America stands outraged this weekend over the fact that loveable and slightly manic South Korean rapped PSY dared insult their country in 2004. To which the rest of the world has to say: well, you know, everyone hated your country back then.
I mean, come on. America was not the world’s favourite big brother at that point. You had an idiot for a president overseeing what many considered an unjust war. Half the world hated you because you were killing them; the other half hated you because you were killing their sons and daughters by making them fight that war.
PSY has apologised for the lyrics, which included “kill those fucking Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives.” While the first part of the sentence is a little strong, the second part isn’t that far from the truth – and it encapsulated an anti-American spirit in South Korea in 2004 that started because a South Korean was taken hostage and killed by Iraqis during the war (and the fact that a US army vehicle ran over two Korean schoolgirls). So basically, it’s not too extreme at all, when you look at it in context.
The song, ‘Dear America’, isn’t really that good. If anything, PSY should be saying sorry for that. It lays on the vitriol early, with Arabic calls to prayer following the sounds of bombs and machine gun fire. Then it goes into some insane Slipknot-style hard rock, which is hilarious in and of itself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71zeciMx2eI&feature=youtube_gdata
Still, PSY apologised:
I understand the sacrifices American servicemen and women have made to protect freedom and democracy in my country and around the world. The song was part of a deeply emotional reaction to the war in Iraq and the killing of two Korean schoolgirls that was part of the overall anti-war sentiment shared by others around the world at that time. While I’m grateful for the freedom to express one’s self, I’ve learned there are limits to what language is appropriate and I’m deeply sorry for how these lyrics could be interpreted. I will forever be sorry for any pain I have caused by those words. While it’s important that we express our opinions, I deeply regret the inflammatory and inappropriate language I used to do so.
A lot of people are getting butt-hurt over this without remembering the context, and remembering that actually, by 2004 PSY was verbalising what a lot of the world’s population thought. It’s great that he’s apologised and clarified the situation and everything, but let’s not pretend that there was no spark behind this fiery hate or anything. If you want to be outraged, America, don’t ignore the fact that your president was doing some shitty things at the time. The rest of the world might respect your outrage a little more if you did.
steven says
I can NOT believe you even have the decency to downplay this. Yes, Bush was a horrible president, yes many people hated america, and yes people have a right to voice their opinion – but he wasn’t expressing an opinion. He was calling for american’s to be killed and tortured while doing so. Sorry, but that goes above and beyond freedom of speech. Look at “Dear Mr President” by Pink – it’s an open and honest song, addressed to bush about her concerns and questions regarding the state of the world and his leadership. She didn’t have to encourage murder to get a point across. It’s called being a tactful human being. We we’re such a HORRIBLE country back than, why are we different now?? The answer – we’re different now, because he’s being paid millions to perform his STUPID song.
Timago says
What’s up with the overly sassy tone about America in the last two sentences? Simmer down, girl!!
Liam says
Fuck america!
Natalie says
Well, I guess you don’t speak Korean. I’m a Korean-American and the lyrics are way worse than that. “Fuck you, you yankee bastards and whores who tortured Iraqis, Your daughters, fathers, sisters all should be killed, Die slowly and painfully” What a poetry. And considering at least 30,000 American soldiers died saving South Korea during the Korean War, South Korea is extremely ungrateful. I know about the tank case where the two girs were killed. And I can say with confidence that guys like PSY were way worse than those soldiers who killed those girls by mistake. The parents of those girls were angry, but they wanted to grieve in private and move on, but people like PSY used them to make their point or make money. Those parents asked people like PSY to stop using their daughters’ deaths, but they were ignored. And he talks about patriotism, but he used bribes and tricks to get out of army service, and got caught later and almost went to jail for it. What a hypocrite. He’s definitely a sleazy opportunist.
Honest says
Psy can thank the service of American servicemen that he has the opportunity to express his ideas openly without fear of being sent to a communist work camp in North Korea.
Bree says
what about Pumped Up Kicks? It was about killing innocent children. Even though that song was not about America it still was not criticized and everyone loved the song. Look at other songs about killing people that were produced by Americans in the past years even today.
Lord Truth says
Ohh good god, I hope all of America to burn to crisp. Sue me. Let each and every American soldier, good or bad die painfully. Yes, sue me. This fat Korean fucker is such a pussy. He is as awful as his music. Get some balls and wish a million Americans to die.