The summer of 2005 was a winning one for catchphrases, with ‘‘Hell to the no,” ”I don’t wanna see that,” ”can you handle my truth?” all buzzing around like jaunty fireflies at a late night backyard barbeque. This year, though, has seen a virtual slogan drought, unless, of course, folks in your circle have begun declaring that they’re bringin’ sexy back, or threatening to drop their London bridges (whatever that means).
Still, motto maniacs might finally have some reason to rejoice, as ‘’step up” appears thisclose to pop-cultural saturation. Consider:
-Coming to theaters August 11, is Step Up, which appears to be a hastily assembled, big-screen mashup of So You Think You Can Dance and Save the Last Dance, starring the sickeningly fit Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan. (Don’t front, you’re totally gonna go see it.)
-Last night’s episode of HGTV Design Star featured contestants talking about the need to ‘’step up” their decorating games.
-And Friday night’s premiere of IFC’s very funny The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman focused on a cultish Hollywood self-help/religious movement called The Platform. Their main mantra — yeah, you guessed it — ”Step up!”
Still, to see if ‘’step up” actually holds up, I think it’s important that we can find ways to work it into everyday conversation. Let me give it a whirl. "In Ciara’s new video for "Get Up" (incidentally, the first single from the Step Up soundtrack), methinks she needs to step up the waistline on her low-riders, ’cause I don’t need to see that!"
Hmmm. Does that work? I’m still not sure. But any additional sightings or usages of "Step Up" should be reported to PopWatch HQ immediately. Thank you.
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All I know is that these need to be retired pronto “frontin’” and “I’ve got your back.”
No Catchphrases? Hello! Scott Brown’s “Kraken” was addictive. And my azz been typing “Shake and Bake” all over town in homage to Talladega Nights.
No Catchphrases? Slezak’s gone CRAAAAAAAAAZY, Slezak’s gone CRAAAAAAAzy, just like meeeeee…
And newbie is RIGHT! “I got your back” was hip back when I could barely understand what it meant way back in 1996. But ten years later? Come now, we grew up enough to retire terms like “Phat” and “all that”, it’s time to let “I’ve got your back” go the way of “you are so money and you don’t even know it”.
CRAAAAAAAAAZY. Now THAT’S a catchphrase. Good one, ep sato. Step up is sooo lame.
“Step Up” is hardly a new phrase, I’ve heard it & said it for years. In fact, my Boss frequently tells our Salespeople to “Step the F**k Up” when sales are down, in his charming, “Glengarry” Inspirational way.
“Frontin’”, however, should be snuffed out before it catches on. Yuuuuck.
I know we’re on season three already, but Tim Gunn’s mottos on Project Runway seem to be catching on big time this summer. “Carry on!” and “Make it work!”
Thanks Lisa! I think I’ve said make it work about 3 times already today…
i’m agreeing with lisa on “make it work.” people all around me are saying that one.
“I got your back” goes back a whole lot longer than 1996. Probably back to the 70’s. “Frontin” has been around probably since the 80’s. It’s funny. When I was growing up in the 80’s I didn’t know anyone who said “cool.” I was stunned when I got to college and just about everyone was using it. I couldn’t figure out why everyone was talking like they’d just stepped out of the movie “Grease.” As for words or phrases I’d like to see retired, I’d love to see “word” come to an end. It died out in the late 80’s but for some reason has been brought back and I don’t know why.
As long as we’re over “narf” now, m’kay?
I’m sticking with “I don’t want to see that”!. The DVD release of The Comeback has brought back a resurgence of Valerie rage. I tell that to my 2nd graders all the time- talking: I don’t wanna hear that! Copying: I don’t want see that! Putting someones name on the board: I don’t wanna do that!
It’s interchangeable, thanx Val!
bage is right, “step up” can’t be a new term, it’s been around for years
Good to see that some good may come from Step Up aside from Ciara’s hot single and wonderful, wonderful music video. [Makes you miss Aaliyah and begs Janet Jackson to step up on the next single go round.] But I must say I refuse to see Step Up. Nuh-uh. Not gonna. No No No.
http://lastnightadjsavemylife.blogspot.com/2006/07/step-up-take-lead-and-save-last-dance.html
If I could just get specific here, I have a co-worker (a cute little mormon girl, no less) who insists on using “True dat” when she agrees with me. AND SHE IS SERIOUS ABOUT IT! Could we retire that one PLEASE!!!!!
I don’t know if it will catch on nationally, but thanks to the fabulous Kelly, “These shoes rule/These shoes suck” has become the thing to say around here. (And by “around here” I mean “within my immediate circle of friends”.) It also works for other things, like booze or cheese or amendments to the tax code.
Can we please close the casket on “Hug It Out” while we’re at it? With all due respect to Jeremy Piven.
ed, whoever you may be, your adorable story just made my day.
“What are you looking at, SUGAR TI*TS”?
Frighteningly, sugar t**s and firecr**ch are the two new vocab terms that I’ve learned this summer. It actually sounds like a great title for a new cop series for the Spice channel!
Let’s not forget the British version via Piers Morgan: “Step to the plate.”
No catchphrases?!
Have you forgot “Snakes on a ____”?
The new cool thing is to put snakes on everything.
Snakes on a blog, snakes on a hamburger, snakes on your mother…it works!
Phrases of the Summer: “Make It Work” and/or “throw [insert name] under the bus”.
Retire: “Hug it Out”, “Wait for it…”, “Frontin’”
Hall of Fame for longetivity: “I’ve got your back”
Longetivity?
Our fav’s for the year!!!!
1. HELP ME TOM CRUISE, USE YOUR WITCHCRAFT!!!!! – Will Ferrell, Talladega Nights
2. You Never Go Ass to Mouth – Dante, CLERKS 2
3. That is RIDUNKULOUS!!!! – Seth Cohen, The O.C. (Hey, there’s nothing else to watch this summer, Break out the great shows on DVD!!!)
Fatima thanx, who ever you may be, your comment made my day ; )
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