I like that Trumpism — "to do very restrained." Ordinarily, in English, we'd say "to be very restrained." But he's a doer. "Do" should get an adverb, not an adjective ("restrained"), so it's technically grammatically wrong.
But "do" is perhaps his "be," and "be" gets an adjective. See? I'm doing very pedantic. Hope you like it. I'm not ashamed. There should be nothing you should be ashamed of. Yikes! What a concept! No shame. No more shame. Do — and don't regret. Trump doesn't do regretful.
But the reason I'm writing this post — doing this modern form of communication — is because of the phrase "It’s where it’s at."
That's a real 1960s phrase — right in there with "Do your own thing" and "Let it all hang out." How much 1960s is in the mind of Trump? I only know what's in the mind of Althouse, and "It's where it's at" screams 60s to me.
If you're younger, maybe you know it from this highly honored 1996 recording by Beck:
But Beck's source for the phrase was from 1969, an educational recording titled "Sex for Teens: (Where It's At)," which you can listen to here.
I listened. Very sincere and thus very funny.
"Where It's At" was the title of a British TV show. The Beatles used it to present "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" to the world:
KENNY [Radio personality Kenny Everett]: "What do you think of this new LP? It's a bit strange compared to the others. Would you term it 'Psycho-Deeelic'?"The best use of "where it's at" is, I think, from Bob Dylan, in that most Bob Dylan of Bob Dylan songs, "Like a Rolling Stone." Forget the old-fashioned elephant. Bring on the chrome horse:
RINGO: "Only if you want to think of it as psycho-deeelic."
JOHN: "Now we'd like to play you one. It's a sad little song. (pause) Where's it gone?"
PAUL: (giggles)
JOHN: "Oh, this is it, yeah. Picture yourself on an old-fashioned elephant. Lucy in the sky for everyone, now."
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomatI call out to Meade, and he points out that he already texted me what is to him the better Bob Dylan usage of "where it's at," "Positively 4th Street":
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain’t it hard when you discover that
He really wasn’t where it’s at
After he took from you everything he could steal
You say you lost your faithYou're probably wondering by now whether the 60s and Bob Dylan and The Beatles are where it's at and, to put it another way, whether the Althouse blog is where it's at. Or maybe is Trump where it's at. But we're all here on social media, and Trump says it's where it's at.
But that’s not where it’s at
You had no faith to lose
And you know it
Posts
45 comments:
4th Street in Minneapolis. That's where it's at.
You lick the platter clean, not cleanly.
You could lick it cleanly if you pre-sanitized your tongue.
If you read "do" in the sense of imitate, or impersonate, you could see Trump "doing" very restrained, in the same way I do an impression.
That's what's happening, man.
Ann Althouse said...
"You could lick it cleanly if you pre-sanitized your tongue."
Althouse is exceptionally frisky this morning.
I am Laslo.
"There should be nothing you should be ashamed of. Yikes! What a concept! No shame. No more shame. "
Liberals internalized this about their own behavior over 40 years ago.
Everyone *else* was entitled to 40 years of continuous non-stop incessant hysterical shaming.
It worked out well for them, until it didn't.
"I like that Trumpism — "to do very restrained." Ordinarily, in English, we'd say "to be very restrained." But he's a doer." Technicalities aside, he is a doer who can do no wrong.
Bob Dylan's "Positively 9th Street" (previously unreleased)
A business deal falls through
I informed him on the third night
When fortune gives
Only to find the night-watchman
Unaware of his presence in the building
Dogs for dogging, hands for clapping
Birds for birding and fish for fishing
Them for themming and when for whimming
Floral bark rogue doctors
Have brought this specimen
The plan, the telegram
I am Laslo.
2008: Republicans need to use teh social media!
2016: someone pls hide his phone!
@ Althouse
"I am Laslo. 11/15/16, 8:32 AM"
There is a Hidden Message there for you.
I am Laslo.
Trump said "big league" and reporters wrote "bigly." Every article about Trump is suspect.
"A preachment, dear friends, you are about to receive
On John Barleycorn, nicotine, and the temptations of Eve"
(Bronx cheer)
No parkin' by the sewer sign
Hot dog, my razor's broke
Water drippin' up the spout
But I don't care, let it all hang out
Hangin' from a pine tree by my knees
Sun is shinin' through the shade
Nobody knows what it's all about,
It's too much, man, let it all hang out
Saw a man walkin' upside down
My T.V.'s on the blink
Made Galileo look like a Boy Scout
Sorry 'bout that, let it all hang out
Sleep all day, drive all night
Brain my numb, can't stop now
For sure ain't no doubt
Keep an open mind, let it all hang out
It's rainin' inside a big brown moon
How does that mess you baby up, leg
Eatin' a Reuben sandwich with sauerkraut
Don't stop now, baby, let it all hang out
Let it all hang out
Trump: To do is to be
Sartre: To be is to do
Sinatra: Do be do be do
(Sorry for the 50 year-old graffiti reference)
Last week on an airplane the guy next to me, when asked what he wanted to drink, said to the flight attendant "I'll do a coffee."
Seemed very odd to me.
