Looking good, spending money and having fun are what seem to interest most teens. But where they are from influences what they are into.
Teenagers in 1997 were definitely down with sports labels like Nike and Reebok, Kangol clothes and hats, body piercing, platforms, the baggy hip-hoppy skater-boy look. There’s still a taste for expensive labels like CK, Diesel and Cerutti but it was also the year of dreads, black blondes and turbans.
A definite in thing would have to be black-rimmed glasses with colour- tinted lenses. The kwaito, hip-hop and R&B served up by Y-FM (in Gauteng, elsewhere they’re probably listening to Metro) is hitting the mark in its market and so is the rock, pop and dance stuff of 5FM.
As for the popularity of local music, Kwaito still gets bashes pumping, and packed venues on the local rock scene are a positive sign. In their spare time they’re watching TV and movies, hanging out at flavour-of-the-month trendy spots and playing or watching sports.
Fast-food burger and chicken outlets and soft drinks such as Coca-Cola have got this market too. The age of ravers seems to have become younger and younger, and all types of teens are drinking alcohol.