Separated by a Common Language

The Rolling Stones are to play a free show at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, and they expect two million people to show up.

According to the city's "health secretary," it will be "the biggest live show that has ever occurred in the world." But did you know that Rod Stewart drew 3.5 million people at the same beach in 1994? I didn't. I guess Rod's the man to beat here. Somebody notify the Guinness records people.

As an aside, here's another one of those little linguistic tics that fascinate pedantic rock and rollers like me (there are a few of us, I think.) The BBC article linked above refers to the Rolling Stones show as a "gig." I've noticed this before. In the UK, "gig" has a slightly different meaning, from how I use it anyway. In my linguistic world, a "gig" is a job, meaning a show you're playing at. If I'm playing a show, I might call it a "gig" (though I'd maybe feel a little corny about saying it.) But if I paid $200 to see Bruce Springsteen, I would call it a "show," from my perspective. It's his "gig." His profit. My loss. But in the UK, any old show is a "gig." Two peoples separated by a common language and all that. (The word "quite" is another strange one - it means "quite" in American English, but in British English it can also mean "not quite." That can cause confusion - never tell a British girl she is "quite beautiful." She'll hit you with rock. Or at least, this one British girl I know will...)

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