If you read "do" in the sense of imitate, or impersonate, you could see Trump "doing" very restrained, in the same way I do an impression.
Yes. Trump views this all as a game and is pretty transparent about it. He doesn't need to "be" a role, like a method actor. He can just don some superficial trappings of the needed role.
Laslo: Your message is too deep for me, man.
I can't see or hear "where it's at" without hearing Dylan ripping into that poor haughty unnamed girl in "Like A Rolling Stone." Instant mind-worm. Thanks, Professor. Thanks, Donald.
Last week on an airplane the guy next to me, when asked what he wanted to drink, said to the flight attendant "I'll do a coffee."
Better that than "I'll do you".
I'll be where it was, because this campaign and election has led me to delete my Facebook account. Socialized media is becoming the only form of communication to be used between "friends and followers" because it's where shame has gone to die.
The 365 Day Project, whence cometh "Sex for Teens: (Where It's At)," is most definitely where it's at. Both the 2003 and the 2007 versions are archived on the WFMU blog and at ubuweb. If Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music is the gateway to the Old Weird America, these are portals to the New Weird America and they opened up my ears like nothing else since the 49 cent bin at the East Orange NJ Korvettes vanished.
"Do" should get an adverb, not an adjective
And an object as well-- which should be your clue. Trump is using a common colloquial form here. I'd explain, but I don't do verbose.
Come on, come on. Let me show you where it's at.
The name of the place is I like it like that.
And whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that as the name thereof.
It actually makes him sound British, as they have a colloquial way of adding "do" into sentences where Americans would not. Example:
Me: Would you like to join me for lunch on Thursday?
Friend: I can do, but Wednesday would be better.
I agree that "do" in this context is not technically correct. I don't think it is wrong, though. I've heard it often over the years:
"We don't do nice" Tina Turner back in the 60's
I don't do quiet
I don't do aggressive
and so on.
John Henry
I suspect the Althouse blog is a Happening.
Bottles and cans and just clap your hands, just clap your hands
To do.
To be.
Do.
Be.
Do.
Sinatra.
Trump was in his gentle mood for the 60 Minutes interview. I bet Kellyann promised him her respect if he could go a full 60 Minutes without attacking anyone.
And he got it done.
My big take away from that exchange is that Stahl wanted to de-legitimize (is that a word?) the use of social media by POTUS because she and the still, for now, MSM, recognize that it allows him to bypass the media gatekeepers, quickly and easily communicate with his followers and spur them to action, and to foster a sense of community. All of which will further erode the MSM's still great, but ever waning, influence.
Trump, of course, was having none of it.
It's really interesting that a 70 year old guy understands social media and its potential so well.
Trump was in his gentle mood for the 60 Minutes interview.
Why wouldn't he be? He won and revealed a lot of braying jackasses for what they are.
Apparently NPR thinks that the country is in a somber mood. Which is true if by "the country" you mean the people in the cubicles next to you who also work for NPR.
However, if that does not describe you then there is a good chance that this is happy victory fun week.
When I order roast beef and mashed potatoes at my grocery's prepared food counter, they ask whether I want it "with au jus." I suppose "with au jus" is best for "the hoi polloi."
Baby Boomer Hell is where it's at. (Sorry GenXers and Millenials, just 30 more years to go.)
Sorry Wilbur. Just saw your post. Mine is redundant.
Make hat happy fun victory week.
When I was a kid, one ordered iced tea and got enough sugar to kill an entire anthill with diabetes. I have been annoyed for several decades now that I have to order unsweetened iced tea.
It strikes me as similar to the "mit ohn" described in Black Lamb and Grey Falcon, where in prewar cafes in the Balkans one ordered coffee "with without" to avoid getting the popular and normal raspberry syrup added to your drink.
One day soon I expect to go to a Starbucks and order, as I always do, a large black coffee, and after getting asked "Venti?" the server (barrista) will ask if I want room left in the cup for cream and sugar. I will then explain that his entire corporate existence, while profitable, is overcomplicated to present an appearance of sophistication, and is stupid.
That "O Juice" is good with roast beef. Not at all what you think.
I just ask for coffee-coffee, and hey know what I mean.
Surely the musical cue here should be Sam Cooke’s “That’s Where It’s At,” recorded August 1963.
Lights turned way down low
Music is soft and slow
With someone you love so
That's where it's at
Your world turned upside down
You're making not a sound
No one else around
That's where it's at
Your heart is beating fast
You're knowing time will pass
But hoping that it lasts
That's where it's at
You say it's time to go
She says "Yes I know"
But stay just one minute more
That's where it's at
One of my parents was an elementary school teacher and the other had a masters' in English literature. I could never get past the fact that "where it's at" is just bad grammar. Bad, bad grammar.
Let me show you where it's at- 50's or 60's song. Freddie Cannon?
My teacher used to say it's behind the at. Whatever that meant.
Where it's at? Depends what it is. It is what it is, I suppose.
Trump's use of Twitter and other social media is exactly synonymous with FDR's use of Fireside Chats on the wireless. It's how he reaches his people.
Earnest beat me to it. Perhaps the most sublime song using that phrase is That's Where It's At by Sam Cooke.
Might be Beck's best song.
Post a Comment