>Would you like me to spell it out for you?

>

I have become more and more aware that there’s a trend in spelling words out in songs. So now when I’m singing along to songs I get to combine two of my favorite pastimes – singing in the car and practicing for my next spelling bee.

This is a V-E-R-Y exciting trend for those of us who were in fact Spelling Bee champs throughout middle school. (Apparently after that I discovered boys and was far too distracted to “bee” spelling, but up until then I had great potential.)

After some thinking and a quick Google search (notice I didn’t say quick thinking…) I found several of the songs that enhance my spelling skills:

*”Damaged” by Vanity Kane (“Can you fix my H-E-A-R-T? Cause it D-A-M-A-G-E?)
*”Independent” by Webbie, no comment on name (I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T, do you know what that mean?)
*”Fergalicious” by Fergie (no need for explanation here, we have all heard it)
*”Glamorous” by Fergie
*”Bananas” by Gwen Stefani

Fergie has a monopoly so far on this industry with songs such as “Fergalicious” and “Glamorous.” I can’t help but wonder what she’s compensating for, is she awful at geography? Perhaps she is a fellow spelling bee champ and through music found a venue for expressing it. Maybe that’s why she sings, so she can spell…

Could these songs be an attempt to increase national reading level from 5th to 7th? Increase the percentage of Americans who play Scrabble from .002% to .5%? Bring back the glory days of Tori Spelling (lame, I know – I couldn’t resist)? I applaud these artists’ efforts, but wonder if the words they spell are really the ones we want the youth of our country learning. How important is it for little Susie to know “retarded” or “Fergalicious?” On the other hand, most five-year olds need to know “bananas” and “glamorous” for snack time.

The spelling bee champ in me can’t help but be excited for the future of this trend. Parents everywhere will begin learning pig latin or sign language because their 4-year old now knows how to spell “cookie.” Perhaps there will be no room left for words, only a constant stream of letters used for emphasis.

Either way, I think combining spelling and singing deserves R-E-S-P-E-C-T (that spells respect, for those of you who don’t know my dear friend Aretha.)

Today I’m grateful for payday, 80 degree (Farenheit, not Celsius) weather, and sundresses.