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5 Honest Teenage Life Lessons Learned from Grease

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I was laying on the couch with my pillow propped under my tiny head and blanket on with our little dog lying at my feet in the early 1980s. But I can still very much recall hearing, “Grease Is The Word” and the cartoon introduction for the now classic movie, Grease.

I couldn’t have been more than 5 years old. But my mom was watching the movie. So, she allowed me to stay up to see it with her in our then living room while snuggling up on the couch with her.

Me as a kid fast asleep on the couch

Yup, that’s me fast asleep on the couch as a kid – a nightly ritual!

Truth be told, my nightly ritual was to fall asleep on on the couch while my mom watched TV. Then, I’d be carried up to bed by my dad as I hated to be alone at bedtime as my bedroom was upstairs.

So not a real stretch for me to be TV viewing with my mom. But Grease was definitely a first for me this particular night.

What was my original thoughts of Grease?

This film mesmerized me. I loved everything about it, especially the music.

See I have lost count now how many times over the years, I have watched that same movie over and over.

Makes sense that my mom would be the one to remind me to watch Fox’s updated version of Grease Live!

Still I was on the fence to watch. Why? Because I wasn’t sure if it would live up to the expectations of the original.

In the end, I caved watching the whole live, but updated version, Grease.

While I will admit it wasn’t the same and it definitely wasn’t nearly as good as the 1978 classic. But still as Danny Zako would say, “I got chills and they were multiplying,” while viewing.

Why?

Because it definitely transported me back and had it’s moments that I enjoyed. These moments included seeing the original Frenchy play the waitress Vi, as well as Eve Plumb of The Brady Bunch fame portraying the shop teacher, Ms. Murdoch.

Also notable mentions go out to, Julianne Hough, Vanessa Hudgens, Ana Gasteyer, and even Mario Lopez.

Why?

Because they were the perfect updated characters of Sandy, Rizzo, Principal McGee and Vince Fontaine.

However other parts, I really wasn’t as impressed with.

Like what?

The portrayal of Kenickie by Carlos PenaVega, which just seemed lacking to me and truly left me missing Jeff Conway’s version of Kenickie sadly.

Did you watch #GreaseLive find out some honest teen lessons from it now. #1Word

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But still Grease lived on in Fox’s live version. And so did the life lessons for all teens past and present that can be inferred from this classic teenage love story (whichever version you choose to view).

5 Honest Teenage Life Lesson Learned from Grease

5 Honest Teen Life Lessons Learned from Grease

1. Girls can totally be catty and tend to stick with their cliques. 

Sandy was the new girl. Frenchy and the Pink Ladies seemed to embrace her. But all was not what it would appear to her.  Why? Because Rizzo, the cool girl leader, found out Sandy had been with Danny. Therefore, all bets were off. And because of this the girl gang of friends were willing to hurt Sandy just because they could. 

Lesson learned – Be careful with girl friends. Why? Because you never know if and when they can turn on you over a guy.

2. Conversely, teen boys will mostly act like immature jerks where girls are concerned. 

It appeared that Danny had real feelings for Sandy. But he still couldn’t help but try to impress his guy friends every chance he got. When Danny realized that Sandy was going to school with him, he proved this point.  See he wanted to be excited to see Sandy. However he had to keep his cool to not let on how much as cared for her.  Thus, this proves the Frenchy’s point. “Boys rats or fleas on rats or still even worse than that, they’re amoebas on fleas on rats.” 

Lesson learned – Teen boys have to act tough and cool, while around their friends no matter what.

3. First love is exciting, but hurts, too. 

Throughout the movie, the good, the bad and the ugly play out as far as how this so-called love for both the main characters.

Lesson learned – When first love hits, be prepared to fall hard. Plus you will most likely get hurt in the process at some point.

4. Gossip never gets old. – This is the case with Rizzo divulging to Marty that she is pregnant. Then, this news spreads just as quickly as the dreaded flu does during the winter. 

Lesson learned – Good or bad news travels fast. 

5. Drama is around every corner no matter which way you turn. 

No wonder this teenage love story became a dramatic, musical movie. Why? Because really it had enough drama from the opening scene of these two professing their love right until the end credits with the song of, “We Go Together”. 

Lesson Learned – Just be prepared for the drama during this time in your life. Because there really is no escaping it.

Now go forth and hand jive on. Also, don’t let the others finish the ride for you. Because Grease is most definitely the word!

Do you love the movie Grease?

Did you watch Grease Live?

*This post was also written for the One Word Blog Linkup that is hosted by Lisa of The Golden Spoons and yours truly, too.

