This rare adjective describes a highly expressive face or countenance, where emotions and reactions are readily shown through the eyes or mouth. It is compound of aspect (countenance) and abundance (plentiful amount), but is originally from the Latin for "look" (aspectus) and the suffix "-bundus" (to become), suggesting "becoming abundant in expression" and was first documented in the English language in 1708. While appropriate for an actor, especially a comic one, its can also suggest a person whose facial expressions clearly show their emotions, making them quite transparent in feeling.
But what about aspectabund in songs? It’s not a word that comes up in lyrics, but there are a few songs that capture facial expressiveness, not least the title track of the 1957 musical film, Funny Face, starring Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire. This George and Ira Gershwin song has been extensively covered by others.
The Kinks also explore the nature of a Funny Face, but this time it’s an expressively sad one:
Oh how can I live without her
The doctors won't let me see her
But I can catch a glimpse through the doorway
Of the girl that I love and care for
I see you peering through frosted windows
Eyes don't smile, all they do is cry
Funny Face, she's all right
Funny Face, she's all right …
In Virgo Clowns, a lesser known gem from Van Morrison’s 1970 album His Band And The Street Choir, he asks the clown’s funny face is to escape sadness:
Let us free you from the pain
Let us see you smile again
Let us unlock all the chains
You're broken-hearted
Let us help you to forget
Let us help you unlock it
It's not nearly time to quit
You've only started
You gotta
Sit down funny face
On Slade’s glam rock classic Cum On Feel The Noize, later covered by Oasis and others, the charismatic face of Noddy Holder sings how:
“So you think you I got a funny face
Well I'm not worried …”
But not all expressive faces are necessarily human. Here’s a Robot Crush by Rodney Johnson, in which he falls for a female machine:
Some say she's plastic
And fake as can be
She's kind of a know-it-all,
But that's okay with me
She's quite expressive
With that face and her smile
Physically impressive
And walks with such style
Finally, to go the the opposite effect, The Airborne Toxic Event’s All I Ever Wanted describes an animated face that’s not giving anything away:
Your face so expressive ...
You eyes so wide, your face aglow
It's the face of someone I don't know
But finally, he’s that fabulous photobooth-setting advertisement in full. For that awesome aspectabund, have a cigar, sir.
So then, any further aspectabund examples from your own music library? Feel free also to share anything more in relation to it, whether in music or wider culture, such as from film, art, or other contexts, in comments below.
Maybe I will, maybe I won’t …
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