recent songs “Dark Horse” and “Roar”.

The Latin American viewers also have a big sway over the top 10. The song “Bailando” by Enrique Iglesias and “On the Floor” by Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull are among the most viewed videos in the site's history.

Psy’s iconic horse-riding moves, “Gangnam Style” went viral overnight to become the most-watched video on YouTube in only four months. The K-pop king recently made YouTube history again to claim the first video to have 2 billion views.

It was going to be impossible for Psy to eclipse a YouTube song as famous as “Gangnam Style.” But that didn’t stop him from trying. In 2013, Psy uploaded a second video that showed him larking about in a hotel and trying to eat noodles in a sexy way.

Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest meaning from the choices in the right. Some of the answers are very close and have similar meaning. The meaning of these words is how they are used in the reading. Some of these words have different meanings in the dictionary depending on how they are used.

 The answers are below the table.

A=5, B=8, C=1, D=7, E=2, F=6, G=4, H=3

Some example sentences using the new words or phrases from the meaning of how they are used in the reading to help you understand better.

1.      Thirty years ago nobody heard of some Korean electronic brands, but now they are household names.

2.      The weather here is bizarre, it changes about four times in one day.

3.      The cat snuck up on the trash at night time.

4.      The drunken man swayed dangerously on the road.

5.      Guinness is an iconic beer brand.

6.      News about the bizarre event went viral.

7.      My English ability has eclipsed how I was one year ago.

8.      People love puppies because of how they lark around.

Some questions using the new words/phrases. Try to use the words/phrases in your answer.

1.      Why do you think Psy became a household name?  What is iconic about him?

2.      What are some things that people buy do you think is bizarre?

1.      Have you ever snuck up on someone when you had to hide something? For example, for fun, or because you had done something that your mother or father would not have liked.

2.      What would sway your mind (your thinking) to like or not like the president or leader of your country? (means change your mind).

3.      How did you feel when you first heard that Psy’s Gangnam Style song went viral?

4.      Do you think Psy’s song Gangnam Style will ever be eclipsed by Psy or anyone else? Why or why not?

5.      Do you lark around sometimes? Describe someone who larks?