Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

PSY alters lyrics over fear they could offend Arabs

SEOUL, South Korea -- PSY says he will change the title and lyrics of his potential Gangnam Style followup over worries it could offend Arabs.

The announced title for the song can be written as Assarabia or Assaravia in English. It's slang used by South Koreans to express thrills. It suggests no ethnicity or body part, but worries have risen that Arabs might misinterpret the title and find it derogatory.

PSY said Monday on a South Korean social media website that he has decided to change the title. Some lyrics also will change.

After several Korean albums, PSY has promised future work in English but it isn't clear when. The Gangnam Style video with its catchy tune and much-imitated horse-riding dance has a record 1.44 billion views on YouTube since July.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 20, 2013 C2

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