Badass.

Badass:

(slang) Concerning extreme appearance, attitudes and/or behavior that is considered admirable.


That's what Wiktionary says. But badass (in the adjective form) is kind of indescribable. It's one of those terms that you just know when it fits. I use it quite a bit, probably because I, for one, am badass. I am not a badass, mind you--far from it, actually--but I surround myself with things badass, therefore I am.

In case you are unclear on this adjective, the following is a list of things that are badass--and also a list of things that you might think are badass, but are not.

The movie, "The Incredible Hulk" = badass
The movie, "Hulk" = not badass

Motorhead = badass
Nickelback = not badass

Trans Am = badass
Mustang = not badass
Camaro = bitchin'

Star Wars Episode IV, V, and VI = badass
Star Wars Episode I, II, and III = not badass

Willie McGee and Tommy Herr = badass
Nyger Morgan and Brandon Phillips = not badass

Monster Truck Jam = badass
NASCAR race = not badass

Devil horns = badass
Peace sign = not badass

Budweiser = badass
Mike's Hard Lemonade = not badass

That's just a small example of certain things that are badass.

Typically, a successful doings is considered badass. Like, "That _____ was badass!" Here, we can insert "roadtrip", "concert", "game", or "party"--just as long as the subject of the statement qualifies as badass. For example, you cannot say, "That roadtrip to Branson, Missouri was badass!" That doesn't work. Only unless your roadtrip to Branson, Missouri consisted of dangerous drunken driving, accosting a local celebrity (ie: Yakov, Andy Williams, or an Oak Ridge Boy), or defacing a theater by means of human excrement. Then--and only then does your roadtrip to Branson, Missouri classify as badass.

When descibing music as badass, it gets a little tricky. Certain musical acts are a given: Social Distortion, Johnny Cash, Van Halen, AC/DC, Willie Nelson, Ramones, and the aforementioned Motorhead. Bands trying to be badass, but instead being ridiculous (see above: Nickelback) are obviously not badass and never will be badass. I say "never will be" because--and this is the tricky part--musical acts that do not fall into the categories of "badass" or "ridiculous" can be accociated with the term badass at times. Example: "Wow, that Coldplay concert was badass!"

Now, I don't consider Coldplay to be badass. I don't consider them ridiculous, either. To me, they're just kind of there. But I'd say there's a possibility based on what I've heard about their live shows that if I were to go see Coldplay in concert, realistically with low expectations, that I might be surprised to the point of saying, "Wow, that Coldplay concert was badass!" Please note, though, that this statement does not, in any way, make Coldplay badass. It just means that they really impressed me to the point of liking them for the time being and I have expressed my pleasure by stating that their concert was badass, that's all.

This is a totally hypothetical example, too. I've never seen Coldplay or really even listen to them. I'm just using them to make a point.

Some confuse the terms "badass" and "kick ass". Totally different. It's similar to "like" and "love"--or "yes!" and "fuckin' a!" Kick ass expresses an intense feeling of pleasure, whereas badass takes it to the next level.

Example: "That party last night was kick ass!"

"No man, that party last night was badass!!"

Please be aware, though, that "kick ass" used as a verb is equally as powerful as the adjective "badass" and more powerful than the adjective "kick ass". Example: "Every Rodney Dangerfield movie kicks ass." is equal to "Every Rodney Dangerfield movie is badass."...but not equal to "Every Rodney Dangerfield movie is kick ass."

"Kick ass" is just more powerful as a verb than it is an adjective...as powerful as "badass". That's just how it is.

The terms "badass", "kick ass", and "fuckin' a", when used properly, can assemble an extremely powerful sentence structure.

As far as the spelling for badass goes, I've decided that it should be one word. I realize that this is probably the prefered spelling for the noun variation (ex: "Nick Nolte is a badass."), but I feel that regarless of the terminology, the one-word spelling is more powerful. Plus, it's easier to text (ex: "got u tix to soc d show 2nite"..."badass"). And in addition, it is acceptable to include quotations or not to--your choice.

Now, I'm off to watch the Chiefs vs. the Steelers on tv. I do not feel strongly enough about either team, nor NFL Football in general to describe this doings as "badass". But, like with my Coldplay example earlier, the game may pleasantly surprise me enough for me to deem the game "badass".

Please enjoy these videos of things that have earned the definition "badass".