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Chaperoning Proms and the Bling-bling Generation |
I thought being a chaperone at a high school prom would be one of those boring time stretches where you watch every second tick away on the clock. But to my surprise it was a refresher course in what it's like to be carefree and seventeen again. First, getting to the prom on prom night is an event unto itself. Remember when you hoped and prayed that Dad would fill up the Chevrolet's gas tank and reluctantly hand over the keys? Forget borrowing the parents' car (or "'rents" as the kids say), today every kid rides in a stylish limousine that yesteryear was only something reserved for brides, grooms, and movie stars. And the limousine of today (or the "ride" as the kids say) is not your father's limo. They come stretched to accommodate twenty comfortably and are packed with everything from cold drinks to satellite TV. It was wild to see the drop-off traffic in the high school parking lot. It was Limo-ville. I felt like I was volunteering at the Oscars.
When the kids piled in, the clothing styles varied from the very formal prom dresses and tuxedos to the wild, anything goes, Johnny Depp-at-a-wedding look. Prom hairdos are no longer just something the girls are shelling out big bucks for. Now the guys are getting highlights, gold tips, and spiked cuts that are of rock star status. It doesn't seem that long ago that all a guy had to worry about was if his socks matched and his zipper was pulled up. Even the heavy metal rockers are adding a little flare to their black t-shirt look. Eye make-up, leather chokers, and an endless array of wrist band-like bracelets have been added to the mix. It seems as if those David Bowie, Glam Rock times are making a comeback.
Of course there are prom traditions that remain a staple of the night's activities such as Prom Pictures and announcing the King and Queen of the Prom. As I helped all the Promsters line up for their pictures, I overheard conversations that barely made sense because of all the new, wild teenage expressions. It seems as though most the language new to my ear comes from the world of Rap Music. For instance the slang, "bling-bling", seems to be on everyone's lips--or more specifically around their necks. I was told by the high schoolers that it first popped up as a way to describe the massive amounts of jewelry that rappers wore in music videos (I told you the night was educational). Now it's become sort of a common way to describe what I call glitz--a flashy way to show off wealth. So I guess you could say that the stretch Hummer limo rental which pulled up in the parking lot showcasing its built-in bathtub in the back is just part of our bling-bling times.
Before I get back to my indoctrination into the world of Teenage Vernacular, I have to tell you that the prom flowers and prom decorations were..."like, you know, way cooler" than any prom I ever went to. Remember proms of the past with paper streamers and hand-drawn signs? Gone. A nod to the party planners and their unique creativity. The gym looked like a 70's throwback to those glorious Disco Days. Automatic strobe lighting, disco balls, an elevated dance floor with flashing colored lights--it was...da bomb! (Oops, wait a minute. I just remembered that "da bomb" is now considered by teens as prehistoric. I should've said the flashing lights were "hella tight". So for all you who are keeping track, "tight" no longer describes the close relationship of two friends. If you want to stay current, use "tight" when you would normally say "great" or "outstanding".
Back to the prom... I got a huge kick out of the 70's retrospective songs and dancing. Even the girls with designer prom dresses and the guys with the done-up prom tuxedos rolled up their super-expensive sleeves to participate in the fun line dances like "The Electric Slide" and "The Hustle". The deejay had... (Oh yeah, no live band at this prom. Today's prom planning calls for live deejays to bring in their own pre-mixed cd's and special audio equipment to get the party hopping). As I was saying, the deejay had everyone adorn themselves with 70's throwback accoutrements... big hair wigs, platform shoes, leisure suit tops, etc. Then all the kids got to boogey down to the disco sounds of groups like K.C. and the Sunshine Band. "Boogey down," now there's a blast from my past. As I looked out on the dance floor, it seemed as though time had stood still. There I was at my prom trying to gyrate like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.
Now that I look back at the night (which made me look back at my prom), I realize that every generation has their "teen speak" so to speak. For every 70's "boogey-oogey" there's a 2K4's "bling-bling". And even though today's kids like to wear their jeans baggy and hanging off of their butts, it's not a whole lot different from those wild platform shoes I used to wear. Kids will be kids in any era and they just want to have their own language so adults (the evil scourge) can't butt in. I'm glad I chaperoned this year's prom, I'll think I'll sign up to chaperone the next one.
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