27. Levis, Breaking Walls (2002)
Have me on your podcast so I can keep it all the way honest with you
Over the past few weeks I spent some time in New York.
One thing I overheard a lot was people starting sentences by declaratively saying ‘honestly.’
IE: Honestly, _____.
But then after the comma, instead of saying something you’d expect in a sentence that starts that way — “Honestly, I’m sick of his bullshit!” / “Honestly, I think I’m dying.” / “Honestly, mate, even if you do have a water and a walk around the block as you’ve suggested, I still won’t allow you back on the premises.” — these New York sentences were flat and assymetrical with no implicit lie to caveat.
“Honestly, I only wear Levis.”
“Honestly, same.”
Only one of them, by my count, was wearing Levis at the time.
I don’t really think the ‘honestly’ bit is a New York or even an American thing. It feels more like a general trait of millennials who conduct conversations like they’re being interviewed on podcasts.
Which probably happens in London all the time but I don’t hear because my Airpods are in and I’m listening to an interview with some internet psychopath saying how, on their journey, they’ve tried it all — designer, vintage Japanese repro, Wrangler Cowboy Cut — and these days, man? Honestly? They just wear Levis.