The words for this week are: Honest or Perfect or Curious.

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About Janine

Janine is a published author of the books, The Mother of All Meltdowns and Only Trollops Shave Above the Knee. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, Mamapedia, Today Parenting Team and SheKnows. She also runs her own graphic design company at J9 Designs.

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Comments

  3. Seana Turner says

    I have watched Grease so many times… I love the music! There are some true lessons… peer pressure can be extreme, and it often makes people act in ways that are unkind or self centered. As someone who has recently walked through the high school years with my children, I will say life was a bit more relaxed in those days… I didn’t see the kids up until midnight doing homework or studying for AP tests!

    • Janine says

      So true about school and learning being much more relaxed back then for sure. Definitely know when my girls get there, it will be interesting to say the least!

  6. Amanda || Growing Up Madison says

    Can you believe that I only watched this movie once and it was the classic. I so need to watch this new remake and you are so right. Those are truly lessons that you can learn because they are all so true. It was true then and it’s still true now. Bad or good news travel fast and people do tend to stick with their cliques. I think some things will truly never change.

    • Janine says

      I can’t believe you watched this only once and not going to lie, I have lost count how many times I have seen the original over the years. But I totally agree and some things most definitely will never change 😉

  7. Bill says

    I admit, here and now, that I had a huge crush on Olivia Newton John. Sigh!

    Don’t tell Bev. 🙂

    Happy Wednesday, Janine!

  8. April says

    I’ve seen Grease a couple of times. I don’t really have strong feelings towards it and I didn’t see it live. Those are great takeaways from the film.

  9. Bev says

    I was a little late to the game. I remember my first year at overnight camp when I was eight what seemed like all the girls in my bunk were obsessed with Grease and the music, neither of which I knew at the time. I have since seen the movie multiple times and adore the music.

    • Janine says

      Bev, the music is seriously the best part to me and still find myself singing right along – even if I can’t carry a tune to save my life! 🙂

  10. Diane Roark says

    Janine,

    I have always been memorized by Olivia Newton John. I actually saw her one time in a concert. Anyway, I too love the movie. It definitely reminds me of how teen boy never change. They are always so immature. I tell my sons all the time to remember a boys brain is not fully developed until they are 25 years old. This is scientifically true.

    Seriously, it was such a fun movie. I love the music.
    Thanks for sharing,
    Diane

    • Janine says

      Aw, Diane and definitely agree about teenage boys and you said a mouthful here. Oh and love that you saw Olivia Newton John in concert, too 😉

  11. Jen says

    Oh my goodness, YES!!! “I’ve got chills”…. I watched Grease about 10,000 times. Then watched it another million with my daughters. It is so raunchy in some places I cringed though and wondered if they would pick up on it? I didn’t pick up on any of that until I was an adult! The original Danny and Sandy just can’t be beat, EVER. I saw bits and pieces last night, but will need to catch the whole thing on the DVR. or maybe just the original one again!

    • Janine says

      I know I totally didn’t get the full extent of this movie until much older myself and hope you get to watch the new one just to get see it soon, but still the original is my favorite by far in all honesty 😉

  12. Kim says

    Grease really is timeless in so many ways. I remember watching it every chance I got in junior high; I couldn’t get enough of the music. I didn’t watch the updated one the other night. I’m not sure it would live up to my memories. I’m a sucker for original versions.

    • Janine says

      I am a sucker for the originals, too, but still couldn’t help myself. I would say it definitely wasn’t as good as the original, but still glad I watched for the experience if nothing else 🙂

  13. Shelly says

    I love love love the original Grease and have zero desire to watch a newer version. Every time I find Grease playing on Dish I watch it. I do the same thing with Drew Berrymore’s Ever After and Brad Pitt’s Legends of the Fall .

    • Janine says

      I know and trust me, I still watch the original each time it is on. Like I said though just couldn’t resist to watch the new though to compare 😉

  14. Leanne@crestingthehill says

    I loved Grease – it came out when I was in high school and a bit of an Olivia Newton-John tragic (not to mention John Travolta – who I loved from Welcome Back Kotter days) There are always lessons to learn from the agonizing ups and downs of teen-dom (shame we don’t really learn them until we look back when we’re older and wiser)

  16. Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom says

    I’ve never watched all of Grease – but this brought me back to my afterschool care director days. We had a staff member who planned musicals/shows yearly for us to perform in and Grease was one of them. He did all the choreography and the kids would do their numbers and the staff would do theirs. The parents loved it and paid a whole lot to come to the show and watch the caregivers dancing and lip-syncing.

