Linguistics

Yesterday, I realized that we have a real problem on our hands.

Traditionally, hybrids of music genres have been labelled via hyphenated abbreviations of one, or both genres, such as "alt-rock" or "rap-rock." Normally, this is a convenient way of giving the listener a clear grasp of what they're listening to, in case the vocals are no indication.

Unfortunately, with the recent crossover success of country music into the pop charts, it's only a matter of time before a new label will need to be created. Logically, this label would be, "count-pop."

Yeah.

"Count-pop."

Of course, pronounciation-wise, we're not talking the obsessive-compulsive purple muppet here. This is problematic.

I haven't yet decided if this is more problematic than the knowledge that I had this revelation while listening to SheDAISY. It took a lot for me to admit that. SheDAISY. I expect some of you are disavowing all knowledge of me right now. I can't blame you.

To be honest, I don't even know what a SheDAISY is. Is it that important to gender a flower? I know there are only three of them, so it's not a creative arrangement of their initials. It's not really SheDarcyAnnaIngridSarahYolanda. That would be SheD.A.I.S.Y. For those of you who frequent more countrified circles, is there a HeDAISY out there that necessitates this specification? Do the boys listen to HeDAISY, the girls SheDAISY? Should I expect HeBA MCENTIRE down the line?

Seriously though, the point isn't that, from time to time, I might listen to some SheDAISY. The point is that SheDAISY is the problem. They are "count-pop." They necessitated this label. I blame SheDAISY.

So, maybe we need a new way of labelling genre-defying music. We could call it, "Country That Has Unmistakable Lohan Urges." But that would spell CTHULU, and that would be evil. Top 40 radio is evil enough without the addition of CTHULU.

I suppose "pop-country" would be adequate... it's probably already used. The "preferred term," if you will. There's probably no imminent danger of the term "count-pop" being used at any point in the future. Although, if I've thought of it, this might be thought of by someone else as well, with entirely innocent intentions. It might make sense to them. So maybe, in whatever social circle you frequent, if you hear someone say "count-pop," you should say, "hey, are you referring to SheDAISY, or do I need to punch you in the face?"

I'm just sayin'.