Cross-posting a query (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Mullins, Bill AMRDEC]

Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

'Bruuuuce! Bruuuuce!'
Washington Post, The (DC) - August 13, 1978
Author: Eve Zibart p. H2

[article about Bruce Springsteen, quoting him]
" "I've never understood how some people can just detach themselves from
the music. If it's not real" - by which he means cathartic - "I think
that in the long run, it won't hang on. I don't see anything wrong with
being a 40-year-old rock 'n' roller if you keep it real for yourself." "



> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society
> [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Baker, John
> Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2008 7:35 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: Cross-posting a query
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Baker, John" <JMB at STRADLEY.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Cross-posting a query
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------
>
> It seems to come from the performing arts; I suspect the
> origin was = theatre, although for some years I believe it's
> been more associated = with music.  As for what it means,
> I've never been quite sure, although = my first example may
> provide a hint.
> =20
> =20
> New York Times (7/12/1981) (Westlaw):  Jack Lemmon has been
> showing = directors and audiences for more than 30 years, and
> they have usually = believed him. "He has that very fortunate
> Mr. Everyman face and it's = very difficult not to believe
> him," said Stuart Rosenberg, who directed = Lemmon in "The
> April Fools." "He can keep it real, as opposed to = theatrical."
> =20
> Sacramento Bee (2/2/1986) (Westlaw):  'It's the last
> waterfront = community on the bay where you can fish, and
> it's nice to walk your dog = on the beach,' Arneson said.
> 'We're trying to preserve it. We don't want = to turn it into
> glitz or a little Jack London Square or Fisherman's = Wharf.
> But how do you keep it real?'
> =20
> Orlando Sentinel (4/28/1986) (Westlaw):  JAY LENO:  'KEEP IT
> REAL' . . . = ''Nothing can be funny if you don't have a
> basic normality to come away = from. If they don't buy the
> premise, they don't buy the joke.''  = [discussion of the
> "rules" for comedy] =20 Philadelphia Inquirer (2/6/1987)
> (Westlaw):  Before the populist [Joan = Jett] swoops off to
> her next campaign stop, she utters a phrase that = could be
> her slogan, pointing her finger in emphasis: "It's important
> to = keep it real."
> =20
> =20
> Joan Jett's 1987 usage is the kind we now think of.  I'm not
> certain if = we should think of the 2/2/1986 example from the
> Sacramento Bee as the = same usage, or just the literal
> meaning of "real."
> =20
> =20
> John Baker
> =20
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: American Dialect Society on behalf of Laurence Horn
> Sent: Sat 7/12/2008 11:53 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Cross-posting a query
>
>
>
> I'm sure someone here can antedate "keep it real" beyond the
> Seinfeld death by licking-poisoned-
> cut-rate-wedding-invitation-envelope
> episode.  I can post the appropriate antedate on GALA-L, with
> credit, for Prof. Colvin.
>
> LH
>
> >Date:         Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:53:13 +0900
> >Sender: International Gender and Language Association
> ><GALA-L at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG>
> >From: "Robert O'Mochain" <omochain at LANG.OSAKA-U.AC.JP>
> >Subject: Re: [GALA-L] "keep it real"
> >
> >Dear Sarah Colvin,
> >
> >I first heard that expression on an episode of "Seinfeld" (probably =
> 1997).
> >In the context of the storyline it seems funny on the lips of the =
> character,
> >Costanza, because he uses it to say goodbye to the parents of his =
> former
> >finance. They seem too old and high class for that phrase;
> it seems too
> >casual in the context because of the serious tone involved with the =
> parents
> >(he was partly responsible for the death of their daughter); and =
> finally,
> >because the character in the show often lies to this couple
> (and often
> >=
> lies
> >in general) so the implication of authenticity in "Keep it
> real," seems
> >incongruous coming from "Costanza".
> >
> >Hope this helps (if only a little!)
> >
> >Robert O'Mochain.
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: International Gender and Language Association
> >[mailto:GALA-L at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG] On Behalf Of Sarah Colvin
> >Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 10:24 PM
> >To: GALA-L at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG
> >Subject: [GALA-L] "keep it real"
> >
> >
> >Can anybody give me a reference or advise me re. the
> history, use, and
> >meaning of the phrase "keep it real"?
> >Thanks,
> >Sarah Colvin
> >
> >Professor Sarah Colvin
> >University of Edinburgh
> >David Hume Tower
> >George Square
> >Edinburgh EH8 9JX
> >Tel. ++ 131 650 3630
> >email: sarah.colvin at ed.ac.uk
> >
> >
> >
> >--
> >The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in
> >Scotland, with registration number SC005336.
>
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Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

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