Tracey Nearmy / EPA

PSY.

The next global dance phenomenon will not be "Assarabia." After fielding concerns from a journalist who wondered if that word would offend Arabs or others who might mistake the word for something derogatory, crossover star PSY has decided to change the name of one of his upcoming songs and tweak the lyrics.

In South Korea, assarabia is a slang term to express excitement -- and it obviously doesn't look the same written in Korean.

"Gangnam" what? Check out the top 5 "Harlem Shake" videos

Steve Herman, chief of Voice of America's Northeast Asia bureau, first commented on the possible confusion Sunday after PSY commented that people were having trouble pronouncing his latest single. "Not sure how this will go over in Middle East: #ROK's @psy_oppa says next possible released song might be titled 'Assarabia,'" Herman tweeted.

PSY clarified pretty quickly, with Herman later tweeting Sunday: "Received DM from @psy_oppa (he adds OK to quote): 'It's Korean slang &should be spelled assaraVia &'that's not gonna be a single anyway.'"

"so u don't have to worry...THX for ya regard :)" PSY wrote.

Watch this sleeping baby stir to the strains of "Gangnam Style"

The letter V doesn't have an equivalent sound in the Korean alphabet, which could explain the concern that "Assaravia" could end up being widely mispronounced and, subsequently, misunderstood.

A spokesman for PSY's record label, YG Entertainment, told the Wall Street Journal that the word can be difficult for non-Korean speakers to pronounce, adding that the rapper's next single should be announced soon.

And PSY probably doesn't need another international incident in his hands. The YouTube record-smashing phenom had to quickly make public amends last year when video surfaced of him rapping anti-American sentiments pre-"Gangnam Style" sucess.

It's "Gangnam Style" one day, these pop-culture phenomena the next

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SEOUL, South Korea -- The impish boy who showed off his dance moves alongside PSY in "Gangnam Style" is hoping to go viral, too.

Han Jong-chan / AP

South Korean Hwang Min-woo, the 7-year-old nicknamed "Little PSY," performs during a concert in Seoul, South Korea, in December.

The 7-year-old nicknamed "Little PSY" is releasing an electro pop song next week through Apple Inc.'s iTunes. The boy, whose real name is Hwang Min-woo, says he wants to gain global fame like his "big brother," PSY.

Sporting a black suit and a sleek haircut, Min-woo performed at a news conference in South Korea on Wednesday. He is the latest recruit in the increasingly global K-pop industry.

Min-woo is a second-grader and his mother comes from Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the big PSY has released a "Gangnam Style" remix and is continuing his worldwide tour. The video released on YouTube in July has a record 1.39 billion views.

Look for Little PSY in the original video:

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This year, we discovered it was possible to mash up wildly divergent parts of pop culture (Cookie Monster and The Dark Knight), or pretend we were riding horses ("Gangnam Style" tributes) or just watch a cat spin on a turntable. And then we sent those videos around. Everywhere. To everyone.

In case you missed some of the year's great viral videos, we've compiled a list of our favorites.

(Note: Some of the videos may have adult language, or situations.)

Movies

Darth Vader visits Disneyland, rides teacups

Okay, so it was part of a big ad campaign following Disney’s acquisition of George Lucas’ space opera epic -- but that didn’t make the mashup of Lord Vader with the Happiest Place on Earth any less hilarious. Thanks to cheap editing software and a prevailing geek ethic, virals featuring comic book characters/movie franchise heroes (Batman Gets Lost Thanks to Apple Maps) and straight-up Pixar favorites (“Toy Story” toys burn up in family prank on Mom) were among the most popular this year. And let’s not forget the mashups: Prepare for your holiday travel with the Scariest Flights from Films in One Supercut and then calm your nerves by watching 250 Movies in 2 Minutes.

TV

Downton Tabby

Popular TV shows were ripe for parody. PBS’s “Downton Abbey” offered the most fertile ground for hilarity, from the use of cats (see above) to subbing in a former Will Smith character (The Fresh Prince of “Downton Abbey”). “Breaking Bad” also was popular for mixologists, who blended the meth-making characters with a pop tune (Taylor Swift Takes “Breaking Bad” Turn). Sometimes multiple shows got mashed together, as in Don Draper Eats Brains on “Walking Dead Mad Men.” And wouldn’t “Game of Thrones” be even more interesting if, instead of swords, they borrowed from "Star Wars"? (“Game of Thrones” with Lightsabers.)

