Psy’s songs have become cliche — Fans

SEOUL: Even though the two lead tracks from Psy’s new album “PSY 8th 4x2= 8’ has topped eight domestic charts and viewed more than 5 million times each on YouTube, the album has failed to inspire fans.

Some Psy fans said Psy seems to have run out of ideas and his songs have become cliche, with follow-ups to the global sensation “Gangnam Style” failing to inspire fans as much as the original smash hit.

Fans, at home and abroad, are disappointed because his new songs and music videos are similar to “Gangnam Style” in terms of melody and concept.

“Psy’s follow-up songs are like fake Gangnam Style,” fan Park Ji-ho said. “They are not bad, but they have similar patterns, melody and genre as the first megahit. The excitement and joy of Psy’s songs are becoming less and less.”

Hong Kong K-pop fan Wendy Chu agreed Psy was overusing the typical bizarre but hilarious concept of “Gangnam Style,” saying she was no longer interested in his songs.

“I’ve only listened to I LUV IT and it is no different from his previous songs Daddy and Napal Baji. I am not interested in listening to other tracks on his new album,” she said.

The singer, 40, said he had struggled to produce other original works after creating his most popular song. Instead, he focused on the basics.

“People encouraged me not to feel pressure when creating new music and to lower my expectations regarding overseas success,” Psy said at a press conference to promote his album “4X2= 8” at Conrad Hotel, Seoul, Wednesday.

“They encouraged me to keep focusing on my own musical style. But how’s that possible?”

Psy’s “Gangnam Style” is the most-watched video on YouTube with 2.83 billion views. But the record is likely to be

Psy’s follow-up songs are like fake Gangnam Style. They are not bad, but they have similar patterns, melody and genre as the first megahit. The excitement and joy of Psy’s songs are becoming less and less. Park Ji-ho, fan

broken sooner or later because American rapper Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” is rapidly chasing the song with 2.7 billion views.

The Korean singer said he did not care much about YouTube views and noted he was honoured to have set the record and that his music has since stayed on top for many years.

Music critic Kim Yoon-ha said Psy’s “Gentleman” was the first song to display he fell into a rut in making music because it is similar to “Gangnam Style.”

“When a musician meets his life- defining song at an unexpected time, he often gets pigeonholed and reproduces similar songs to his greatest hit,” Kim told The Korea Times.

“This is not strange because Gangnam Style was a game changer that changed Psy’s life and also influenced the entire Kpop industry.”

Kim suggested the song’s farreaching effect on the entire music industry and viral popularity made it harder for Psy to capture lightning in a bottle a second time.

“The reason why his followup songs are still receiving attention and making it to the top ranks on music charts is because his comeback itself is already an issue,” Kim said.

“It is rare for a song to be only popular because of its quality. Hit songs often come with a topic.”