Quoting:
Okay guys I heard about "Frankie Says Relax"  I bought a plain white shirt yesterday and had these words put on it.  I know it was a saying that they put on shirts in the 80's but I was just wondering if there was any meaning behind it or if it's just a shirt that defines the 80's (RELAX)  Anyone know what FRANKIE SAYS RELAX means??
End Quote

I believe the song was a warning to the homosexual community about being careful about sex, because of the new AIDS crisis during the early-mid 80's.  "Relax, don't do it, when you want to come."  

I don't mean to be vulgar, but when he's talking about coming, he's talking about coming.  If you know what I mean.

Quoting:
Okay guys I heard about "Frankie Says Relax"  I bought a plain white shirt yesterday and had these words put on it.  I know it was a saying that they put on shirts in the 80's but I was just wondering if there was any meaning behind it or if it's just a shirt that defines the 80's (RELAX)  Anyone know what FRANKIE SAYS RELAX means??
End Quote

Yup, there is a hidden meaning, and it would be vulgar to reveal it here. Pretty much it is about waiting just a bit longer til ya... well, you know.  ;)

Quoting:
oh geez i had no idea it meant that, maybe i should not have  made the shirt...ahh who cares, no one is going to know what it means anyway and i don't care even if they do!
End Quote

It could be sexy. Like the playboy bunny shirts. But you are right, there will be those who will not know the hidden meaning. Plus, I think the lead singer of the group was gay, so it could have had an even more hidden meaning. I don't want to think about that.

Quoting:
was gayEnd Quote

Was? Did he die? Just curious.

Quoting:


Was? Did he die? Just curious.
End Quote

Unless he just passed recently....Holly Johnson is alive and doing well considering his HIV status

Quoting:


Unless he just passed recently....Holly Johnson is alive and doing well considering his HIV status
End Quote

Odd...I thought the frontman dies a few years ago.

Quoting:
oh geez i had no idea it meant that, maybe i should not have  made the shirt...ahh who cares, no one is going to know what it means anyway and i don't care even if they do!
End Quote

I was aware it's a sick song.  ::)  Though I'm grateful even as a teenager I didn't really pay attention to them that well - and I think I was more naive anyway about all these terminologies.   ::)

Quoting:
I never knew of any special meaning, other than the song.  And I believe the "correct" (ahem) wording was "Frankie SAY Relax".  I.e., write it grammatically incorrectly w/o the "S".
End Quote

Always wanted to know why it was written 'Say' and not 'Says'. Does anyone know?

Quoting:
i always thought it was SAYS but then I found out that it's SAY- but that's after I had the shirt made!!  A little annoying but it's okay.
End Quote

You can just paint over it w/white - I'm sure there's a way!

Quoting:
Remember that the band's name is "Frankie Goes To Hollywood". If you then shorten that to "Frankie", but consider them to be several members, I'm sure you can figure out why "Frankie SAY" is correct.

e.g. "Pearl Jam SAY their new look is in no way related to a particularly nasty flea plague".
End Quote

It's actually grammatically INCORRECT. Pearl Jam (and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, for that matter) is a proper noun, so grammar actually treats it the same as it would any other name like "Michael" or "Charlie". Therefore, it should be "Pearl Jam SAYS ITS new look..." OR "The members of Pearl Jam SAY THEIR new look..." Of course it sounds a bit strange, which is why we tend to say "Pearl Jam ARE touring", when it should really be "Pearl Jam IS touring".

;D

Quoting:
hey you know you're right Goreripper- what's the meaning behind your name??
End Quote

It came from something I wrote in the guest book of a friend's website, something about having her join me as I waded through the gore of the false. It was an allusion to my contempt for liars, frauds and hypocrites - that I would rip their gore if I had the chance.  ;D

Quoting:
Pearl Jam (and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, for that matter) is a proper noun, so grammar actually treats it the same as it would any other name
End Quote

That's why I added the consideration for the separate members of the band to exist as a collaboration, rather than totally subsuming themselves into the collective (whoops I'm going Borg here :D )

If there's a band whose members I never think of individually outside the band, I *do* use the singular. But bands where the individual members appear more equal than others (LOL) I just consider the band name as shorthand for each of them.

I notice this especially with duos - possibly because it's easier to distinguish between two people than four or more. e.g on alt.music.tmbg, we often refer to "They Might Be Giants" as "John and John". Although it's handy that "They Might Be Giants" also shortens to "They"  ;D