Photo: danmachold

Why would Sir-Mix-A-Lot need to clarify that he's not lying about his affinity for big butts? It's not as if "Baby Got Back" — his 1993 Grammy award-winning anthem for women with curves — is so ambiguous we might not otherwise know he's sincere.

"I like big butts," he states firmly as the song's thesis. We know his point of view practically before the music starts.

If he were writing an essay, an editor would tell him to end the sentence right there — that it's not necessary to qualify such a bold statement with a gratuitous, "and I cannot lie."

If he were writing a blog, a self-made social media guru might tell him not to worry so much about proofreaders' marks. The important success factor is finding a niche.

"You're the Big Butt Guy," a savvy advisor might point out. "Brand yourself and stay on topic. You'll find the audience seeking your particular expertise."

This is very good advice for anyone into online publishing. Like the radio station I heard that song on yesterday, a successful blog needs a consistent format. I know that as a blogger, I am Program Director of the tunes played on this URL "station." I also know from working in radio that no PD worth her salt would figure it out as she goes along.

Yet I still struggle with this. My inner dialog goes something like this...

This blog is a forum for philosophical questions about seventeen year-old hip-hop songs and explorations of other randomly fired synapses in my head.

... But I should write something that's more of a professional showcase
... But I like to write about travel
... But I spend more time reading about media
... But I should be a citizen journalist and write something newsworthy instead
... But I like to indulge my inner seventh-grader
... But I should use my voice to somehow help others or make the world a better place

Yep. You see this coming:

I like big buts, and I cannot lie.

This begs the question: Why do I feel the need to clarify that I'm not lying about my affinity for big buts? It's not as if "Baby Got Blog" — the 2010 unofficial and spontaneously coined tag line for this forum — is so specific that you might not otherwise know it doesn't fit a niche. Perhaps I am compelled by the fact that I've seen a number of job postings recently that call for a content creator with a range of voice.

I did not mention Sir-Mix-A-Lot in my cover letters. Or my role as "Program Director" for this personal URL. But it makes me feel better about playing a different kind of music, if you will, from day to day. Just as Sir-Mix-A-Lot proves his thesis statement with overt song lyrics, I'll prove mine with blatant self-promotion. (Come on, you would have to expect some kind of pandering from a person who finds inspiration in songs about butts.) What kind of music do you like?

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	SHOW TUNES Sing It With Me Now: "But I Did Not Shoot No Dep-u-ty" For a few years when I was in college, I taught tap and jazz classes to little girls. I wasn't particularly good at the dancing — sure, I could clap on beat and do a mean twirl. But I knew how to count music like an expert — and more importantly — was a really excellent role model for the kids. "And a kick... and a turn... and a shake, shake, shake!"  << CONTINUE >>