PBS

Happy Little Trees Grow Again in Bob Ross video

If “Downton Abbey” held a warm place in many readers’ hearts, nostalgia for PBS and Muppet-related programming was white-hot. Gentle painter Bob Ross was able to paint again, while singing, thanks to auto-tune (see video above), a connection was forged between Cookie Monster and Batman (Video Proves Dark Knight is Secretly Cookie Monster), and the Muppets welcomed “The Voice’s” Cee Lo into their homes (Muppets Join Cee Lo on “All I Need Is Love” video). 

Music

USA Olympic Swimming Team’s “Call Me Maybe” Tribute

U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen Go “Gangnam Style”

A newcomer to the U.S. must think everyone is out there dancing (or galloping) in the streets 24/7, thanks to the flood of “Gangnam Style” and “Call Me Maybe” tribute videos. (The original "Gangnam Style" video itself hit 1 billion views on Dec. 21.) Among the most-watched of these videos here at TODAY.com were the Olympic Swimming Team’s tribute to the Carly Rae Jepsen song and the Naval Academy’s take on “Gangnam Style.” Ohio University’s band also got into the “Gangnam” act, as did Hugh Jackman when singer PSY visited the “Wolverine” set, and clever editors managed to get both Klingons and Bill Nye in on the Korean pop sensation. Even the president got in on it, unwittingly, thanks to auto-tune and some clever editing, as his “version” of “Call Me Maybe” proves.

Kids

Autistic child ballerina dances her way into viewers' hearts with viral video

Songs are funny but kids are gold: One of our most popular stories of the entire year came from the video of an autistic child ballerina going through her steps in perfect precision with a pro. Katy Perry also stepped up to the mic with a little girl who had autism and sang with her onstage. And lest anyone think all kids can do is sing, it turns out they can also kick a little butt, as the “Dragon Baby” video showed in graphic (hey, stuffing is just pouring out of that toy’s wound!) detail. 

Cats and Dogs

Cat Wanders Into Weather Report

Cats don’t care. They just do their thing. And sometimes, when they do, a camera captures their awesome indifference. Another one of the year’s top clicks went to the kitty who wandered onto Univision’s Miami news set as Eduardo Rodriguez read out the weather; the crew just couldn’t stop laughing, but at no time did Rodriguez break a sweat. A cat also delighted readers with its ride on a record player, and to be fair to canines, the much-clicked sight of actor Kevin Bacon diving into a pool with his pet pit bull Lucy was also hugely popular.

So what was your favorite viral video of the past year? What did we miss? Let us know on Facebook!

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Danny Moloshok / Reuters

South Korean rapper Psy performs "Gangnam Style" at the 40th American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California, November 18, 2012.

By Brandi Fowler,  E! Online

As it turns out, it's not just Justin Bieber's world.

South Korean rapper Psy's contagious hit, "Gangnam Style," just nabbed quite the impressive title from the Biebs' "Baby," becoming the most-watched YouTube video of all time.

Madonna goes "Gangnam Style"

The music video has earned about 803,761,000 views since it was first posted to the site in July. Meanwhile, the music video for "Baby" racked up 803,732,000 since it was released in February 2010, according to Billboard.

"#GangnamStyle just became the most watched video @YouTube!! #History," Psy tweeted Saturday.

Psy catapulted to international stardom this summer with the release of the hit single and music video, most recently performing the dance with Madonna at her New York City concert, and with MC Hammer at the 2012 American Music Awards.

Ironically, Psy became label mates with the Bieber in September, when he signed to Scooter Braun's Schoolboy Records.

Justin Bieber is all grown up.

More from Digital Life:

• 'Gangnam Style' shatters Guinness record for most 'liked' video in YouTube history
• Good Gangnam! This Korean music video has 117+ million YouTube views
• 'GIF' beats 'YOLO,' 'superstorm' as Oxford American Dictionary word of the year

It was only a matter of time before Hugh Jackman got in on the "Gangnam Style" action.

Following the likes of Britney Spears and Ellen, South Korean pop superstar Psy gave the actor a lesson on how to do the famous jig when he visited the "Wolverine" set Monday.

And Jackman even brought out his blades for the occasion.

