When I told Saresh our blog’s tagline, “You Say Potato, I Say Rice… Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” I was greeted with a blank stare. I said, “It’s so funny! Don’t you think it’s funny?” He didn’t get it at all. I thought about this, and in case there are a bunch of readers who think we’re just nuts:

 

Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” is a song written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin for the 1937 film Shall We Dance where it was introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as part of a celebrated dance duet on roller skates. The song is most famous for its “you say tomayto and I like tomahto” and other verses comparing their different regional dialects.

The song was ranked #34 on AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Songs.

 

Chinese Ambassador came up with the snappy tagline, and I thought it was perfect! I happen to love musicals. I used to play violin in the orchestra pit for quite a few musicals (can’t sing or dance, so was relegated to the pit). I happily sat and played the same tunes, night after night (except for South Pacific. I hate that one). The Gershwins are geniuses – musical gods. I’ve wanted many times to swirl around in a swingy skirt with a dapper partner, dancing on air to a medley of Gershwin tunes. Mr. Holland’s Opus makes me cry like a baby. And who doesn’t like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers?

Saresh – that’s who. He finds musicals bizarre and well… ridiculous. He thinks they’re unrealistic (well, of course!) and on the rare occasion he watches one with me, it’s with a pained face, as if he’s chewing aspirin. He was somewhat appalled in high school when the drama teacher told him he’d be perfect to play in The King and I. I think he should have been flattered, because the King has always been played by hot guys.

Anyway, his failure to get our tagline may result from immigrating from India, or his lack of appreciation for the fine art of a good song and dance number. I think it’s the latter though, given the propensity of Indian films to break into song and dance regularly. If possible, they’re a more giddy version of U.S. musicals – like The Sound of Music on amphetamines. Either way, I thought I’d throw out the background of the tagline – just in case.