Gentleman (PSY song)

'Gentleman' is a 2013 single by South Korean artist PSY, notable for its upbeat dance-pop sound, comedic persona, and a viral music video and choreography that followed his earlier global hit.

"Gentleman" is a single by South Korean performer PSY released in 2013 as a follow-up to his international breakthrough. Presented with a theatrical, self-aware persona, the song combines dance-pop and electronic elements with playful lyrics and a hook designed for mass singalong. In Korean the track is commonly titled 젠틀맨, and it continued PSY's use of exaggerated character and choreography as central elements of his public image.

Characteristics

The recording features driving electronic beats, syncopated percussion and bright melodic lines that support a call-and-response chorus. Lyrically it mixes humor and braggadocio, describing a tongue-in-cheek transformation into a 'gentleman' after success. The release is best known for an easily imitated dance routine—short, repeated gestures and a signature move that punctuates the chorus—intended to encourage viral participation.

Genre: dance-pop/electropop with hip-hop influences
Core elements: catchy chorus, repeated dance motif, comedic vocal delivery
Visuals: stylized music video and coordinated group choreography

PSY unveiled the song's choreography in a high-profile live debut at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the evening of April 13, 2013; that stadium performance helped launch the promotional campaign and introduced the routine to a large public audience. The official music video and televised performances followed, quickly generating international attention and widespread online sharing.

Critical response noted the track's deliberate similarity in approach to PSY's earlier hit: rather than a radical musical shift, it relied on strong visual hooks, repeatable dance moves and broad, accessible humor. While some reviewers compared it to his previous work, many observers credited the song and its video with sustaining global interest in K-pop and pop choreography contests.

As a cultural moment, "Gentleman" illustrates how a modern pop single can be amplified by a memorable video and a simple, replicable dance. It remains a recognizable entry in PSY's catalog and an example of how performance, image and social media distribution combine to create international pop phenomena.

For details on live venues and later performances, see references to the Seoul World Cup Stadium appearance here and to PSY's wider career here.