Take a peek at Hugh Jackman's sexy flexing in "Wolverine"

"Had a great time with @RealHughJackman #GangnamStyleWolverine~!!! Lol," Psy tweeted early Tuesday morning.

Jackman also tweeted about the meeting, writing, "Slicing gangnam style!!!! Great to meet @psy_oppa who visited set yesterday," along with a photo of the duo laughing in between dance moves.

Slideshow: Hugh Jackman

Tracey Nearmy / EPA

Launch slideshow

Check out Hugh Jackman's biggest blockbusters!

The action star is currently in Australia filiming "The Wolverine,"  and will star in "Les Miserables" when the flick hits theaters in December.

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Kim Jae-Hwan / AFP - Getty Images

PSY in concert in Seoul, Korea.

What happens when you take your "Gangnam Style" back home? PSY (aka Park Jae-Sang) found out Thursday night, when a free show in Seoul, South Korea, brought out at least 80,000 fans ready to do the funky horse-style dance. 

According to Canada's Globe and Mail, the local government cordoned off part of the city center for the event.

The publication also quoted PSY as telling fans, "I did not get here because I was worthy of it. I'm here because of all of you. I'm just a fat man with two kids."

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Apparently in baby talk, "Gangnam Style" means "time to eat." Or at least it does in the home of the Tsai family of London -- where baby Benjamin is just not hungry until PSY's international dance hit gets fired up on the laptop.

Dad Andrew, who says he's a "digital content editor for a national charity" on the website he's set up specifically for this video (gangnamstylebaby.com, what else?) recorded the feat of food engineering in a recent video that's just gone viral. In it, the transformation from fussy tot to enrapt, eating tot is instantaneous. 

"It would take more than an hour to just feed Benjamin lunch," wrote Andrew on his website. But, he noted, "The first time I introduced (the song) to him at a mealtime, I literally fed him within 7 minutes, or what I now call 1.5 'Gangnam Styles.'"

And as any new parent knows, whatever it takes to get baby through his daily rituals is worth it. In the Tsai household, clearly "Gangnam Style" is a solid gold record.

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Apparently a law has been passed, and every human on Earth is now legally required to create "Gangnam Style" tribute videos. At least, it seems that way, because the remakes just keep a-comin'! For those keeping a running tally on the best of the best, here's our selection from the last few days:

"Bill Nye-Science Style"

YouTube hit count so far: Over 1 million
Are you serious? Yes, it's about 30 seconds of "Bill Nye the Science Guy" -- or at least his head, enrobed in oversized sunglasses -- digitally pasted over PSY's as he gallops and gallivants all over town. 

"Music Videos Without Music: Gangnam Style"

YouTube hit count so far: 3.6 million
Are you serious? Strip PSY of his dance tracks, lather in some special effects, and what do you have? An oddly enthralling video. That said, the first few seconds of PSY's head lolling around on a lounge chair -- sans music -- border on the disturbing.

"Klingon Style"

YouTube hit count so far: 1.6 million
Are you serious? PSY sang "Gangnam Style" in Korean, so here's a chance to hear the tune in yet another language -- Klingon -- as "Star Trek: The Next Generation's" Worf plays out his on-screen romance with Troi, as Riker butts in repeatedly. Bonus: A Whoopi Goldberg imitator (in full Guinan regalia) doing the elevator scene.

"Gangnam Style (RaOn Acoustic cover)"

YouTube hit count so far: less than 10,000
Are you serious? Enough of all of this dancing; at some point a person wants to chill out with the smooth, acoustic guitar stylings of an adorable trio (Jaydee Min, Elle Kim and Michael Jun on guitar). And finally: A woman steps in for some of the lead vocals! PSY's version may have it over everyone for raw energy, but these guys bring it home with pure sweet seduction.

Are you "Gangnam Styled" out yet?

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The return of fall and football are welcome distractions for a nation consumed by "Gangnam Style." But the Ohio University Marching 110 ignored our desire to get back to hearing "Call Me Maybe" everywhere and unleashed a version of Korean singer Psy's catchy dance track.

While most big bands are still trying to learn their way around "Thriller" for halftime entertainment, these guys and gals do a pretty great job of combining their instrumental skills with some not-bad-for-the-band dance moves.

