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Cool

Cool

This word is used as a term to say so much. It has been with us for decades.





It's interesting how its use in music has developed. Cool Jazz for an example, arose after World War II and responds to bebop but with a mellow groove. It features relaxed tempos and a lighter beat. Then too, there's West Coast Jazz, equally cool...chill music.




From the 80's onward, cool has been incorporated into the names of Hip Hop and Rap artists, such as LL Cool J (see sexy picture above), which sounds a heck of a lot cooler than his given name, James Todd Smith. His wife says LL Cool J stands for Ladies Love Cool James.




The concept of 'cool' is magnified when paired with something we use to beat the heat or just for a beat down in general...





as in the artist and actor pictured above, O'Shea Jackson, Sr, better known as Ice Cube and then there's:





Tracey Lauren Marrow. Oh but you've probably only heard him referred to as:






Not to be spelled the boring old regular way. No. His name is Ice-T.

In the blogosphere, whether or not you care or even know about Cool Jazz, West Coast Cool, Hip Hop or rap artists, many are sure to put the word, connoting all things singular and interesting, within their comments on FaceBook, Twitter and elsewhere. Thinking cool alone is not cool enough or that someone won't get how truly cool they are, we whip out the comforting exclamation point to go along with it.

All well intended, "Cool!" is used as a term of support, affirmation or a way of expressing interest in what has been said. I contend 'cool', given its vernacular use and musical history needs to stand alone, leaving it to enjoy the power its use is destined to connote. Let your cool breathe without embellishment or superfluous punctuation. Cool is just...well, cool.


Notes on my Theme:
This post is written for the 2015 A to Z Challenge. During this challenge, participating bloggers post once a day, in alphabetical order. This is done 6 days per week. Sundays are off. My theme presents words that are exciting. These words serve as thematic motifs in my writing. My theme also revolves around exclamation points. The words I've chosen to explore can replace or stand alone from the dreaded exclamation point, which writers are urged to avoid.

Comments

  1. This was interesting. I learned a lot about cool culture. Thanks.

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  2. Haha, this was great! And makes me think of Abed from Community. "Cool. Cool, cool, cool."

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    1. Took me a while to understand. I guess that might qualify for overuse, though funny at the same time. I'll have to tune in, so I get it.

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  3. WoW! I love how u made it super cool. It's a word that I use almost every time in conversation. Such a relatable post:)

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  4. Cool blog. I know those names but don't know anything about their music.

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    Replies
    1. Jo, in some cases for the better, LOL. Thanks for stopping in today.

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  5. it is lovely to cool down on a hot day - intriguiging word for day C

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  6. What a fun word! I love all the people you chose to feature as well. Great post! If you have time you should stop by and check out my C post.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Lisa. I did stop over to read your C post and other posts. I'm following you now on various platforms and joined your blog. Thanks for stopping by.

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  7. The Japanese language has borrowed the word 'cool' from English, and we have a TV program titled 'Cool Japan', which features unique culture of our country.
    Your theme for the A to Z Challenge is great.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Romi. I am really enjoying learning Japanese through your A to Z posts as well.

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  8. Great post! I've always wondered how cool got to be a compliment. I also didn't know there was a rapper named Ice-T. . . the non-regular non-boring spelling still doesn't make it that great. ;)

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  9. Miles Davis - beyond cool. Super coolth! Your use of the word is uber cool thanks Stephanie!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Susan. Yes Miles Davis is in a class by himself.

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  10. Very interesting. (The parts I can see, anyway. The gray on the colorful background gave my eyes a bit of trouble. Sorry.) But I love the images. Some serious cool going on here!

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