Language is constantly growing and evolving. The dictionary chronicles these changes as new words and phrases are continually added. When many people use a word in the same way, over a long enough period of time, that word becomes eligible for inclusion. For September 2022, Merriam-Webster added 370 new words to the dictionary that reflect the times. Some of these words and phrases include “metaverse”, “laggy” and “virtue signaling”. As well as significant Covid-related terms like “false positive” and “booster dose”. Also included in the list is an array of slang like “cringe”, “sus”, “janky”, and “yeet”. The official entry of slang terms into the Merriam-Webster Dictionary marks their legitimacy, but music has been putting them into people’s vocabulary for years.

We should totes make a rad playlist to commemorate the addition of new slang terms in the dictionary, ya dig? For today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs that use slang in the lyrics do you want to hear?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

Songs Played:
The Buckinghams – Kind Of A Drag
Frank Zappa – Valley Girl
Run DMC – Mary, Mary
Marian Hill – Down
Harpers Bizarre – The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)
Young MC – Bust A Move
T. Rex – Rip Off
Isaac Hayes – Theme From Shaft (Bonus Track!)