جوناس برادرز - SUCKER

We go together

Better than birds of a feather, you and me.

American Pronunciation :

T + Y

In American English, often when we have a T followed by a Y (even in different words), it becomes a CH sound.

For example : I’ll ge t y ou one = [I’ll ge chu one].

We will mee t y ou later = [We’ll mee chu later].

I be t y ou tha t y ou will like it = [I be chu tha- chu l like it].

Aren’ t y ou a little cute to be a doctor? = [Aren-chu a little cute to be a doctor?].

You guys all know wha t y ou wanna do! = [ You guys all know wha- chu wanna do!].

Now, let’s see some examples in this song:

Anywhere road you take, you know tha t y ou’ll find me = [ Anywhere road you take, you know tha- chu l find me].

.no one knows about you = [.no one knows abou- chu].

We go together

Better than birds of a feather, you and me.

Birds of a feather:

A feather is one of the many soft, light things that cover a bird’s body.

Now, in the song, you can hear the expression birds of a feather, which is figurative.

If two (or more) people are said to be birds of a feather, that means they are very similar in character.

Example : He’ll like meeting Tony - they’re (two) birds of a feather.

There’s a longer version of this expression that has a slight different meaning application that is birds of a feather flock (fly) together.

It is said about people who often spend time with each other, and have similar characters or interests, especially ones of which you disapprove.

Other expressions that are similar to “birds of a feather” that you can use in English are:

“Two peas in a pod”

“To be cast from the same mold”

“Like peanut butter and jelly”

Example : You think you’re very different from your brother, but you’re like two peas in a pod.

Few things will change with the new government- the three candidates are all cast from the same mold.

She and her boyfriend go together like peanut butter and jelly!

We go to gether = we go-duh gether.

We go together.

Better than birds of a feather, you and me = bedur than bird-zuh-vuh feather, you and me.

Better than birds of a feather, you and me.

We change the weather (yeah).

I’m feeling heat in the December When your ‘round me.

We change the weather:

In the song, the phrase “we change the weather” is another figure of speech.

They many mean that they change the mood of the place they are at or capable of doing things that seem impossible.

Figure of speech:

A figure of speech is an element of some languages consisting in phrases or words that have different meanings that its literal ones.

There are many types of figure of speech, such as metaphors, oxymorons, hyperbole, and irony.

Here are some examples of common figure of speech:

Metaphor:

We change the weather (yeah)

I’m feeling heat in the December When you’re ‘ round me.

I’m feeling heat in the December:

In countries in the Northern Hemisphere, such as the United States, it can get very cold in the winter, especially in the months of December through February.

In the song, he says, “I’m feeling heat in December when you’re around me.”

Which is another figure of speech (not used in spoken English), meaning that he feels so attracted to her, that he feels hot (or warm) even in December when he is around her.

I’m feeling heat in the December When you’re ‘ round me. = [ I’m feelin’hee-din December Weh-nyur ‘ round me ].

I’m feeling heat in the December when you’re ‘round me.

I’ve been dancing on top of cars and stumbling out of bars

Stumbling out of bars:

To stumble is to walk in a way that does not seem controlled, as if you’re about to fall.

Example : Her foot caught in the rug and she stumbled.

To stumble out of a bar, as it is said in the song, means to leave a bar while stumbling, most likely for being drunk.

I’ve been dancing on top of cars = I-bin danci-non top-uh cars.

I’ve been dancing on top of cars, and stumbling out of bars = ‘n stum-buh-lin oudda bars.

and stumbling out of bars.

I follow you through the dark, can’t get enough.

Follow you through the dark:

If you follow someone, you are moving behind them and going where they are going-in the same direction.

Example : My cat always follows me when I go to the kitchen.

If you follow someone through the dark, that means you are following them blindly, trusting them to guide you, wherever they may take you.

Can’t get enough (of something):

This is a very common expression, which simply means that you enjoy or like something so much that you want lots of it.

Example : This sushi is delicious _ I can’t get enough (of it).

As you might have expected, it’s another figurative expression.

However, in some cases, it can refer to a person’s actual condition of not knowing when to stop; when they have an uncontrollable desire or wish.

Example : He’s always drinking. It’s like he can never get enough.

.follow your thought the dark, Can’t get enough = [kanh-gedda-nuf].

