Word Crimes

[PlayAWarGame]

Got to admit I was disappointed that the animatic used the "literally couldn't get out of bed" construction when the song clearly intentionally used the even more incorrect "literal couldn't get out of bed" construction. Aside from that the animatic was awesome as hell and I'm awed that it simultaneously did the kinetic typography thing and parodied the original video in a PG-rated way.

[TMBJon]

When we were speculating about this, someone mentioned that Al must not think the original song is pro-rape because he has an 11-year-old daughter at home, and he would never parody a pro-rape song because of that. However, on The View this morning, he commented that most of the other YouTube parodies have been about how "rapey" Blurred Lines is.

[Skippy]

Got to admit I was disappointed that the animatic used the "literally couldn't get out of bed" construction when the song clearly intentionally used the even more incorrect "literal couldn't get out of bed" construction.

The song says "literally." He sings it very fast, so it's hard to hear the "y" but it's there. Also, that's the way the lyrics are printed in the CD booklet. I've never heard anyone use "literal" in place of "literally" (even if they are using that word wrong.) Is that a thing people do?

[Bruce the Duck]

He was saying that's what the parodies on YouTube were about - not that he himself agreed with the ridiculous allegations. He also said he had a great deal of respect for all of the artists he parodied. Despite the fact that he worked with Amanda Palmer on one of his songs, he wouldn't have respect for someone he thought was promoting rape.

[Bruce the Duck]

I've never heard anyone use "literal" in place of "literally" (even if they are using that word wrong.) Is that a thing people do?

Probably.

But you are correct.

[PlayAWarGame]

I've absolutely seen it, albeit only in very casual contexts where they're not even trying to be grammatical (think Ke$ha lyrics stylistically, though I don't know if she specifically has done it). Was certain that the song was including it in the "literally" lyric as a double joke, particularly as Al's correct use of the word has a much more audible "ly".

EDIT: Just noticed that I omitted the "I" from the beginning of the last sentence - and, oh crap, this one too! Not correcting it at this point because it's too perfect. Is Spanish rubbing off on me?

[TMBJon]

ridiculous allegations

Just curious - not trying to start a fight, I promise, and so I won't reply at all if you give me a real response:

What are the "Blurred Lines" referred to in the title, if not the blurred lines between consensual and non-consensual sex? It seems pretty straightforward to me that that's what he means, that what he's about to do/wants to do falls into a "gray area" of morality.

[PlayAWarGame]

The stop sign in the video kinda seals the deal. The song is about rape and Robin Thicke is a horrible person.

That does nothing to change my appreciate for Word Crimes, though. The subject matter isn't carried over, and the tune was always great from the beginning.

EDIT: Did I really do that?

[Bruce the Duck]

Just curious - not trying to start a fight, I promise, and so I won't reply at all if you give me a real response:

Wanna bet?

What are the "Blurred Lines" referred to in the title, if not the blurred lines between consensual and non-consensual sex? It seems pretty straightforward to me that that's what he means, that what he's about to do/wants to do falls into a "gray area" of morality.

Here is a quote from an article regarding the original.

Not so, says Thicke. "For me it's about blurring the lines between men and women and how much we're the same," he said. "And the other side which is the blurred lines between a good girl and a bad girl, and even very good girls all have little bad sides to them."

We tried to do everything that was taboo. Bestiality, drug injections, and everything that is completely derogatory towards women. Because all three of us are happily married with children, we were like, "We're the perfect guys to make fun of this."

People say, "Hey, do you think this is degrading to women?" I'm like, "Of course it is. What a pleasure it is to degrade a woman. I've never gotten to do that before. I've always respected women." So we just wanted to turn it over on its head and make people go, "Women and their bodies are beautiful. Men are always gonna want to follow them around."

I take the man at his word. TI, Pharrell, and Thicke are all genuine, respectful men with children of their own who wrote a tounge-in-cheek song that people without a sense of humor have misinterpreted. I'm glad Al has the good sense to see past the foolishness of thinking that Robin Thicke thinks that rape is a good idea.

Just curious - not trying to start a fight, I promise, and so I won't reply at all if you give me a real response:

Come on, someone has to take me up on this bet!

[Bruce the Duck]

And now back to our regularly scheduled discussion of "Word Crimes."