Message
Better definition of "top?" Well,
let's see, the word originates from a basic Indo-European root(top-/ topp-/
topr-) that basically meant "ornamentally high," as demonstrated by the Latin
"topiarivs" (garden/ landscape) and by the English "topiary" - in both cases we
see the ornamental aspect of the word. However, in Middle English, "Tophet"
meant, ironically, hell, which is supposed to be below and not above, though
this might be explained by a relation to the non-Indo-European word "Topet,"
which is Hebrew for a place of "idolatrous worship," however again here we find
a very basic meaning of "high" - idols are generally placed quite high in order
to best be worshipped, and are generally somewhat decorative, hence also the
ornamental aspect. Going even further from Europe there is the West African
"Topi," an antelope with high, decorative horns (I assume, I've never seen one,
but it would make sense, wouldn't it?). We also have "toppu" in Japanese, which
means something like "breeze," and a breeze is in the air, which as a general
statement is above us, so basically we have an ecumenical sense of the root
"tah-/ to-" meaning high, in a somewhat decorative sense.
This in itself would be a
fascinating study, but as far as a definition would go, I'd say something like,
music that you would place in a demonstrative position as being of the foremost
position in its field.
<sigh> I need to get out
more.
Jackson Wade Crawford - the Raven of Texas/ Corvvs Texanis/ Kruk
Teksasu/ der Rabe von Texas
International Director, Corvist Association for
the Preservation and Perpetuation of Free Will
I think
we'd need a better definition of "top". Having said that, I'd nominate
U2 in almost all categories.