Finding the perfect word

Too many shadows, whispering voices; faces on posters, too many choices… Your brain will probably help you fill in the rest. Whether you’re a Pet Shop Boys fan or not, their songs provide that perfect example of how language can capture attention. Neil Tennant’s ‘One Hundred Lyrics and a Poem’, compiles over four decades of his lyric writing into this alphabetised collection.

The book chronicles a vast landscape of modern life, from romance and break-ups to politics and pain, often with a recognisably British character that is restrained, occasionally satirical, yet also yearns for escape. Crucially, each lyric is contextualised by Tennant’s personal commentary, offering unique insights into his writing process.

In his introduction, he shares a thoughtful insight: ‘the sound of words is sometimes more important than the sense of them’. This quote highlights that the musicality or feel of language – its rhythm, alliteration, and overall flow – can convey emotion, establish tone, and create memorability far more effectively than literal meaning alone.

Tennant’s decision to publish these lyrics as a standalone work elevates the art of lyric writing, asserting its literary value beyond just musical context, and implicitly suggests that pop songs are, in essence, modern poems. This is a powerful observation given that millions of us enjoy pop songs but shy away from formal poetry.

Across his extensive career, Tennant’s lyrics consistently tell compelling narratives, underscoring that regardless of the medium, strong storytelling is fundamental to engaging and retaining an audience …if, when, why, what, how much have you got?

Follow this link to see the book

Considering the latest statistics show that 93% of UK households own a microwave, it’s fair to assume that most of us are familiar with the word and know how to pronounce it. Yet, in December 2020, during an episode of her BBC2 series ‘Cook, Eat, Repeat’, Nigella Lawson famously pronounced ‘microwave’ as ‘mee-krow-wah-vay’ while preparing mashed potatoes.

This unusual pronunciation quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread amusement and debate, with many fans adopting the new pronunciation. Lawson later clarified that she does indeed say it that way at home, describing it as a ‘family joke’ that had simply become a habit.

The clip was widely shared, becoming a ‘defining moment of 2020’, and led to many people reaching out to her to share their own family’s unique mispronunciations of words. Nigella’s moment wasn’t a calculated PR stunt; it was a genuine habit she brought directly from her home life. This authentic, unscripted word created a huge wave of organic conversation, memes, and social media engagement.

It powerfully demonstrates how true authenticity – even if it’s a bit unconventional – can be incredibly memorable and endearing for a brand. Such genuine quirks create a human connection that meticulously crafted, ‘perfect’ messaging often misses, proving that sometimes the ‘imperfect’ is far more effective for fostering genuine engagement. The imperfect word may sometimes be perfect.

See Nigella’s unique pronunciation here

Image © Zoshua Colah

The perfect ‘word’ isn't always a word at all, and no one understood that better than Joey Tribbiani from Friends with his famously inventive Italian gestures. This concept, that communication extends far beyond vocabulary, is explored in Bruno Munari’s ‘Speak Italian: The Fine Art of the Gesture’, a fascinating book from our studio shelves that first appeared in 1958.

Munari, an internationally acclaimed artist and designer, created this quirky handbook to document and decipher the rich, unspoken language of Italian gestures. He was driven by the realisation that this crucial aspect of Italian communication wasn’t found in any traditional dictionary. The book, often referred to as a “Supplement to the Italian Dictionary”, uses charming black-and-white photos and wry captions to help readers understand these essential non-verbal cues.

What Munari’s work profoundly illustrates is how communication extends beyond verbal expression. Just as with formal sign languages, Italian gestures convey nuanced meanings, emotions, and intentions that spoken words alone might struggle to express effectively or succinctly. His book acts as a powerful reminder that true understanding often requires deciphering layers of meaning beyond just vocabulary.

These gestures are organic and deeply ingrained in Italian culture, resonating precisely because of their authenticity. It’s also fascinating to see how some gestures, while rooted in Italian culture, have universal resonance, reminding us of the non-verbal cues we've all adopted that simply work. The ability of a well-placed gesture to communicate a complex idea or emotion instantly, transcending linguistic barriers, offers a potent insight into the power of concise, impactful communication.

See Mr Porter’s interpretation of Munari’s book here

Image © Mika Baumeister