You Better Shape Up...
So, I posted a while back about how I desperately needed a night of adolescent entertainment and Grease was my flick of choice -- much to my father's dismay, apparently, as he called and emailed anxiously inquiring whether my job was really causing my brain to seep out my ears.
Well, no, Daddy. But your grandson's brain could be in danger. And not just because of the lead paint appetizers you bought him for Christmas a couple years back.
We ended up buying the correct Grease film and watching it later that weekend. The Young Prince did his usual "sit through a half-hour or so, then flit in and out for the duration" version of watching the movie. When it was over, we put it away.
Until the next day, when he asked to watch it again. And again. And ... again.
And then his dad slicked his hair back after a bath one night.
He now knows almost all the lyrics to all the songs. He implores me to "sing the girl parts" to "Summer Nights." Conversely, "there are only boy parts" so I am not allowed to sing -- or clap -- during "Greased Lightning."
He did a little impromptu Frankie Valli performance in our newsroom this afternoon.
He has scared two people in our office on two separate occasions because he was wearing headphones to listen (over and over) to "You're the One That I Want" on my iPod and seemingly out of nowhere he flopped down on the floor a la Travolta when Danny sings, "It's electrifying!"
As if you needed further proof he takes this very seriously:
We were listening to Anything Other Than Grease on the radio in the car, when Madonna's "Cherish" came on. (Not to be confused with The Association's "Cherish" but if you don't know the Madonna song, the story works just as well if you use this one.)
When we get to the part of the song where the lyrics are "Cherish is the word I use..." the YP's head snaps around like it's on a coil, a very sharp look on his face, and his baby voice pipes out in harsh protest, "Cherish is NOT the word! GREASE IS THE WORD!!! TURN THAT OFF!!"
I think, actually, obsessed is the word. If I get video of any of this, you can be sure he will be humiliated with it in 14 years when his date shows up and It's Raining on Prom Night.
The "Grease is the word" line made me literally snort and get Diet Coke up into my nasal passages. Oh, the burn but OH THE FUNNY!
Posted by: TigMode | June 23, 2007 at 04:31 PM
That. Is. Hysterical.
As long as he doesn't turn out all bloated and hypocritical and Scientology-crazed as John Travolta, you'll be fine.
Posted by: Editor's Note | June 23, 2007 at 06:29 PM
Damn straight, Grease is the word!
But I have to protest that girls aren't allowed to sing "Greased Lightning." Come on, YP!
Posted by: nabbalicious | June 23, 2007 at 08:26 PM
HILARIOUS!
Posted by: Darren McLikeshimself | June 25, 2007 at 01:01 PM