    You were so cute there, sound asleep on the couch.

    Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop).

    Wishing you a lovely day.
    xoxo

    • Janine says

      Omg, I totally would have been one of those parents lip synching along, as I seriously know every song still to this day. And my pleasure linking up and thank you for hosting once again this week!! 🙂

  18. Dana says

    I watched…not as good as the movie, but I still enjoyed watching. The Grease album was my very first record, and I played it over and over and over!

  19. Kristen says

    I missed grease live! I totally want to show this to the girls now, wonder if they’re too young? Thanks for hte stroll down memory lane!

  21. Leslie says

    Grease is such a fun movie. The Husband doesn’t get it, but it’s just easy to watch fun! I completely forgot about the live version. Hopefully it’s available On Demand or something. I would love to watch it just for the musical numbers. You’re spot on with the lessons learned. Teenage boys are definitely amoebas on fleas on rats!

  23. eli@coachdaddy says

    Outside of Julianne Hough (swoon), this one fell short of the original. I couldn’t figure out why Willem Defoe was playing Danny. But then I put my glasses on and realized I was off – not by much, but was off.

    • Janine says

      I still cannot stop giggling over the Willem Defoe reference and seriously thank you for making my Friday afternoon with this and so much more!! 🙂

  24. Carrie Groneman says

    Such a fun post Janine! I didn’t see the remake, but from your review it looks like, as always, the original is always the best. The music is definitely toe-tapping and takes me back.. Thanks for the memories:)

  25. Aunt Gloria says

    I do remember enjoying Grease the first time I saw the movie. But it doesn’t work for me anymore…..maybe age has changed my perspective. The live TV production was well done but I didn’t really enjoy it until the last hour. Glad it still works for you and you enjoyed it. I like your lessons learned which are on the mark. Young love is very complicated! Happy weekend! xxoo

  26. Kenya G. Johnson says

    I haven’t seen Grease as an adult. I hate to admit I wasn’t a fan but I think I’d get a kick out of it now seeing everyone as their younger selves. I also missed Grease Live. But have really not watched any television “this year” except for football and Downton Abbey.

    Those are some great teen life lessons.

    • Janine says

      Kenya, still can’t help but be a fan as an adult I guess, but totally get not watching this new one if you aren’t a fan by any means 😉

  27. Chris Carter says

    Well, those were DEFINITELY the life lessons I learned from Grease too!! It was my absolute FAVORITE movie- and it was the movie that introduced me to SEX and all the pain/romance/upset that comes from that word! That movie was more my Sex Ed than any other class or ‘talk’… 🙂

    I did not watch the live version. I just couldn’t- and I had my youth group that night- but we did talk about ‘possibly’ blowing off group and watching it together!! The kids really wanted to, but I didn’t… BUT I was really curious about how it was though!

    • Janine says

      Aw, Chris you so need to watch it. It definitely wasn’t as good as the original, but still you need to experience it if nothing else!!

  28. Rea says

    I used to fall asleep on the couch too when I was a kid and my father would also carry me to the bedroom. He said I was already so heavy then. LOL. I haven’t really followed Grease but curious to research it anytime soon!

  29. Tamara says

    Didn’t watch it but watched the movie all the time at my grandparent’s house as a kid. How embarrassing! I also admit to learning a lot about teenagers from Grease!

  30. Robin (Masshole Mommy) says

    I couldn’t bring myself to watch the live version. Grease is my favorite movie of all time and I didn’t want anything to taint it.

  31. Nellie says

    Yes I totally watched it but I admit I haven’t seen the the original in a really long time so it was super awesome to watch the new *updated* version. I thought the acting was pretty great! There was a lot of mixed reviews on the interwebs though.

  34. Candace says

    Grease is one of my favorite all time movies. I’ve seen it at least 100 times :). I agree about Kenickie in the live version. There was something lacking there. I also agree with every one of your life lessons! This is great.

  35. Jessie, FlusteredMom says

    Love this post Janine! Important lessons that girls inevitably learn. Great idea to prepare them beforehand. I haven’t watched the live version but it’s definitely on my list!

  36. Julie S says

    Oh this is awesome! So true, these lessons are exactly what we experience and being prepared and knowing to expect drama, cattiness, and stupid boys can help at least with some of the heartache.

  37. The Pinterested Parent says

    I had a hard time getting through Grease Live being such a die hard fan of the first. Although, I did think Julianne did do a great job as Sandy. The women in Grease were certainly catty as they are in real life. I do not look forward to my daughter teen years & the heatbreak.

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