Jenyfer Matthews

My daughter’s school put on a production of Grease last night with their fifth and sixth graders (third and fourth singing in the chorus) I think it’s going around because another local school did it earlier in the year. I was wondering how they would handle the story since not only is the original a little long for a school play, but many of the plot points are a bit mature for this age group.

It was interesting to see how they boiled Grease down to a few pivotal scenes. Though I’m not sure that the story made any sense to anyone who hadn’t already seen the original movie!

Lyrics were changed too. Have you ever really listened to the lyrics to Greased Lightning?

Well this car is automatic, it’s systematic, it’s hydromatic
Why it’s greased lightnin’!

We’ll get some overhead lifters, and four barrel quads, oh yeah
Keep talkin’, whoah keep talkin’
Fuel injection cut off, and chrome plated rods, oh yeah
I’ll get the money, I’ll see you get the money
With a four-speed on the floor, they’ll be waitin’ at the door
You know that ain’t shit when we’ll be gettin’ lots of tit in greased lightnin’

Chorus:

Go, greased lightnin’, you’re burnin’ up the quarter mile
Greased lightnin’, go greased lightnin’
Go, greased lightnin’, you’re coastin’ through the heat lap trials
Greased lightnin’, go greased lightnin’
You are supreme, the chicks’ll cream for greased lightnin’

We’ll get some purple French tail lights and thirty-inch fins, oh yeah
A palomino dashboard and duel muffler twins, oh yeah
With new pistons, plugs, and shocks, I can get off my rocks
You know that I ain’t braggin’, she’s a real pussy wagon – greased lightnin’

“Look at me, I’m Sandra Dee, lousy with virginity” was changed to “goddess of purity” and Greased Lighting would make “the chicks scream”. Little did their music teacher know that for most of last week, before I corrected her, my daughter was singing “born to hand job, baby!”

When my daughter came home singing some of these songs, I joined in. She was astonished to find out that Grease was a real movie. And the thing is, now she wants to see it. I wouldn’t mind watching it again myself, but I’m not sure that I’m ready to let her see it. I was her age when the movie came out and in fact I saw it many, many times. Most of the more adult themes just went right over my head, but kids are more savvy today. Not sure I want to explain what a “pussy wagon” is, or why Danny is trying to grope Sandy at the drive-in or what Rizzo’s problem is.

(Or why there are a bunch of near-40 year olds in high school)

I’m not sure what age would be a good age to see that movie for the first time. Assuming she doesn’t see it somewhere else first and I get to choose, her brother is still two and 1/2 years younger than she is and what she does, he does. From that perspective, twenty sounds like a good age

I’m probably over-reacting. After seeing some of the music videos that Disney shows between their programs, Grease seems positively tame…

But it must have been easier to be a parent in the 1970s. One of my first adult albums given to me by my mother was the soundtrack to Hair! Talk about inappropriate lyrics!

And look at me today

Don’t forget to stop by over the weekend. Author Terry Odell will be here talking to two of her characters about doing their sequel, Hidden Fire. It’s getting great reviews, and Terry has the first chapter on her website. Win win