.follow your thought the dark, Can’t get enough.

Pronunciation Note :

Notice here the sound of Can’t.

The NT sound in English often reduces to simply an N sound, as we hear it here.

So many English learners ask, how do you tell the difference between CAN’T and CAN When we remove the T sound from the negation?

Well, the sound of CAN also changes.

We reduce the vowel to a short i sound, so it sounds like kin, while CAN’T, even reduced, retains the short A sound.

What’s more, there is a subtle glottal sound that replaces the T sound in can’t.

Let me give you some examples:

I can’t go to the party.

I can go to the party.

She can’t do it .

She can do it.

No, we can’t help.

Yes, we can help.

Let’s look at some more examples from the song:

Follow you through the dark, can’t get enough.

Don’t complicate.

I can’t remember, all of the nights I don’t remember.

An exception is sometimes when the next word begins with a vowel.

For example, with the T + Y we saw before:

Can’t you come to the party?

You’re the medicine and the pain, the tattoo inside my brain, And, baby, you know it’s obvious.

You’re the medicine and the pain:

A medicine is a substance, especially in the form of a liquid or a pill, for curing or treating an illness or injury.

The figurative meaning here is that it says that the other person is both the problem and the solution.

The tattoo inside my brain:

Also figuratively, saying that something is “tattooed inside your brain” means that it is unforgettable - you cannot forget about it.

Or maybe even that you cannot think of anything else: that it’s the only thing on your mind.

You can often hear a tattoo used as a metaphor for something permanent.

Example : Her memory is tattooed on my heart.

I’m a sucker for you.

I’m a sucker for you:

Informally speaking, and as used in this song, being a sucker means being somebody that is easily tricked or persuaded to do something.

Example : I tricked that sucker into giving me a 50% discount.

It can also be used similarly to the word “liser.”

We’ve won every game we played in the tournament so far.

Who are the suckers we are going to play next?

Now being a sucker for something or somebody means that you like something or somebody so much that you will do almost anything to have it or them, or to please them.

Example : I’m a sucker for cheesecake.

I can’t go a week without eating at least a piece.

Practice your English!

What are you a sucker for?

Write it down in the comments below, and see what your fellow learners said!

You say the word and I’ll go anywhere blindly.

I’m a sucker for you

You say the word, and I’ll go anywhere blindly:

“say the word” is a common expression used to tell someone that you are ready to do what they want at the time they ask you.

Example : Just say the word, and I’ll come and help.

If you say that you are doing something (such as following an order) blindly, figuratively, it means that you are doing it without asking why, or without thinking for yourself whether what you are doing is right.

Example : You shouldn’t just blindly follow her advice.

You may have noticed that this is similar to the term I’ll follow you through the dark that you learned before.

Pronunciation Note :

By the way, notice that in this song, sucker is pronounced without the typical strong American R at the end.

I’m a sucker for you .

The Jonas Brothers are American, and although pronouncing the R at the end of a word in this way ( silently, with a long vowel ) is more typical of British English, there are times that we do it in American English, particularly when people speak colloquially and with slang.

Any road you take, you know that you’ll find me = any ro-jew take, you know tha-chul find me.

Any road you take, you know that you’ll find me.

I’m a sucker for all the subliminal things.

Subliminal:

Something presented in a way that is not easily perceived (noticed) or understood, but may be remembered or internalized subconsciously-that is, without the person realizing they are absorbing the information.

Example: The presidential candidate was interviewed in front of a factory to give the subliminal message that he was a man of the people, and that he appreciates hard work.

The term subliminal advertisements is also common, as something that brands use to try to do to make people think more of them, and thus, buy more.

Although, this is illegal nowadays.

Example : The movie was full of subliminal ads (advertisemen) for Coca-Cola.

In this song, the meaning of subliminal things is open to interpretation.

I’m curious, what do you think it means?

Share your opinion down in the comments!

And you’re making the typical me break my typical rules.

Making the typical me break my typical rules:

Typical is an adjective used to refer to a person or thing that shows the characteristics that are expected of, or popularly associated with them.

For example, a typical episode of a comedy TV series lasts about 20 minutes.

Episodes of drama and action TV series are typical 40 minutes long.

Basically, he is saying that with her, he is not his usual self.