3 Mai (3 Psy)
Studio album by
Psy
ReleasedSeptember 19, 2002
Recorded2002
Genre
Length47:38
LanguageKorean
LabelPan Entertainment, Yedang[1][2]
Psy chronology
Ssa2
(2001)		 3 Mai (3 Psy)
(2002)		 Remake & Mix 18 Beon
(2005)
Singles from 3 Mai
  1. "Champion"
    Released: September 19, 2002
  2. "Paradise"
    Released: September 19, 2002

3 Mai (Korean: 3마이) is the third studio album by South Korean singer Psy, released on September 19, 2002 by Pan Entertainment[1] and distributed by Yedang Entertainment Company.[2] It contains 15 songs, including the two singles "Champion" and "Paradise". By February 2003, the album sold over 135,000 copies in South Korea.[3]

Background and release

The third album was released in September 2002 with a launch on an internet music site. The title of the album "3 mai" means cheap.[4] Unlike his previous albums, the lyrics were less explicit. Regarding the change, Psy commented that "3mai was intended as a project for taking a break, however, it should not be intended as a change of my personality."[4] Lee Sun-hee, Kim Wan-sun, Park mi kyung, and Lee Jae-hoon of Cool featured in the album as vocals, as well as Park Jae-Eun, Psy's older sister.[4]

Composition

The song "Royal Family" aims to criticize Korean marriage agencies which arrange meetings based on their academic credentials and wealth.[4] The song "Peacefully" is about his longing for his grandfather who died on the third day of Psy's arrest for marijuana charges.[4] The song "Celebrities (빤빠라)" aims to criticize politicians using celebrity scandals during elections to gain more votes.[5] The timely release, during Seoul's enthusiasm over the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and a title track "Champion" with its "crowd-pumping vibe"[6][7] which became "massively popular", confirmed his place in the Korean music world and on the K-pop scene.[8][9]

The title song "Champion" was also inspired by Korean street cheering during the 2002 World Cup.[4] The song's lyrics include the word "ganggangsullae", the name of a traditional Korean folk dance that brings people together in a large circle to dance and play; with the message that "true champions are the ones who know how to have fun." Psy said about the song, "During the World Cup, I saw Korean people really loosen up to just have fun", and "I wanted to encourage that same carefree enjoyment, even without the soccer".[8][10]

Critical reception

Paul Lester of The Guardian called "Champion" a "thrashy disco" which heavily samples Axel F by Harold Faltermeyer".[11] Jeff Benjamin of Billboard said, "'Champion' is a funky dance track that uses video game-like synthesizers years before the EDM explosion. With self-empowering lyrics and the repeated title word in the chorus, the song doubled as an anthem for South Korea when they hosted the World Cup in Seoul that year."[12]

Legacy

Psy continued to perform "Champion" again and again throughout his career. At Park Geun-hye's 2013 Presidential Inauguration for a televised performance in front of the National Assembly he wore a black tuxedo with a bow tie and sunglasses and opened with "Champion", followed by "Gangnam Style".[13] In June 2014, he performed the song again, among eight, at a Seoul street concert of nearly 30,000, during celebrations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, when Korea tied Russia in the first round. He said, "The impassioned cheering of citizens inspired me to write 'Champion.' It's also a song that helped me continue my music career, which would have ended after a short run [if it weren't for 'Champion']. So even though 'Gangnam Style' was such a success, it can't be as dear to me as 'Champion,'" he said.'[9] He expressed his fondness for the song, saying it would always "hold a special place" in his heart,[10] and recounted that ten years later he was putting a lot of effort into making his music that successful again.[7]

A different complaint

Although its title track "Champion" was received well by Korean soccer fans, a different complaint was raised for this album, by expat English teachers. At the time of its release and later with a new audience created by 2012's "Gangnam Style", English speaking fans were offended by the repeated use of the word "ni-ga" or ("you" in Korean), in the lyrics ("you are the champion"), which they heard as the N-word.[12][14] After clarification, many thought it an appropriate jab at convention, as Psy had studied in America and spoke English.[14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Psy, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Intro" (featuring Ray)Psy, Ray, hanco2:34
2."Peacefully (안녕히)" (featuring Lee Sun-hee) 3:24
3."Champion (챔피언)"Psy3:06
4."Celebrities (빤빠라)"Psy3:17
5."Let's Language (반말합시다)"Psy, Yi Jin-seong3:32
6."Paradise (낙원)" (featuring Lee Jae-hoon) 3:40
7."Queen (퀸)" (featuring Park Jae Eun)Psy, Park Jae Eun3:02
8."Messy Blues (난장 Blues)"Psy3:24
9."Playing with Fire (불장난)" (featuring Ray)Psy, Ray2:55
10."Night" (featuring Park Mi-kyung)Psy, Yoo Gun-hyung3:18
11."Bitch" (featuring Ray)Ray, hanco2:11
12."Give (바쳐)" (featuring Johan)Psy, Johan3:24
13."Royal Family (로얄패밀리)" (featuring Kirk & Kim Woo-geun)Psy, Kirk3:23
14."No (안돼요)" (featuring Kim Wan-sun)Psy, hanco4:13
15."Back to the Psycho World! (Outro)"hanco2:15
Total length:47:38

Charts and sales

References

  1. 1 2 "싸이 3집" [Psy 3rd album]. thepan.co.kr (in Korean). Pan Entertainment. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Psy (7) – 3집 - 3마이" [Psy (7) – 3rd album - 3 Mai]. Discogs. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  3. 1 2 2003.02월 – 가요 음반 판매량 [2003.02 – Sales volume] (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on March 23, 2005. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "싸이 위선 가득한 세상 조롱". Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  5. ↑ "[대중음악]싸이가 변했다…노래도 변했다". Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Artists Search, Psy (싸이)". KBS World Radio. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  7. 1 2 Limb, Jae-un (June 18, 2014). "Streets of Gangnam fill with World Cup cheers". Korea.net. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  8. 1 2 Wi, Tack-whan (October 10, 2012). "Psy, the man behind the name". Korea.net. Archived from the original on June 30, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  9. 1 2 Lee, Hyo-won (June 17, 2014). "World Cup 2014: Psy Performs 'Gangnam Style' in Gangnam for the First Time". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  10. 1 2 Sohn, Ji-young (June 18, 2014). "Psy lights up Gangnam with World Cup street cheering concert". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  11. ↑ Lester, Paul (September 13, 2012). "K-pop new band of the week – Psy (No 1,350)". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 3, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  12. 1 2 Benjamin, Jeff (October 4, 2012). "Top 5 Psy Songs 'Gangnam Style' Fans Should Hear". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  13. ↑ Yun, Suh-young (February 25, 2013). "Psy horse-dances, Sumi Jo sings". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  14. 1 2 Haps Magazine Staff (November 28, 2012). "Exclusive: Psy's Anti-America Protesting Past?". Haps Magazine. Archived from the original on March 16, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  15. ↑ 2002.09월 – 가요 음반 판매량. Recording Industry Association of Korea. October 2002. Archived from the original on October 20, 2004.
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