“Blah, blah, blah” vs. “yada, yada, yada”

By Tom Quiner

“Blah, blah, blah” was really the headline on the Drudge Report on this Saturday afternoon.

I clicked the link to see what the story with a headline of “Blah, blah, blah” could be about.

It’s about Jeb Bush’s floundering campaign for the presidency. When pressed about his staff cuts and diminishing fundraising prowess, Jeb responded:

“Blah, blah, blah. That’s my answer — blah, blah, blah.”

In a way, I kind of find it refreshing. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I’m a throwback to another era. You see, the term “blah, blah, blah” was THE definitive expression to express nothing and everything in three concise words.

And then along came the Seinfeld Show and “blah, blah, blah” was preempted by “yada, yada, yada” and that upstart phrase has reigned supreme ever since.

And then along came the Drudge Report and Jeb Bush to resurrect blah, blah, blah.

You know, for the first time, I’m starting to warm up to Jeb!

Blah, blah, blah is a throwback to a simpler, cleaner era. The great song lyricist Ira Gershwin used the phrase in the song on which he collaborated with his brother George. Here are his lyrics:

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH

I’ve written you a song

A beautiful routine I hope you like it.

My technique can’t be wrong

I learned it from the screen I hope you like it.

I studied all that rhymes that all the lovers sing

And just for you I wrote this little thing…

Blah blah blah blah moon

Blah blah blah above

Blah blah blah blah croon

Blah blah blah above.

Tra la la la, tra la la la, la, merry month of May

Tra la la la, tra la la la, la, ‘neath a cloud of grey.

Blah blah blah blah blah blah your hair

Blah blah blah your eyes

Blah blah blah blah care

Bla blah blah blah skies.

Tra la la la, tra la la la, la, cottage for two

Blah blah blah blah blah blah darling with you.

Blah blah blah, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah… (fade to end)

You can watch the song performed above.

And you can watch the birth of the phrase “yada, yada, yada” in the Seinfeld clip below.

Quiner’s Diner is officially taking a stand for the culture to once again embrace “blah, blah, blah” and jettison “yada, yada, yada” from our cultural lexicon.

Will you join me?