Every year at Christmas time, I find myself wanting to edit a few famous lyrics.
Because, come on, folks, if you know “Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen,” and then you’re asked about this other reindeer you may or may not recall, that doesn’t scream famous for that other guy, does it?
I love Rudolph. I love Hermey the elf dentist and the bouncing bumble, and
I especially love when this maybe famous, maybe not little reindeer takes his first flight while yelling, “She said I’m cuuuuuuuuute.” But I think there is a logical issue with the start of this holiday favorite.
If we know everyone’s name except for Rudolph’s, he’s clearly not the most famous of the herd.
Some editors have pet peeves with “flair” vs. “flare,” “dragged” vs. “drug,” or “phrase” vs. “faze” (and I can be one of them), but song lyrics really get me sometimes. I’m no Scrooge with a red pen in my hands—I still sing along—but my holiday spirit falls just a notch.
There are others that get me too.
If Wham! sings that “last year I gave you my heart” and that he is giving it to someone special this year, I feel bad for that someone special. Why isn’t that someone special getting a song rather than last year’s fling? That kind of tells me that last year’s fling is still more special—if there even is someone new that’s special this year. Or is that it? It’s all a ruse? Taylor Swift, your version of this is out now. I expect better things from you.
I could go on, but I won’t. There’s communicating with respect and then there’s just being logical. Aim for both, and let’s try to hold our music to the same standards.
Happy holidays, everyone!
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