The search for the right "the"

Yes. I was merely making a point about how bands these days don't really use the in their name so much. I'm sure there are exceptions however it does seem that in the 60s and 70s more bands had the in the band name than today.

Al then got me thinking about a reference to this idea in the film "The Commitments". If you haven't seen the film, quite possible if you are younger than me, then it's not a bad way to pass an evening.

Be warned, this film has loads of swearing, Dublin-style.

I remember going to this movie when my wife and I first started going out together. We went to see the film at a local cinema where my uncle used to work on weekends as a projectionist. It was a gas situation. He'd often say to me to give him a call if I was interested in seeing a film and he'd let us in through the projection room. A grade A freebie.

So I think, though I could be wrong, that we did see this film this way. No ticket. Courtesy of the Uncle. Excellent.

I think I remember him commenting on how there was a lot of swearing in the film and how he didn't think a whole lot of it because of that aspect.

Anyway, we took our seats and the film kicked off. "F*uck you Jimmy Rabbitte". "You can shove it up your *rse Deco" and so on.

The film was funny, very funny and very much in tune with the times in Dublin back then.

I remember there was a middle aged couple sitting behind us and all through the film one of the couple was heard to say "what did he say?" to which the other would translate into more conventional english. Hilarious.

I had a look today for the quote from the film that Al was referring to and I think it might be one of these two. The context is that the manager Jimmy Rabbitte is discussing possible names for the band with the band members.


Outspan Foster: There's a band around called "Free Beer". Always draws a big crowd.
Derek: I like "A Flock of Budgies".
Jimmy Rabbitte: We have to be "the" something. All the great sixties bands were "The Somethings".

========================= or ===============================

Billy: The Commitments?
Jimmy Rabbitte: It's a "the".
Deco: How do you spell it?
Jimmy Rabbitte: T-H-E.