Plenty of wanna-be Psys are out there attempting that gallop dance in the privacy of the entire Internet, so kudos to the band for doing it in front of a packed stadium. We love the pause and applause at the 2:00 mark before it rips back into the distinctive drum beat of a marching band. What's more American than a crisp, autumn day at a football stadium in Athens, Ohio, as Korean pop music washes over the crowd? 

Complete with gyrating cymbal players at the 50-yard line, the Marching 110 -- founded in 1923! -- should feel no shame in extending the shelf life of "Gangnam Style" just a few more clicks (791,000 and counting on YouTube).

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Getty Images, AP

Carly Rae Jepsen, left, and Psy, both during concerts on TODAY.

What could possibly be more viral or earwormy than Korean sensation Psy's "Gangnam Style," or Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe?" A mashup of both songs, of course.

A Soundcloud user with lots of time and some mad editing skills has rather seamlessly put the two songs together for your listening pleasure. Give a listen to "Call Me Gangnam":

We can only hope a video of some sort is in the works next. In the mean time, you can check out PSY's recent cameo on the 38th season premiere of "Saturday Night Live." And just for fun, a personal favorite -- Jimmy Fallon, Carly Rae Jepsen and the Roots covering "Call Me Maybe."

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If any more evidence is needed that the U.S. has been conquered by the Korean dance stylings of PSY, look no further: The Navy has surrendered.

Well, mainly the members of 22nd Company at the U.S. Naval Academy, whose "spirit spot" video of "Gangnam Style" -- credited to Mark Vetere of 22nd Company and DoubleBond Productions -- has already racked up over 250,000 views on YouTube.

Using PSY's vocals to lip-sync and dance to, the sailors don their full Navy whites (and non-regulation sunglasses) and get down to the horsey moves with aplomb.

"Funny and hot -- what more can a woman ask?" noted YouTube user SmilingSheila in the comments. 

"Best remake I've seen of this to date!!" wrote Keana McMahon. 

So sit up straight and get ready to salute -- and check out the video!

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Psy shows of his best moves in the music video for "Gangnam Style."

If you haven't watched it yet, you're about to. If you haven't shared it with friends yet, that's coming, too. And if you don't already have this earworm playing a constant loop in your head, get ready!

It's not often that a South Korean dance hit sweeps the globe, but PSY's "Gangnam Style" has done just that -- and then some. The music video for the hyper-catchy track currently boasts 117+ million views on YouTube (and counting).

The question is why?

Maybe it has something to do with the rapid-fire and seemingly random scene swaps. Maybe it's all about the music. Or maybe it's PSY himself. Whatever it is, it's captivated otherwise cat-obsessed viral video fans, and it's already spread far beyond the borders of the Internet.

Not surprisingly, much of the K-Pop song and video's message seems to be lost on the Western world fans who've become obsessed with it over the last couple of months. After all, the over-the-top luxuries and well-manicured lifestyle of South Korea's ultra-rich Gangnam district isn't exactly a universal reference point. But then again, lampooning ludicrous excess while dropping a catchy beat pretty much works in any language.

Besides, PSY, whose real name is Park Jae-Sang, could probably perform his odd giddy-up dance without a song or Technicolor location shots and still draw online crowds -- his moves are just that mesmerizing.

Just see for yourself.

And don't stop watching there. The "Gangnam Style" phenomenon now goes way beyond the video that started it all. Thanks to a tribute-happy YouTube community, there's a baby version, a Gangam-meets-Minecraft sendup and even a Brony interpretation. Oh, and of course, there's the requisite (and must-see) "Teens React" video from viral pros The Fine Bros. And so on.

It's not just the usual YouTube masses that can't get enough of it. Even singing celebs are getting their "Gangnam" on. Josh Groban, T-Pain, Katy Perry and Britney Spears are among the many who've shared their love of the clip with their Twitter followers, with the latter raving, " I am LOVING this video -- so fun! Thinking that I should possibly learn the choreography. Anybody wanna teach me?! haha."

Heck, Justin Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, regrets not getting on Psy's bandwagon earlier, tweeting, " HOW DID I NOT SIGN THIS GUY!?!??!"

Singer Nelly Furtado took her own "Gangnam Style" a step further by performing it for fans in concert.

The admiration appears to be mutual. While music stars go gaga about Psy, he returns the favor by channeling them during his own concerts.

Are you a fan? Tell us your take on "Gangam Style" on our Facebook page.

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