Ah, the famed “summer fling”. It’s a great plot device in movies, sure, but how different is it in real life from its portrayal in your favorite summer romp period musicals? It’s certainly hard to come by actual people that have experienced some so-called summer lovin’, aside from those that consider a one-night stand a qualified fling (we’re thinking a fling has to span at least most of the summer), so is the real thing truly as great as film chalks it up to be? We’ve examined lines in the song “Summer Nights” from the 1978 hit “Grease” (which revolves around Sandy and Danny’s translation of their summer fling into a full-time relationship, for those that don’t know- but how wouldn’t you?!) to see just how much of the song stays true to what we feel a real fling consists of, in a game we call “Fact or Fiction”. Read on for a possible reality check before you get involved this summer.
Lyric: “Took her bowling in the Arcade”
Verdict: Fiction
Do Arcades even exist anymore? Does anyone even go bowling anymore? While this does sound like something a couple of summer lovers may do, if you’re older than seventeen, it’ll probably not be the setting of your epic whirlwind romance.
Lyric: “We went strolling, drank lemonade”
Verdict: Fact
A laid-back stroll definitely sounds like a good, probable daytime date for a summer fling. You may have to sub out your lemonade for a green juice, but we won’t tell anyone.
Lyric: “We stayed up ’till ten o’clock”
Verdict: Fiction
You’ll either be passed out before that from too much sun or still up because the party hasn’t even started yet. Either way, 10pm is not a goal.
Lyric: “She got friendly down in the sand”
Verdict: Fiction
Can we just talk about how uncomfortable this would be? It sounds great in theory, really- but realistically, it’s just not too romantic. I don’t know too many people who are down with sand in their lady parts.
Lyric: “He showed off, splashing around”
Verdict: Fact
This is definitely something playful but not overly corny (like it’s television depiction) that may occur during the course of your brief romance.
Lyric: “So I told her we’d still be friends/ Then we made our true love vow”
Verdict: Fiction
Realistically, you won’t talk ever again. At most, you’ll follow each other on social media and like each other’s pictures occasionally. You certainly won’t make any vows or promises- and if you do, you probably won’t keep them. No harm, no foul.
