Stupid Superstar Nicknames

Macca, Moz, Madge, Mimi, Jacko, 'Ye -- I fucking hate these. They make me cringe every time I read them. I'm not even sure why. Wonder if I'm alone in that.

Fwiw, Ye calls himself Ye and Mimi calls herself Mimi, so I don't see how those are objectionable

I dunno. Think it has something to do with people using them pretending they're "close" to the superstars by using them, too. Seems like such bullshit to me -- If you're gonna come up with a retarded nickname for a superstar, at least come up with a new one on your own. But probably I'm wrong.

Why do Springsteen's fans think a working-class hero would appreciate being called "The Boss"?

to SMASH HITS readers of a certain age he will always be "fab macca wacky thumbs aloft"

Think it has something to do with people using them pretending they're "close" to the superstars by using them

More like taking them down a peg. 'Madge' especially.

"Kells" is good though

More like taking them down a peg

Yeah totally. Doesn't Jacko come directly from Wacko Jacko? Or was he called Jacko by the media before that era?

the desire to "take them down a peg" is so pathetic. and so british. "madge" is more affectionate than that tho.

Uh, wouldn't using actually original, funny, creatively insulting names maybe take them down TWO pegs? These just seem totally lazy, like you want to be "in the know" or something.

OTOH I've been known to use "the Coug" and "the Nuge" (not to mention "Deadly Tedly" and "the Atrocious Theodocious"), so who the hell am I to talk? (Still can't stand "Kells" though, sorry.)

I agree that these sort of "palsy" nicknames are irritating, because you're not pals with these stars. However, I've always liked nicknames that are even more formal than the artist's official name, like "His Royal Purpleness".

The names aren't trying to suggest that one is pals with them, but rather that they're not some remote uberbeings. It's a humanising device.

Actually, duh -- not sure why this didn't occur to me before -- most of these dumb names were probably popularized or maybe even invented by editors trying to save characters while writing headlines. (They're all really short.) Which I relate to, having written thousands of headlines myself for over a decade. Don't think I ever resorted to using any of these -- though I might, if a hilarious pun was possible.

The Spice Girls are an interesting example of this because it really worked in their favour and helped to sell them to the public (assuming that their nicknames were a press invention).

Pretty sure Spice Girl nicks were inventions of their own PR.

What about band nicknames (The Fab Four) or nicknames for fractions of a band (the Glimmer Twins)?

i used to like on t.v. newscasts when they would have a Madonna story and the newscaster would say something like: "Well, it looks like The Material Girl is at it again..."

just the thought that an entire nation knew someone named "The Material Girl" was kinda cool.

I hate "The Mats." What's wrong with The Replacements?

And any initial/first syllable of last name drives me insane. J Lo, A-Rod...barf out.

The only time it's appropriate is when referring to Sterling Morrison as Stermo.

I've always hated The Mats too.