Flash
Green Velvet
A Dark Satire on Youth and Vice: Green Velvet's 'Flash'
Green Velvet's 'Flash' is a satirical commentary on the behaviors and vices often associated with youth culture, particularly within the club scene. The song is structured as a mock tour led by a guide who introduces the audience—presumably parents—to the various 'bad' activities their children are engaging in. The tone is both humorous and critical, using exaggerated scenarios to highlight the disconnect between parental expectations and the reality of youth behavior.
The lyrics describe a series of vignettes where young people are caught in acts of rebellion, such as inhaling nitrous oxide, smoking marijuana, and sneaking alcohol into a party. Each of these acts is presented with a sense of mock horror, as the guide instructs the parents to prepare their cameras to capture these moments for 'tomorrow's paper.' This repeated call to 'prepare the flash' serves as a metaphor for the scrutiny and judgment that society often places on youthful indiscretions.
Green Velvet, known for his unique blend of house and techno music, uses 'Flash' to explore themes of surveillance, societal norms, and the rebellious nature of youth. The song's dark humor and satirical edge make it a poignant critique of how society views and reacts to the behaviors of younger generations. By framing these activities as a 'tour' for parents, the song underscores the voyeuristic and often hypocritical stance that adults can take when it comes to youth culture.