(suggested by Avii)
This name is pretty subtle, so let me break it down for you. You see, "miso" sounds like "me so," which is what all Asian people say instead of the grammatically correct "I'm so." Man, sometimes people who grow up speaking a different language don't have a perfect grasp of English. Ha ha, I sure love to laugh at them for trying!
Google backs up my intuition that the primary association with "me so" anything is the immortal "Me so horny" scene from "Full Metal Jacket." Get it? One of Japan's primary cultural exports, which OPI is taking care to celebrate in its Japan collection, is prostitution! Of course, the character in "Full Metal Jacket" was Vietnamese, not Japanese, but that's cool. They all look the same to me, too.
Also, I love how in classic OPI style, randomly inserting the name of a soup (a soup that is not even remotely the same color as this nail polish, I feel obliged to pedantically point out) makes this a brilliant pun. Wow, that's vichyssoise hilarious, you New England clam chowder morons.
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Is there a reason racism makes for good nail polish names? While the name certainly doesn't bring a smile to my lips (and this color won't grace my fingertips), your entry is hilarious.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you posted this one. I always wondered how OPI put out that color and didn't get any complaints about the stereotype.
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine if there WAS a polish that was the color of miso soup? Ewww.
ReplyDeleteword ver = "sphin"...as in This Color Name Makes My Head Sphin.
[This may be a repost because the last one didn't go through, I don't think.]
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine if there WAS a polish that were the color of miso soup? Ewwww!
Sounds like someone is having a Tempura Tan-trum!!
ReplyDeleteNeither red miso nor white miso, it's true, but you know why this post makes miso happy?
ReplyDelete"that's vichyssoise hilarious, you New England clam chowder morons"
line of the week. It's not every blog that can bandy about vichyssoise and miso and chowda to combat vanity racism. I toast you, pander.
Me love you long time!
ReplyDeleteI saw this whole collection and wondered how no one complained! Panda-monium Pink was another that irked me.
ReplyDeleteO.M.G. they must be drinking the lacquer over there...
ReplyDeleteTamara--Well, I guess nail polish is all about replacing your natural nail color with one you decide is better, so maybe it is a natural haven for racism. Let me know if you come up with any theories!
ReplyDeleteDeb--I know, it's kind of amazing, right? How could this name get all the way through OPI's marketing division without SOMEBODY realizing how offensive it is?
Ink--Now I am imagining a miso polish with little tiny white tofu squares and green sparkly spinach flakes. Is it wrong if I kind of want to wear that? Of course there would have to be some coordinating avocado roll action taking place on my thumbs.
Reicheru--I see you know your OPI!
Nap--thanks! I see it as my solemn duty to reclaim soup for truth, justice, and the American way.
Arrianne--Ha! I was just waiting to see when somebody would pull that out.
Casey--I think Panda-monium Pink is from the new Hong Kong collection, which I agree is another absolute disaster. Trust me, those are going to get what's coming to 'em, too!
OTG--I think you may be right! It could certainly explain so much...
Not wrong! I'm down with the white tofu and sparkly spinach flakes idea. Just not so much the brown brothiness... ;)
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say that I really get a kick out of your blog. I only hope that nail polish manufacturers continue to come up with offensive, crude, sexist, racist and punderful names for their nail polishes so you will never run out of polishes to review.
ReplyDeleteAelievense--thank you! I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know.
ReplyDeletei'm waiting for a time when a polish is called 'kawaii desu ne'. it's going to happen someday, i hope. and when it does, i hope you rant about it. :3
ReplyDeletethey're nail polish names... are you all really serious about this name sounding racist? get oveeeerrr it. they're just being punny - and it works for them. it's not racism. when did nail polish become so serious?
ReplyDelete" You see, "miso" sounds like "me so," which is what all Asian people say instead of the grammatically correct "I'm so." Man, sometimes people who grow up speaking a different language don't have a perfect grasp of English. Ha ha, I sure love to laugh at them for trying!"
ReplyDeleteWow...way to sound like a complete racist prick. I'm Asian and English is my second language; however, I do not speak like that.
Please look up the word "sarcasm".
DeleteShe's just joking Anonymous...She's making fun of the brand who made the name, which is the whole point of this blog.
ReplyDeleteI dunno... Looks like the colour of miso soup to me.
ReplyDeleteIt's sarcasm Anonymous. Please tell me you don't think Jon Stewart is a real newscaster.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the color of miso soup it's the color of miso. Hah. You think too hard about everything but don't see what's obvious.
ReplyDeleteBlueQ already beat them to it a few years earlier with their Miso Pretty line (I bought the lipbalm, and yes I am Asian).
ReplyDeleteI second the motion to call the Naughty Nailz collections ten, twenty, and thirty! I also get the feeling there will be more posts about this brand of polish in the near future.
ReplyDeletebioidentical hormones az
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I haven't read all of the comments, but what about miso soup? Its a traditional Japanese soup consisting of a stock called "dashi" into which softened miso paste is mixed. Maybe the color is the same as the stock. I think we are all quick to judge what the meanings are...but the comany who is making them is the only ones laughing for they are benefiting from even this blog. Free advertisinig really. I have enjoyed reading them.
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