![]() When Christianity came along, it co-opted the “x.” “In Christian texts, one abbreviation of the Greek word Christos-meaning messiah-used the first two Greek letters of Christos, chi (X) and rho (P), combined into one shape,” says Stephen Goranson, a historian of religion at Duke University who studies the etymology of symbols and words. A simple, easily drawn shape, it entered the Western alphabet as the ancient Phoenician letter samekh for the consonant sound “s.” In early Hebrew it was the letter taw and makes an appearance in the Book of Ezekiel as a mark set “upon the foreheads” to distinguish the good men of Jerusalem from the bad. Then there were auditoryĪssociations such as the similarity in the pronunciation of “x” and “kiss.” But it very quickly became apparent that x most likely evolved from the written tradition. I found visual explanations: that “x” resembles a kiss “o” looks like an embrace and together “x” and “o” form a kiss on a face. The Internet abounds with origin theories of all kinds. Suddenly I became curious about where these symbols come from, these ur-emoticons that English speakers of all faiths sprinkle so liberally across our correspondence. I never thought about it myself until she passed away in 2012 and I began to emit streams of “x’s” and “o’s” like a binary love code in the countless personal and professional emails that consume much of my daily life. So deeply embedded was this English-language tradition that I am sure it never crossed her mind-she was a proper Jewish mom as well as the executive director of the Jewish Community Center-that the “x” might have anything to do with a cross. ![]() Yet at the same time, my mother taught me to write “x” and “o”-a kiss and a hug-after my signature. My father transformed the expression “cross your fingers” into “star your fingers” because, as he used to explain, crosses are Christian and thus not for Jews. Loretta Lynn – Happy BirthdayĪnother birthday song with a sting in the tale, on “Happy Birthday,” country legend Loretta Lynn wishes a happy birthday and also a fond farewell to an ex-beau.I grew up in a family wary of anything overtly Christian. Sentimental, yet passionate song of celebration from the much-celebrated “American Pie” hit-maker. The bird and the bee employ slick electropop for this lovely, personal birthday song that crescendos with, “I will love you on your birthday/I will love you better than them.” Don McLean – Birthday Song Her best is the inspirational ode, “Never Grow Up.” the bird and the bee – Birthday Sample lyric: “Hope I didn’t spoil your birthday, I’m not acting like a lady/So I’ll close this note to you with good luck and wishes too.” Taylor Swift – Never Grow UpĪny great singer-songwriter has plenty to say about aging and birthdays. This tune is a melancholic break-up song, sung from the vantage point of someone writing a note to their former significant other. Holidays and special days are the hardest for the broken-hearted. The Tune Weavers – Happy, Happy Birthday Baby For someone trying to send a heartfelt birthday message, it works every time. Rascal Flatts’ “My Wish For You” can be used for just about any special occasion, given the general nature of its inspirational lyrics. ![]() Drake – Ratchet Happy Birthdayĭrake knew that opening a song with the line “It’s your f-in’ birthday/It’s a f-in’ celebration” was going to get a bit of attention. The Smiths – Unhappy BirthdayĪnother one from the dark side of the birthday moon, Morrissey comes to wish you many miserable returns on your special day. Strangely, only a bonus track from Madonna’s MDNA, yet this exuberant track is perfect for a birthday celebration of any age. Party planners were reputedly hired to help produce the video for this Top 40 hit from Katy Perry’s Prism album wherein viewers are treated to a number of creative birthday cakes throughout. If your Johnny left with a Judy, you should feel free to cry. OK, “It’s My Party” does admittedly examine a more melancholic side of what should be a special day but hey, it’s still a great song and it is your party, after all. Neil Sedaka had his own rendition for 16th birthday celebrations called “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen,” but the most popular one of that era for this age group was “16 Candles,” a tune that later went on to become the title song of the 1984 John Hughes film. Sweet 16 is still an important milestone today, but it was an especially big deal in the 1950s and 60s. It also featured in the quintessential birthday movie Sixteen Candles and was covered rather memorably by The Ting Tings on Yo Gabba Gabba. This Scottish new wave band’s biggest hit from 1981 is still as bouncy, carefree, and celebratory as birthday songs come. Click to load video Altered Images – Happy Birthday
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |