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.

Guitar heroes

March 13, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in music video essay

Guitar in songs from the Billboard year-end Top 10 charts (1951-2015). Includes videos of songs by Archie Bell and the Drells, Dire Straits, Jewel, Santana, and Eric Clapton and an all-star cast of musicians.

Knighthood in pop music

March 11, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in music video essay, lyric analysis

A post looking at knighthood in songs from Billboard's year-end Top 30 charts (1951-2015). Includes videos of songs by The Beatles, Lulu, Stevie Wonder, and America.

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.

Terms for poor livestock in the Middle Rockies

March 05, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in corpus dialectology, language variation, lexical variation

A post on terms used for poor livestock in the Linguistic Atlas of the Middle Rockies

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.

"Ain't" in pop music*

March 03, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in lyric analysis, variation in lyrics, language variation

A post on the use of ain't in songs from Billboard's year-end Top Ten charts (1951-2015)

Giving "peace" a chance in pop music

March 01, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in lyric analysis

An analysis of the word peace in songs from Billboard's year-end Top 30 charts (1951-2015). Includes videos of songs by The Four Tops, Paul McCartney, Anita Baker, and John and Yoko.

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.

Playing fast and loose with the Fats

February 27, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in lyric analysis, variation in lyrics

A linguistic analysis of some of Fats Domino's most popular songs

"Wind" (mighty and otherwise) in pop music

February 24, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in lyric analysis

A post on variants of wind included in songs from the Billboard year-end Top Ten charts (1951-2015). Includes videos of songs by The Association, Jimi Hendrix, Journey, 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.

The not-so-famous "chili-dog line" in the history of Top Ten music

February 17, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in lyric analysis

Use of words for dog in songs from Billboard's year-end Top Ten (1951-2015)

Of mongrels, mutts, and Heinz 57

February 16, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in corpus dialectology, Western American English, lexical variation

Variation in terms in the Linguistic Atlas of the Middle Rockies for "dog of mixed breed"

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.

Be true to your school

February 11, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in lyric analysis

School and its premodifiers in songs from the Billboard year-end Top Thirty charts (1951-2015)

"Rocky Mountain oysters" and other names for this "delicacy" in the Middle Rockies

February 11, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in corpus dialectology, Western American English

A post on the names used for the "delicacy" commonly referred to as Rocky Mountain oysters in the Linguistic Atlas of the Middle Rockies

"Little cabin on the hill" and other terms for "outhouse" in the Middle Rockies

February 09, 2016 by Lamont Antieau in corpus dialectology, Western American English

Variation in the terms for outhouse in the Linguistic Atlas of the Middle Rockies