Pop-punk band Blink-182 has existed since 1992, which makes the fact that people still can’t agree on the correct pronunciation of their name, all the more amusing. Is is Blink one-eighty-two? Could it be Blink one-eight-two? It turns out that we’re all probably wrong.
The ruckus started with a “battle” of sorts on Twitter, where The Late Late Show host James Corden responded to comedian Ian Carmel in a humorous fashion, and then all hell broke loose as Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and many more weighed in on the correct way (or not) to pronounce the band name.
https://twitter.com/IanKarmel/status/1064307305267683328
Interestingly, Ed Perch (a Watford supporter, cheers mate!) has informed us on the proper linguistic way (in British English, of course) to pronounce the name:
If it’s a number it’s one hundred and eighty two, if it’s figures it’s one eight two.
It’s actually— Blink eighteen-two. People have all gotten this wrong for years. Sometimes this can happen with very complex, thoughtful and elevated art. https://t.co/jmsfv401KF
— Tom DeLonge (@tomdelonge) November 19, 2018
One eighty two just doesn’t exist as an entity in the English language, fam.
— Noted Linguist Ed Perchard (@ed_perch) November 19, 2018
Is the high point of my publishing career really going to be being the subject of a Buzzfeed article? https://t.co/RgDkAPCIa8
— Noted Linguist Ed Perchard (@ed_perch) November 20, 2018
Don’t start this. I admit we are wrong on this. America calls them Blink One eighty two. Which is also wrong. They technically should be called Blink one hundred and eighty two. Don’t take some moral high ground here. https://t.co/zm2Gpb6xtT
— James Corden (@JKCorden) November 19, 2018
Meanwhile, Mark Hoppus has finally set the record straight on the proper way to capitalize (or not) the band’s name – and former Blink-182 vocalist Tom DeLonge managed to chime in as well.
Thank you James. Some say one eighty two. Some say one eight two. But in all of this, I feel like we’ve lost sight of the fact that the B in blink-182 should be lower-case. https://t.co/d3Gi2Ezmhu
— stuffing and marked potatoes ?️? (@markhoppus) November 19, 2018
It’s actually— Blink eighteen-two. People have all gotten this wrong for years. Sometimes this can happen with very complex, thoughtful and elevated art. https://t.co/jmsfv401KF
— Tom DeLonge (@tomdelonge) November 19, 2018
Which is it, then? Blink one-eighty-two, or something else? Sound off in the comments and debate amongst yourselves.
