3 Mai

3 Mai (Korean: 3마이) is the third album by South Korean singer Psy. The album was released on September 19, 2002, and was also released worldwide through iTunes.[1] It contains 15 songs.

3 Mai (3 PSY)
Studio album by Psy
Released	September 18, 2002[1]
Genre	K-pop, hip hop
Language	Korean
Label	Yedang YDCD-626
Psy chronology
Ssa2 (2001) 3 Mai (3 PSY) (2002) Remake & Mix 18 Beon (2005)

Release and success of title track

The third album was released in September 2002 with a launch on an internet music site. The timely release, during Seoul's enthusiasm over the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and a title track "Champion" with its "crowd-pumping vibe"[2][3] which became "massively popular", confirmed his place in the Korean music world and on the K-pop scene.[4][5]

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".[4][6]

He continued to perform the popular song 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".[7] 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.'[5] He expressed his fondness for the song, saying it would always "hold a special place" in his heart,[6] and recounted that ten years later he was putting a lot of effort into making his music that successful again.[3]

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.[8][9] After clarification, many thought it an appropriate jab at convention, as Psy had studied in America and spoke English.[9]

Critical reception

Paul Lester of The Guardian called "Champion" a "thrashy disco" which heavily samples Axel F by Harold Faltermeyer".[10]

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."[8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by PSY, except where noted.

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

References

1. "3마이". iTunes Store. n.d. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
2. "Artists Search, Psy (싸이)". KBS World Radio. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
3. Limb, Jae-un (June 18, 2014). "Streets of Gangnam fill with World Cup cheers". Korea.net. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
4. Wi, Tack-whan (October 10, 2012). "PSY, the man behind the name". Korea.net. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
5. Lee, Hyo-won (June 17, 2014). "World Cup 2014: Psy Performs 'Gangnam Style' in Gangnam for the First Time". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
6. Sohn, Ji-young (June 18, 2014). "Psy lights up Gangnam with World Cup street cheering concert". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
7. Yun, Suh-young (February 25, 2013). "Psy horse-dances, Sumi Jo sings". The Korea Times. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
8. Benjamin, Jeff (October 4, 2012). "Top 5 PSY Songs 'Gangnam Style' Fans Should Hear". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
9. Haps Magazine Staff (November 28, 2012). "Exclusive: PSY's Anti-America Protesting Past?". Haps Magazine. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
10. Lester, Paul (September 13, 2012). "K-pop new band of the week – Psy (No 1,350)". The Guardian. Retrieved May 8, 2017.