the fact that THIS is the best video of all time says alot about the public...

...and people complain that there is no 'good' music anymore...

You get what you ask for, unfortunately the 'new' audience wouldn't know quality if it jumped up and bit them on the ass.

That said, good for him.

When it comes to music  the term "quality" is such a personal assessment that is has no meaning - or place - in general discourse.

It's just simply not the best video of all time. It's impossible to make such a sweeping statement because there are too many arguably non-artistic factors that have lead to this video getting the most views on YouTube:

-the rise of YouTube, internet culture, viral marketing, etc.

-it's use of humor

-the novelty (and potentially faux intellectualism/hipsterism) of being a foreign video

-easy, accessible dance fad

-sex sells ("hey sexy lady", attractive women in video, female counterpart's parallel release of her version)

-violence sells (explosions, James Bond-esque shots)

-pre-teen and teenager culture (fanatacism, target market, social pressure to be "in the know" about cool/funny things)

-the rise of "danceable" music for clubs/parties/etc.

-accessibility of YouTube/internet via mobile platforms (laptop, tablet, phone, etc.)

-growing interest and relevance of tokyo-pop, k-pop, and other previously anexed facets of world culture

I think the " 'new' audience" you're referring to is really more of a new demographic anyway. Young people are inundating new media and communication streams that don't feel accessible to many in older generations. We're in a flux during a time of transition. The chaos will settle and this will not be the most-watched video in the future, nor will it ever be the "best" video of all time.

Don't blame the public. A huge portion of the public is still enamored with Bach, with Rachmoninov, with Elvis, with the Beatles, with Coltrane, with Armstrong, with Queen, with Yes, with Adele, with Radiohead. Quality will continue to come forward and make an impact/bite people in the ass.

@ MBTS quote "It's impossible to make such a sweeping statement because there are too many arguably non-artistic factors"

I would argue that many of those points you mentioned ARE a part of artistic expression, always has been..

What I like about the whole thing is it shows that a "video" can be a part of 'hook' as well as the music.. IE: I doubt this song would have been such a big hit if there never was a video to go with it..

who said best? smh... this is like a game of fucking telephone with idiot teens. 

In my opinion this is one of the worst songs and videos ever. I wonder how much money his investors spent to market his awful song and video. I don't know anyone from those that watched that video, who is actually in love with the song.

please note: 99.9% of all creatures are extinct. 

i can't see humans going much further.

Psy is my hero.

The Myans were right.

Whoa.

Irrefutable proof of the timeless appeal of anti-consumerist lyrics.

825 million YouTube views at $0.002 = $1.65million.  Good news for Chinese and Indian pop?

My favorite line is "hey sexy lady".  It's consise and to the point.  Say it while strumming your guitar.  hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady, hey sexy lady.

See?