Rarely does a song in a foreign language make such a stomp in the U.S., but Korean rapper Psy’s song became a hit of epic proportions, thanks in part to the video’s invisible-horse dance, which sparked thousands of copycats. Psy has said he was inspired by the flamboyant showmanship of Queen front man Freddie Mercury, and he’s been able to draw crowds just as large as those of the famed British band, amassing 80,000 people for a public concert in Seoul in October.
Gangnam Style quickly became the most liked video ever on YouTube and the most watched video on the site, topping Justin Bieber’s Baby. And in September, the 34-year-old K-pop singer signed with Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun.