In this weekly column, MC/DJ Hesta Prynn pairs pop culture stories with an original playlist. Growing up in the suburbs of New York City there was always that one family who made multiple trips to Chinatown to load up on fireworks. And, though July 4th is over, DIY versions of the Macy's Fireworks Spectacular are apt to continue throughout the summer so long as there are still hotdogs being fired up on the grill and Budweiser tall boys to be consumed. This week's Five 'n' Five pairs suburban fireworks greatest hits with songs that went '90s summer jams.
"To all my neighbors you got much flavor."
This is, surprisingly, the firework most responsible for injuries due to the extreme heat at which they burn. In the suburbs this is a totally normal thing to hand out to five-year-old girls.
Black Cats a.k.a. "Garbage Cans" Fireworks: "The Power" - Snap,1990
"I've got the power!"
Every July 5th, there are a handful of stories about the local accountant or executive at a beverage company who filled a garbage can full of these and melted his own face off. The story will go something like this, "John threw in a match, he waited and nothing happened so he leaned over and looked in the garbage can and that's when it exploded."
Flying Spinners/Helicopters: "C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)" - Quad City DJs, 1996
"Don't knock it until you ride it."
Your next door neighbor's Dad seemed totally confident when he lit this up a mere three feet from his children, not so much so when it started spinning out of control and he headed for the hills. There's no telling which direction one of these will fly in, run for your life!
Roman Candles/Bottle Rockets: "Slam" - Onyx, 1993
"Let the boys be boys!"
Your brother and his friends lined up in rows and shot these at each other. Your mom nearly passed out. It's great fun, so what if someone loses a limb?
M80 Explosives: "Hold On To The Nights" - Richard Marx, 1988
"Hold on to the memories..."
Basically mini sticks of dynamite that should in no way be sold to the amateurs of New Jersey. Nonetheless every year without fail some fool puts a handful of these inside of a watermelon and explodes it over a group of screaming girls. Ah summer...