A compliment - it's all in the translation

Don R Brown · Post by **Don R Brown** » 25 May 2015 2:49 pm

Late last summer, forum member Zeke Cory invited me to attend a 3-day country music jam at a western NY campground. I went - my first time playing with live musicians and an audience - and loved it. I have been back a couple times since.

Yesterday I went for their "season opener". Afterward, I was talking to a young guitar player, whose brother was one of the drummers. (Yup - young guys in their 20's who enjoy "real" country music!). The guy remarked "We have video of you playing this one song last fall, and you were bad."

I honestly was not the least bit offended. I know I'm a newbie, I know I have a long way to go, and playing as much as possible is the only way to improve. I'll admit I was HOPING his next words would be "but you sounded better today."

Just then his brother came by, and the first guy said he was telling me about the video. The brother said "Oh yeah, you were bad-a$$ on that song! We heard the steel, thought it was one of the regular steel guys, re-wound it, and you were the only steel player on stage." Even this old guy quickly figured out "bad" was short for "bad a$$" which means "good". So leaving aside my wife, and an occasional pat on the back from one of my steel mentors, there's my first unbiased compliment. Which motivates me to try even harder. (I've got to get a copy of that video so I can see what it was that I did right.)

One slight problem - as I was getting into my truck, one of the other musicians said "you did good today". All the way home, I was wondering which way I should interpret "good"!

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 25 May 2015 4:27 pm

Hey Don,

It's all "good" if you had fun. I think you must have impressed them, or they would have said nothing. I'm sure you must have got their attention since both guys commented. I'm glad to see you playing out with bands. Your hard work and dedication is paying off. It's good to hear that there's some younger guys that are interested in traditional country.... if you have any extras, send them down here.

RC

Don R Brown · Post by **Don R Brown** » 25 May 2015 4:46 pm

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Rick! We've got to plan another trip to your neck of the woods, had such a great time New Years and hope to do it again. And don't worry, I won't be taking your job away from you any time soon!

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 25 May 2015 5:33 pm

that's a funny story, don. i was feeling bad for you til it took a turn for the better. ha ha.
just keep doing it. it keeps getting better.
and it does help when someone you don't know likes what you did.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 25 May 2015 6:28 pm

That's sick!

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 26 May 2015 7:45 am

In our neck of the woods, if it's followed by "Dude", "You were BAD" generally means "good". If there's no "dude" involved, I have to listen a bit harder for context.

Funny, in my day, the modifier was "man". And although I would never tell anyone, I remember actually using the word "groovy". Oops...

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 26 May 2015 7:57 am

It's funny how jive talk has become part of the vernacular.

"They say that cat Shaft is a bad mother--" "Shut your mouth!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrZlWw8Di10

Don R Brown · Post by **Don R Brown** » 26 May 2015 9:10 am

Yup - Groovy was big for a while. Anything worthy of serious contemplation was "heavy!". And yes, b0b, I have heard "sick" in today's terms as well.

Sock it to me!

Lindell Thomas · Post by **Lindell Thomas** » 26 May 2015 11:17 am

Guess I'm older than some....I even remember hearing, "that was swell, or man, that was peachy keen or that really moved me. I'm 71, but new at steel too, so the measure of proficiency on my part is whether they ask me not to bring it back....so far I've either been in the midst of far too courteous or less than honest people, or my playing hasn't been that "bad...." as defined originally. I think it's funny that the meaning of cool hasn't changed all that much, but it's spelling is sometimes kewl.......

G Strout · Post by **G Strout** » 26 May 2015 12:07 pm

I spent some time in the Boston area years ago and if my memory serves, I was complimented using the phrase:
Man you were "wicked pissah!!"
Huh?? $:\$

Don R Brown · Post by **Don R Brown** » 26 May 2015 1:19 pm

Lindell Thomas wrote: I think it's funny that the meaning of cool hasn't changed all that much, but it's spelling is sometimes kewl.......

Be careful. If you approach a woman and say "How cool you look!". she will be pleased. If you word it "You don't look so hot.", watch out!

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 26 May 2015 2:53 pm

What about "phat?" What's that supposed to mean?

(I know all to well what the other spelling of the word means.

)

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 27 May 2015 3:17 am

How about .... "hell of a job" ...?

Floyd Lowery · Post by **Floyd Lowery** » 27 May 2015 4:35 am

The so called compliment I used to hate to hear was You play pretty good. Pretty Good ?

Yuck

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 27 May 2015 5:13 am

I tell people that I always wanted to play guitar in the worst way... and now I do!

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 27 May 2015 7:53 am

What about "phat?" What's that supposed to mean?

Basically, it's a good thing.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/phat

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 27 May 2015 8:40 am

Thanks Barry.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 27 May 2015 9:16 am

Jim Cohen wrote:I tell people that I always wanted to play guitar in the worst way... and now I do!

That's dope!

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 27 May 2015 9:44 am

Just last week I looked a guitar player (that played wrong chords all night) right in the face at the end of our gig, and said... "That was fun as Hell!".

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 29 May 2015 10:09 am

b0b wrote:That's sick!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 29 May 2015 10:27 am

Pete Burak wrote:Just last week I looked a guitar player (that played wrong chords all night) right in the face at the end of our gig, and said... "That was fun as Hell!".

You could have said: "Hey, I really like what you were trying to play."

Jim Means · Post by **Jim Means** » 29 May 2015 11:03 am

And let's not forget "far out" and "out of sight".
"Man" have times changed!

Old Jim in Missouri

Ron Brennan · Post by **Ron Brennan** » 30 May 2015 6:55 am

Don't know if I liked this one?

"Man, you were a Hoot"

Another is......."Wow, that was Boss" TX

Rgds,

Ron