Name dropping in novels:
I was chastised for comparing my current naughty, kick-ass heroine to a young Doris Day (physically although my character has an inner good girl wanting to come out) in my latest WIP.
Many readers weren't born when Doris sang and acted her way into our hearts. Does this mean we should dumb down to our larger audience? No. Keep it spar, of course. It's one thing to reference, but turning your contemporary novel into an historical treasure hunt puts the reader off focus and seeking Google or Bing if they continue to read at all.
Why are young men singing about a still lovely 57 year old actress?
MICHELLE PFEIFFER.
Michelle is one of the most beautiful actresses to ever grace the silver screen and the idea of challenging your audience and/or paying homage to a striking woman seems obvious.
There are other theories.
Blog 97ZOK presents two:
"No person’s name has been mentioned this many times in music since Jason Derulo couldn’t stop saying his own in 2011.
Riptide by Vance Joy 2013 Pfeiffer's name drop at 2:12 evokes obsession:
I was chastised for comparing my current naughty, kick-ass heroine to a young Doris Day (physically although my character has an inner good girl wanting to come out) in my latest WIP.
Many readers weren't born when Doris sang and acted her way into our hearts. Does this mean we should dumb down to our larger audience? No. Keep it spar, of course. It's one thing to reference, but turning your contemporary novel into an historical treasure hunt puts the reader off focus and seeking Google or Bing if they continue to read at all.
Why are young men singing about a still lovely 57 year old actress?
MICHELLE PFEIFFER.
Michelle is one of the most beautiful actresses to ever grace the silver screen and the idea of challenging your audience and/or paying homage to a striking woman seems obvious.
There are other theories.
Blog 97ZOK presents two:
"No person’s name has been mentioned this many times in music since Jason Derulo couldn’t stop saying his own in 2011.
Michelle
Pfeiffer isn’t promoting any movies at the moment, so why does she seem to be
the ‘Pop Music Muse of the Moment.’ Here’s why.
Let’s
start with “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars (‘Pfeiffer
drop’ at :17)
"“This
hit, that ice cold… Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold.”
"There
are two reasons for this particular name-dropping. The first one comes from NationalAve.com:
…
a reference to a religious movement growing rapidly in the music industry: Pfeifferism. [This movement along with the Flat Earth society will get you a cup of coffee.]
For those who aren’t in the know, Pfeiffer is a religious practice that entails
worshipping the Almighty White Fox, Michelle Pfeiffer – star of such Hollywood
hits as Batman Returns, Scarface, and Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon
Queen. While it is unclear how this movement started, many point to Pfeiffer’s
“Most Desirable Female” MTV Movie Award nomination as the true beginning of the
Pfeifferism movement.
…
and the second reason comes from USA Today:
…
seems to be describing Pfeiffer’s feisty Elvira Hancock from “Scarface.” By
“white gold” could they mean cocaine? Would make sense, considering Hancock’s a
drug addict.
"The
second ‘Pfeiffer’ name-dropping comes from “Riptide” by Vance Joy who’s opening
for Taylor Swift’s World Tour. (‘Pfeiffer drop’ at 2:12)
…
“Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you’ve ever seen.”
Vance
Joy told Buzzed that his ‘Pfeiffer dropping’ was inspired by her Catwoman
character in “Batman Returns” and specifically THIS scene.
Catwoman
comes back to her apartment after being thrown out the window by Christopher
Walken and she goes mental. Her apartment’s all pink and beautiful, and kind of
creepy and infantile, then she just smashes it all up and spray paints stuff
and transforms into Catwoman. It’s this really kind of sexual scene; it’s
amazing."
RWR: Okay, interesting ideas, but after reviewing the two songs' videos and lyrics it's predominately obvious to me that the men idolize women and in particular, Michelle Pfeiffer.
RWR: Okay, interesting ideas, but after reviewing the two songs' videos and lyrics it's predominately obvious to me that the men idolize women and in particular, Michelle Pfeiffer.
Riptide by Vance Joy 2013 Pfeiffer's name drop at 2:12 evokes obsession:
Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars (‘Pfeiffer's name drop’ at :17). Compare to: Standing on a Corner, Watching all the Girls Go by for intent:
Bob: I agree. Michelle Pfeiffer is one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood. But I'm also a Doris Day fan. By the way, the song you refer to "Standing on the Corner," is from a Broadway musical of 1956, and the line is, "Watching all the girls go (not "walk") by." It's from THE MOST HAPPY FELLA, with both words and music by Frank Loesser. There are several other great songs from that show, especially, "Joey, Joey," "The Big D," and :My Heart is so Full of You." Loesser was a remarkable composer, providing both music and lyrics. He also wrote GUYS AND DOLLS, which I consider second only to MY FAIR LADY in "Songs you leave the theatre singing." Yes, I'm old, but where are composers like that now?
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