Is "Her Is" the most annoying and grammatically incorrect song ever???

[jasonf]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 6:17pm

Seriously!

I really enjoy the new Pajama Game recording (I liked the OBC too) but "Her Is" is just one of the worst songs of all time. Follow that with "Once a Year Day" (throw in a reprise of each) and I have four tracks that will not be making my next iPod update!

[Katurian2]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 6:34pm

I actually love "Her Is". I don't really understand the point of the grammatical inconsistancies, but I still love the melody. However, I can't say the same for "Once A Year Day."

[jasonf]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 6:37pm

Meoldically the song is fine - but the lyrics are just so overwhelmingly bad that I can't listen to it!

[MaureenJ]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 6:37pm

I HATE IT. It annoyed me, I was like COME ON! GET BACK TO SID AND BABE ALREADY!

[bdwybelle]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 6:41pm

I really liked it!

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 6:42pm

The grammar is incorrect because it's "baby talk." It's supposed to be oh-so-cutesy, barely-able-to-talk-yet lingo.

I haven't heard this new recording, but isn't that made clear??? It sure was in the original.

Or are they just supposed to be stupid adults that can't "talk good."

God forbid. That would be a real weird thing.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 6:48pm

I LOVE "Once a Year Day," but not on the new recording.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 7:06pm

I adore "Her Is". I find it just delightful, and especially, the reprise (though the current revival does sacrifice a sure-fire joke by using a svelte Mae).

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 7:07pm

"This is the Moment"

is right up there with the most annoying lyrics ever.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 7:19pm

To my mind, the most "annoying and grammatically incorrect song" in a Broadway musical is from MY FAIR LADY.

Prof. Higgins is described as "an expert dialectician and grammarian" yet he isn't onstage more than 10 minutes when he makes a grammatical faux pas. In "Why Can't The English?" he sings, "By right she should be taken out and hung for the cold blooded murder of the English tongue". Well, any 6th grader would know that PICTURES are "hung" but PEOPLE are "hanged".

When I directed the show I wrote an alternate lyric that offended no one: "By right her neck should thoroughly be wrung for the cold blooded murder of the English tongue". It was so much easier to listen to.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 7:21pm

best12bars: Either I'm slow, or this wasn't made very clear. And Dollypop: I agree! I dislike that song as well.

[ggersten]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 7:27pm

Hopefully, there were no grammarians who objected to your splitting the infinitive of "should be" with "should thoroughly be"

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 7:31pm

I beg to differ, Dollypop
People were "hung," that will not stop
The usage there is often "hanged"
"Hung" is not wrong, so just be danged

[jasonf]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 7:34pm

You're right about the "hung," "hanged" thing, but it's still not as annoying as "her is, isn't her?" to me! At least the "hung" thing can be attributed to the rhyme. Even in baby talk, "her is" just sounds horrible to me. Also, please note, I don't blame any of the performers on this one - this is just a song writing complaint.

Once a Year Day, though, is another story...

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 7:38pm

My Webster's Ninth New Collegiate dictionary says the usage is "often" "hanged," but does not limit it to only.

And also consider "he hung by the neck until dead."

So, "you should be hung (by the neck)" seems perfectly good English to me. As in prose, the parenthetical is understood.

Do enlighten me if I err, any grammarians out there. With references, please.


Updated On: 5/11/06 at 07:38 PM

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 7:41pm

That is also indicative of how Prez speaks at some points in the show. Try reading word for word the original text of his speech that opens Act II -- it is full of incorrect grammar! I have played the role twice so I do like "Her Is"..but I agree, the text is a bit lame. It is fun on stage though! Especially during the dance breaks!

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 7:44pm

jasonf---You ought to check out some older plays and movies where characters talked "baby talk" just like this. I'm not saying it isn't annoying, but it wasn't uncommon back then as a playful exchange.

Two classic film examples:

Clark Gable as Rhett in GWTW talks to Bonnie Butler (his daughter) in the same fashion: "Her is the pwettiest girl," type stuff.

Also, check out "Dinner At Eight," and you'll see Jean Harlow do the same thing to her on-screen hubby (Wallace Beery).

Just so you have a frame of reference for it.

Updated On: 5/11/06 at 07:44 PM

[singtopher]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 7:52pm

I really can't stand the song. "Her is" is probably my least favorite song of the show. Well, maybe "Think of the time I save" but that is beside the point.

As far as the grammer is concerned, it's part of Prez's character. Generally Prez looses his ability to stucture a sentence when he gets excited.

[jasonf]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 7:57pm

I understand the context of it - I don't think I made that clear. I know WHY Prez does it - but that doesn't make it any less irritating. It's like that "Schmoopie" episode of Seinfeld.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 8:04pm

The fact that you were hung (hanged?) up on the grammar issue led me to believe you didn't "get" the baby talk thing.

It's like correcting the grammar of the dialogue in Guys & Dolls.

I agree that the baby talk is a bit "cutesy"... But who cares about the grammar when it's intentionally incorrect?

Updated On: 5/12/06 at 08:04 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 8:52pm

It's such a cute song.

But how could ANYONE think the writers were trying to have the song come across serious with that grammar? It's obviously part of the character, with all the baby talk.

[jasonf]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 9:01pm

ljay - exactly. I understand EXACTLY what was being done with the song - I didn't express that clearly in my first post, though. In fact, I almost put as the subject "the most annoying and intentionally grammatically incorrect" but it just sounded awkward.

I actually worked on The Pajama Game in college - the new CD is what prompted the post in the first place here. I've always been annoyed by the song. I know the writers were trying to write a song using the poor grammar of the characters - my opinion is simply that it doesn't work. The song comes off as annoying to me rather than "cute" as it was intended. Of course, that's just my opinion - there's a reason I put the question marks at the end of the subject. :)

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 10:37pm

Not really surprising considering it's written by ABBA (whose pop songs and melodies I like for the most part) but the final line of SOMEONE ELSE'S STORY from CHESS kills me: "The story is the girl is me." Yuck.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 10:46pm

I'm sorry but the most annoying song which also lacks proper grammar can be found in "Peter Pan."

Ug-a-wugga-meatball.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 5/12/06 at 1:11am

"Is 'Her Is' the most annoying and grammatically incorrect song ever???"


No, this thread is.



Anne Boleyn
Hampton Court, London
Updated On: 5/12/06 at 01:11 AM