John, thanks for the link. I *did* appreciate it. And I must say that, when I first typed that blog title, I paused over the word “was,” and even went to look up the lyrics, thinking: “It must be WERE.” It should be.
It’s not as if the Pussycat Dolls are singing a dissertation, cover letter, or other textual document expected to be written in standardized English. They’re singing a song written by Cee-Lo, Sir Mix-a-Lot, and Busta Rhymes, who apparently want the singers to sound very street as they objectify themselves. The chosen discourse does not honor subjunctive mood, yet the earth continues to turn four years after the single was released.
Too bad I’m not a fan. (Well, Cee-Lo is pretty cool.)
Yes, the earth does continue to turn, and I don’t think we’re interrogating the grammar of a song so much as joking around, and the song gave us the opportunity.
Whoo hoo! You’re really making progress there. SPeaking of which, how’s George’s knitting coming along? :^)
more like “freak!”
Happy Mom Day!
I know, Emily, right?
Just noticed this post, and the title makes me think you might appreciate this:
http://www.jenisfamous.com/dev/2008/11/on-the-use-of-the-subjunctive-mood-in-popular-music.html
John, thanks for the link. I *did* appreciate it. And I must say that, when I first typed that blog title, I paused over the word “was,” and even went to look up the lyrics, thinking: “It must be WERE.” It should be.
It’s not as if the Pussycat Dolls are singing a dissertation, cover letter, or other textual document expected to be written in standardized English. They’re singing a song written by Cee-Lo, Sir Mix-a-Lot, and Busta Rhymes, who apparently want the singers to sound very street as they objectify themselves. The chosen discourse does not honor subjunctive mood, yet the earth continues to turn four years after the single was released.
Too bad I’m not a fan. (Well, Cee-Lo is pretty cool.)
Yes, the earth does continue to turn, and I don’t think we’re interrogating the grammar of a song so much as joking around, and the song gave us the opportunity.