wordwatching

At the crossroads of language and culture

Dedicated to the study of language variation and change in American English, with special regard to the West, pop lyrics, and social media.

Sunday math

March 06, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in music video essay

A musical video essay on the subject of math in pop music. Includes videos of songs by Chuck Berry, The Jackson Five, Thomas Dolby, and the Bob Seger System.

Putting the "pieces" together in pop music

March 05, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in music video essay

A post on the word pieces in pop music (1951-2015). Includes videos of songs by Patsy Cline, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Jim Croce, Matchbox Twenty, Savage Garden, and The Average White Band.

I'd like to thank the Academy

February 28, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in lyric analysis, music video essay

A post about popular songs from Billboard's year-end Top Ten charts (1951-2015) that refer to various aspects of the movie industry. Includes videos of songs by Madonna, Michael Jackson, Mark Ronson, and Led Zeppelin.

Raising flags in pop music

February 23, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in music video essay

A music video essay on songs from Billboard's year-end Top Thirty charts (1951-2015) containing the word flag. Includes videos of songs by Elton John, Snoop Dogg, and Vicki Lawrence.

"Do you believe in miracles?"

February 22, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in music video essay

A music video essay comprising songs from the Billboard year-end Top Ten charts (1951-2015) that contain the word miracle. Includes videos of songs by Sammy Davis, Jr., Hot Chocolate, and Jefferson Starship.

Pop music for Presidents' Day 2016

February 15, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in lyric analysis, music video essay

A post on references to presidents in American pop music (1951-2015). Includes videos of songs by Johnny Horton, Tupac Shakur, and Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder.

Speaking of saints...

February 14, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in lyric analysis, music video essay

A post looking at the use of the word saint(s) in songs from the Billboard year-end Top Thirty charts (1951-2015). Includes videos of songs by Joan Osborne, The Killers, and Justin Timberlake.

Be mine, Valentine

February 14, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in music video essay

A music video essay featuring songs from Billboard's year-end Top Thirty charts (1951-2015) with the word valentine. Includes videos of songs by Janis Ian, Duran Duran, Terrence Trent D'Arby, and Steve Earle.

Superday

February 07, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in lyric analysis, music video essay

A post on super compounds in pop music (1951-2015). Includes videos of songs by The Jackson Five, Madonna, and Nicki Minaj. Also includes link to a word search puzzle.

Sing a song

February 05, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in lyric analysis, music video essay

The lyrics of The Carpenters; Earth, Wind and Fire; and the 1970s. Includes videos of the songs of both groups.

Rock and Roll High School: Pop Quiz

January 30, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in music video essay

Videos of songs from Billboard's year-end Top Ten (1951-2015) whose titles are questions

Rock and Roll High School: First Day

January 29, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in music video essay

Songs from Billboard's year-end Top Ten (1951-2015) that include the phrase rock and roll.

"Diamond(s)" in pop music

January 25, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in music video essay

A music video essay on "diamond(s)" in pop music on the anniversary of the discovery of the world's largest diamond

"praying" in pop music

January 24, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in corpus analysis, music video essay

An analysis of pop songs that refer to prayer (1951-2015)

"Friday" and "Saturday" in American Pop Music (1951-2015)

January 22, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in music video essay

A music video essay featuring videos of year-end Top Ten songs (1951-2015) with the words Friday and/or Saturday in them.

"Silence" in pop music

January 22, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in music video essay

A music video essay on the appearance of the word silence (and its lemma) in the Top Ten (1951-2015)

Songs celebrating coffee

January 06, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in music video essay

It's time for coffee in this music video essay.

Just another Music Monday*

January 04, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in corpus analysis, music video essay

Monday and other days of the week in American pop music

a brand-new year!

January 01, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in music video essay

To commemorate the new year, I present a series of music videos featuring songs from the Billboard year-end Top 10 charts (1951-2015) that include the phrase "brand-new."

I'll follow the sun

December 28, 2015 by Lamont Antieau in music video essay

A selection of songs from the Billboard year-end Top Ten charts (1951-2014) in praise of the sun, one per decade in chronological order