“Ooh, that was a bit pass-aggress”.

This is my daughter’s new favourite phrase. If I say anything gently reproving to her, I’m immediately accused of being passive-aggressive or “pass-aggress”. Which got me thinking about this old Seekers hit. On the surface, it’s a jolly little number, singing the praises of a swinging sixties chick. Yet it’s probably the most passive-aggressive record ever made. Practically every line, for instance “Why do all the boys just pass you by? Could it be you just don’t try or is it the clothes you wear?” is a pass-agress gem. Almost worthy of my friend Matt King. One sunny day, he recoiled at the sight of my lurid Hawaiian shirt. “That’s the most hideous shirt I’ve ever seen”, he said, “It really suits you”