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Femi*!$T

I turn on the radio and flip to the station,“106.7 Star FM”. I hear this young man screaming, “Hit the Quan!” and I think to myself, Did he just say “Hit the Quan”? Did I hear that right? No, probably not, sometimes lyrics are hard to understand.

But then I hear it again, “Hit the Quan!”.

Nope, I heard correctly, he definitely just said “Quan”…What is a “Quan”?

It turns out that a “Quan” is just someone’s last name. Beyond that, it isn’t actually anything; or it is, and no one quite knows what, exactly. The only definitions it has been given are found on Urban Dictionary, and most of them would get me suspended if I published them.

But, from what information I’ve gathered, most people seem to agree that a “Quan” has something to do with an out of control, crazy person.

But does that make sense? Well, just like in algebra, let’s plug our answer in for “x” and see if the variable satisfies the equation.

“Hit the ‘crazy person’!”

Hmm. Well, I guess it works in it’s own context.

So, why would anyone want to listen to a song that’s entitled by a word that isn’t even real and is based off of some rapper’s dance move? Because, ladies and gentlemen, it has a nice beat, a catchy chorus, and a solid collection of dance moves. It fits a cultural trend. It’s trendy.

For something to be trendy, it means that a large population of people enjoy it. By definition, to be trendy is to be very fashionable or up to date in style or influence, which is why songs like “Hit the Quan,” “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” “Panda,” “Work,” “Hotline Bling,” etc… are so popular. Lyrically, they’re not of impressive or even average quality, but they follow the trend of having nice beats and catchy choruses, and people enjoy dancing to them.

But this isn’t the only trend around. It’s not even the only trend in music. Indie music is trending as well. So is Acoustic music.

And trends always change.

Fashion trends are constantly mixing up and going in and out of style. For example, because of the transition into the new year, Lauren Alexis Fisher, of Harper’s Bazaar, reported the top 15 fashion trends of 2016: “Chokers,” “Tour Merch” “Velvet,” “Off-the-Shoulder Everything,” “Old-School Logos,” “Slip Dresses,” “Millennial Pink,” “Vintage Fit Denim,” “Luxe Streetwear,” “Bomber Jackets,” “Loafers,” “Puffer Jackets,” “Robe Coats,” “Ladylike Bags,” and “Statement Earrings”.

Wow! I didn’t even know there were 15 fashions trends in 2016 to begin with.

Nowadays, with more and more high school students becoming politically involved and opinionated, the movement can also be considered a trend.

Feminism is a trend.

“Grey’s Anatomy” is a trend.

“Harambe” is a trend.

Hating America almost seems like a trend.

Am I grumpy 85 year old man that is sour toward all trends? No I’m not, but I know it may seem like it. Though I’m not crazy about all the trends that are going on, I actually believe most of them are good.

Trends are mainstream, but they’re not basic, they’re not boring. And people who follow trends should not be viewed in a negative way.

I suppose it can be said that trend seekers are “conforming to society”, but that doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.

Besides, a lot of people are “society nonconforming” and don’t follow trends. So, doesn’t that just make it a trend?

Trends bring a large portion of society together; they relate and unify people. that’s the goal, right? For people to stand united? And shouldn’t that prove that trends can be used for good?

There’s a thought.