X is the Y of Z

“X is the Y of Z” is a snowclone–an adaptable, Mad Libs-like idiom like “May I compare thee to an X?”, “X is the new Y,” and “I for one welcome our new X overlords.” This snowclone touches on every subject imaginable, including music. So without further adieu, today’s topic is…

Keith Moon

If, like me, you’re still trying to douse your mind with brain bleach, in hopes of blocking out the memory of “The Who” (quotation marks very intentional) turning the Super Bowl halftime show into a Grandpa Simpson impersonator contest, you may find relief in recalling Keith Moon, The Who’s long-dead, ultra-awesome drummer.

Moon was so memorable that his name still resonates as a metaphor for insane energy, out-of-bounds exuberance, and Olympian talent. The words of this anonymous writer have gone totally unheeded: “You can’t call yourself ‘the Keith Moon’ of anything until you’ve driven a Rolls-Royce into a swimming pool.” (May 1, 2008, Douglas Adams Continuum)

I wish I could verify Moon’s magic personally, but I only saw “The Who” live in 1989, a decade after his death. Sigh. Even then they were sixteen miles past washed up. Double sigh.

“The American political, academic, and media establishment has long been beating the drums of war with Iran and, as the author of The New York Times’ lates OpEd encouraging the US bombing of that country, University of Texas professor Alan J. Kuperman has now emerged as the Keith Moon of sensational jingoism and, considering his concept of reality, morality, and legality, is probably twice as crazy.

(Dec. 31, 2009, Nima Shirazi, OEN)

“He wants to be the Keith Moon of toilet drums….”

(Nov. 25, 2009, Gianteye’s Posterous)

“drew42e My 15 month old is like the Keith Moon of toddlers. Every night we go to bed the house looks like a Holiday Inn on the Who’s first US tour.”

(June 19, 2009, The Popcorn Trick)

“I believe Animal is the Keith Moon of the Muppet world. Neither Jim Henson nor anyone else related to the Muppets has ever claimed a particular drummer as the inspiration, but since each of the other members is obviously based upon a particular jazz or rock musician, it stands to reason that Animal is too.”

(June 5, 2009, Orthodox Christianity)

“Caravaggio was the Keith Moon of the Italian art world. He ran with some pretty interesting crowds, including the Velvet Mafia within the Vatican and the Knights of Malta. He also was accused of murder and had a knack for fisticuffs.”

(March 25, 2009, Christopher Knowles, The Secret Sun)

“Oxford grads are baaad. Blawg Review #166, hosted this week by the Keith Moon of legal blogs, got noticed. Nothing sacred; no one spared.”

(July 2, 2008, Holden Oliver, What About Paris?)

“Dimitri Cohen-Tanugi’s animated short in which the Keith Moon of suicidal kittens racks up the damage while trying to bump himself off. Another great bit of toonage coming from the amazing Supinfocom of France.”

(May 17, 2006, Screenhead)

“I unsheathed my chopsticks with a flourish that instantly won the respect of everyone around me. I attacked my sushi with relish, tossing my chopsticks into the air between bites. The chopsticks would make one, two, three complete revolutions and drop back into my waiting fingers with astounding precision. Without missing a beat, I would convey another slablet of Osakan sushi into my mouth and, once again, fling the chopsticks into the air. By the time I had finished my first order, the entire restaurant was on its feet giving me a standing ovation. I smiled modestly and bowed. It’s not for nothing they call me the Keith Moon of Chopstick Users.”

(May 29, 2001, Ivan Davidoff, rec.arts.tv.uk.eastenders)

Mark Peters is a language columnist and humorist who writes for Good, Visual Thesaurus and other mags, while maintaining too many blogs, including Wordlustitude, The Rosa Parks of Blogs, and The Pancake Proverbs.

No Comments »