Powell: French Foreign Minister "caught the vapours."

February 20, 2002 8:00 AM

Powell: French Foreign Minister "caught the vapours." The article posits an etymology dating back to the victorian era. Am I the only one who thinks Colin was dropping a Biz Markie lyric?
posted by Pinwheel (10 comments total)

Which further begs the question: If so, then why not go to the real deal? Biz Markie for Secretary of State! The Biz is available and he has proven diplomatic skillz, illustrated by his neutrality in the dreadful East Coast - West Coast feuds. Just remember: The Biz Markie appears courtesy of "his own damn self".
posted by Optamystic at 8:21 AM on February 20, 2002

Am I the only one who thinks Colin was dropping a Biz Markie lyric?

Signs point to yes.
posted by rodii at 8:31 AM on February 20, 2002

France surrenders.
posted by rocketman at 8:46 AM on February 20, 2002

My first thought was of "In Living Color"'s "Men on Film"

Antwoine: Gasp and swoon, I just caught the vapors!
posted by ColdChef at 8:58 AM on February 20, 2002

Could have been House of Pain too:

"If your girl caught the vapors, I might videotape her." I can't imagine a great deal of demand for a videotape of a nude French politician, but I've been wrong before.
posted by yerfatma at 9:04 AM on February 20, 2002

Apparently, the French Foreign Minister is channelling Blanche DuBois. Does Miss Cleo know about this?
posted by jpoulos at 9:12 AM on February 20, 2002

pinwheel - no (see sat 16 feb entry).

yo, biz for prez!
posted by asok at 9:41 AM on February 20, 2002

Moby: 'a case of the vapors'? he's quoting Biz Markie! isn't that cool? we have a secretary of state who quotes Biz Markie.

You see? If Moby doesn't have truest insight into the motivations of American politicans, then I'm just not sure who does.
posted by Pinwheel at 9:59 AM on February 20, 2002

Even though I know it was Biz, whenever I hear "he caught the vapours", I immediately think of the Snoop Doggy Dogg version. Sigh. Off to Morpheus I go.
posted by Succa at 10:03 AM on February 20, 2002

I thought y'all knew that "the vapors" was just a polite Southern way of explaining the unfortunate presence of an excessive amount of intestinal gas.

Correct: "Cousin Lilly won't be comin' to play canasta. She's caught the vapors somethin' awful."

Incorrect: "Cousin Lilly ain't comin', she's a-blowin' flares out her butt like a sick heifer."
posted by groundhog at 10:18 AM on February 20, 2002