Figuring out the meaning of 'crunk'

You've heard your own parents listen to their favorite songs that bring back sentimental days of their childhood.

"You would cry too if it happened to you!" my mom continued to sing as I walked into the kitchen one day. Of course, I left the room immediately.

It's a teenager's first reaction to be mad at their parents if they are actually having a good time.

The lyrics have changed since the good ole days of poodle skirts and hair grease. In fact, it's pretty frightening when you think about it. Our parents sing upbeat tunes from the Eagles or Boston, while we listen to upbeat tunes from the Kings of Crunk.

"What the dickens is crunk?" your middle-aged brain is thinking.

Let me bring you up to date on these important issues that you'll definitely have to deal with someday. (Maybe you'll even be able to embarrass your own teenage son or daughter after learning what it means.) At the dinner table, while serving the mashed potatoes, green beans, or whatever may be on the menu that night, simply shout out of no where, "Let's get this dinner crunked!" Proceed to sit down and casually ask them how school was that day.

"What did you just say?" they'll ask shakily.

If you still don't know what it means, UrbanDictionary.com states the word "crunk" as being a word to describe something as fun/hip/tight. If you need someone to describe what "tight" means you need more help than I thought.

Now if you happen to overhear your son/daughter on the phone discussing how they are going to get crunked at an upcoming party, beware.

UrbanDictionary.com states this as another way of saying that you're going to "get a little crazy and a little drunk." Don't worry too much about your children listening to the Kings of Crunk in their CD player. It mainly consists of a lot of grunting and shouting that is indecipherable to the human ear.

"But I thought my daughter listened to New Kids on the Block!" you think to yourself. Let me assure you that they're most likely heading over to The Mix to shake it like a saltshaker this weekend.

So will we be listening to these songs as parents? Will my son walk in on me holding a pimp goblet? These are just a few of the serious issues we as teenagers have to think about.

For my closing statement, I will leave you with a powerful quote to think about that the Ying Yang Twins have taught me. So listen here my future scholars, doctors, psychiatrists, pediatricians and kindergarten teachers: "Make it work, with your wet T-shirt."

Sam DeReign is a senior at Oran High School. Contact him at sdereign@semissourian.com.