Tongue popping is the act of creating an audible clicking[1] noise for emphasis in conversation using one's tongue.

Usage

American drag performer Alyssa Edwards (pictured in 2018) helped popularize tongue popping

Tongue popping has been described as the "signature catchphrase" of Alyssa Edwards, an American drag performer most known for competing on RuPaul's Drag Race. According to Jamie Lee Curtis Taete of Vice News, "Via Alyssa, the pop has crossed over into fairly mainstream queer usage. It has a variety of meanings, but is generally used to emphasize something, dismiss another person, or act as an exclamation point."[2] Alyssa Edwards has released a "novelty Christmas song" called "Tongue Pop the Halls".[2] Cheryl Hole of RuPaul's Drag Race UK also tongue pops.[3][4]

In 2017, Alaska Thunderfuck said, "And then also one of my favorite noises is a tongue pop. [Tongue pops] This is drag. In order to do drag, you have to learn how to do this ... And that’s different from a tongue click, which is a different mechanism, and the differentiation is very important."[5]

Aquaria,[6] Cardi B,[7] Tamar Braxton[8] and Laganja Estranja are also notorious for the skill.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Skinner, Paige (October 16, 2018). "The Life of Justin Johnson, aka Alyssa Edwards, Is Now a Netflix Docuseries, Dancing Queen". Dallas Observer. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Taete, Jamie Lee Curtis (June 20, 2018). "This Hidden Meme Makes 'Hereditary' a Comedy". Vice. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  3. ^ Jones, Charlie (November 15, 2019). "Cheryl Hole on tongue pops, backlash from the fandom and the *real* villain of Drag Race UK". Pink News. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  4. ^ Damshenas, Sam (25 November 2019). "Alyssa Edwards on Drag Race UK, Cheryl Hole and the return of Alyssa's Secret". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 2020-11-28. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  5. ^ Macias, Ernesto (November 5, 2020). "Back to the Future with Alaska Thunderfuck and the DJs Ivan and Peter". Interview. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  6. ^ Katz, Evan Ross (July 9, 2019). "'Rupaul's Drag Race' Alums Aquaria and Naomi Smalls Talk Shopping, in and out of Drag". Fashionista. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  7. ^ Kiefer, Halle (August 3, 2020). "Hot Girls Rejoice! Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion Announce New Single Out Friday". Vulture. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  8. ^ Anderson Impressed by Tamar's 'Pop', retrieved 2023-03-12
  9. ^ Voss, Brandon (May 13, 2017). "The Curious And Fabulous Evolution Of Laganja Estranja". NewNowNext. Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
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