#forever pride

I made Sparky last because I get so much serotonin from talking about why I think that he’s gay.

I feel like, if I explained every single thing, it’d take decades (It’d literally be the century anniversary of their deaths). I am so passionate about this.

I’ll probably save this for another time, but I want to say that his crush Senorita Pafuentes shows numerous signs of heteronormativity. I also want to point out that the song, Perfidia, could also easily be interpreted as heteronormativity. Sparky is sad for like a second and then immediately moves on. I know that Sparky isn't used to calling Senorita Pafuentes by her first name, but it's weird that he doesn't know it at all. In my experience, most peole do know their teachers names, especially if they have a crush on them.

Now, I want to analyze the Perry Como sequence, and the way Sparky described him really stuck out to me. He would overexaggerate small things that he does, twice ("There he was, sitting in the shotgun instead of behind the partition, 'cus that's the guy he was" and "Mr. Como took it in stride. What a guy!"). He says that he is "numb with excitement" and (In a Japanese production) said that he was tounge tied, TOUNGE TIED, because there was Perry Como with his Perry Como hair. He definitely didn't realize it, but that's a crush.

Then, there are his interactions with Smudge, which I've already discussed. There are a lot of moments involving the two of them, especially during Plaid Tidings, where Sparky tries to encourage Smudge to sing through Let it Snow, and compliments his appearance (And don't get me started on the mistletoe scene)

Plus, there's "Hey There" and the "better dresses" thing and the direct translation of Perfidia from Spanish to English and the Plaid Tidings scene involving Perry Como and omg there is so much to talk about but I'm going to leave it at that because I don't want to rant.

We talked about the first member of my favorite bi couple, Frankie! Now, let's talk about Jinx!

First, I want to talk about Jinx specifically in the original production. Jinx does actually say love, however, he immediately goes "oh" after that, with a clearly sad tone. Even after that, he says that he always wanted to tell somebody that he loves them. There's a clear lack of words that are used to imply his love's gender, which is something that many queer people experience. I think that he's bi because he truly meant anyone, because he can be in love with anyone.

Also, it's hard for me to talk about Jinx's bisexuality without mentioning Johnnie Ray.

For those of you who don't know who Johnnie Ray was, he was often called the "King of Tears". He sang the song "Cry", which Jinx sings in the musical. "Cry" is unmistakably his most well known song. However, he also sang "The Little White Cloud That Cried" and "Please, Mr. Sun".

Johnnie Ray was also bisexual, and was arrested multiple times for it. He wasn't open about his sexuality to the public, because he would have lost his reputation for it, although critics already didn't like him because he's effeminate. However, he put a lot of implicit messages about being LGBT, as well as being a GNC man, in his songs. The most noteworthy example is "A Sinner Am I". I highly reccomend listening to his other music, because he has some great songs.

"A love like this was never meant for man's imagination/And so I tell myself that I'm involved with mere infatuation"

As for "Cry" itself, that song was originally supposed to be sung by one women to another. However, Johnnie Ray completely changed the meaning of the song. Now, "Cry" is a lament of a man who can't express his emotions, unless through song, because it wasn't expected of him. Therefore, there's quite a bit of significance to Jinx singing the song. We know that he doesn't really talk much, and he's likely the most effeminate of the boys, so hearing him sing "Cry" is so impactful.

I’ve previously mentioned Frankie’s crush on Jinx, but Jinx’s crush on Frankie is so clear. There are some things Frankie can convince him on that not even Sparky can. When you watch the 1993 proshot, especially, you can tell how happy Frankie makes Jinx. Frankie is also the one who helps Jinx, and constantly makes him feel good.

Jinx’s character arc is gaining confidence, and he does. He realizes that he has been in love, and he realizes that his life was hard, but he deserves all of the good things that he got. There’s a reason why “Cry” is the fan favorite song, because he shows so much growth in that three minute song. Jinx is stronger than he thinks, and we get to see him learn about his strengths through an iconic song, made famous by a bi legend.

Okay, let's talk about Smudge.

Smudge, to me, is pansexual. I feel like he just doesn't care about gender, as much as he tries to make claims that he never had time for love and never really cared about it (Disregarding the whole working hard to sing about men who love thing). He doesn't care about gender, he just wants love, like every other character.

The interesting thing about Smudge is that he is the only character, in any production (As far as I know), that has been mistaken by his parents for being gay. In the 1987 production, Smudge mentions that he's had to convince his dad that he wasn't doing anything gay with the Plaids. We knew that the Plaids were nerdy, but the fact that they were bullied, not only for being nerdy but for potentially being gay, doesn't pop up in the production that is now known and loved.

It makes me feel even worse for Smudge, moreso than I already do (Which is saying a lot). He was a kid who never really experienced life to its fullest potential because he was just so worried about his future, and he worries about the mistakes he has made in the past. He probably had opportunities for love (He's canonly the handsomest one of the group), and he let it go, and he likely regrets that.

I do want to talk about Smurky, but not without saying that this is not me making assumptions on Larry and David's relationship. This is specifically about the fictional characters that they play.

Once again, I will talk about Sparky on a later date, but for now, I just want to say that Smudge, while he definitely didn't know it, was very much into Sparky. He would constantly look to him for validation, and they directly parallel each other with the whole thing about the golden dreams (Another thing I have no time to get into today), and they are the only characters to have a duet (Kingston Town). I will even go as far as to say that they're together during Plaid Tidings (Little moments such as Smudge noticing that Sparky uses moisturizer and Sparky looking at Smudge during Hey There, and don't get me started on the mistletoe thing).

While it isn't the main reason why Smudge didn't want to go back, I think another reason is that he finally got Sparky's attention. Jinx and Frankie too, but Sparky especially. Sparky is suddenly taking him seriously.

(Also, in almost every production I've seen, Smudge is usually really jealous when Sparky says that he's came close to love)

Smudge did have time for love, and he made time for love. Not only romantically, but for performing. He was wrong about his life being only work, all of the time, because he had so many friends, even though his parents were absent. He had a happy life, and that's all anyone could even ask for. And Sparky and Smudge are married in the afterlife.

Okay, folks, here are my headcanons and why the are, and I'm going to do a four part series on each headcanon!

Frankie is definitely bisexual. And I think he's the only one who really figured that out before he died. He definitely liked girls before and liked guys before, and thought that it was just something everyone did. I want to point out lyrics to Heart and Soul, for instance.

Heart and soul, I begged to be adored/Lost control, and tumbled overboard, gladly/That magic night we kissed

I think that he wants to be the one instilling the romance. While I think he's had crushes on both genders before, I don't think that he's ever fell in love. When he does fall in love, he loses control, and he falls hard. And yet, he's grateful to have fallen, just like he's grateful that he had a life, and it wasn't a long one, but it was one.

Oh but your lips were thrilling, much too thrilling/Never before were mine so strangely willing

Alas, the feeling that queer romance is just too good is one that many people have.

"Crazy 'Bout You Baby" also has some moments of Frankie's potential ideas on what love should be. Where he initiates every first move.

After we are married we will raise a family/All the plans we had before will fit to a tee/We'll be living humble in our own little way/If we're to be so fortunate could this be the day

This, I feel like, encapsulates Frankie's heteronormative ideas of love. He's going to be the man, he's going to raise and take care of some wife, and I think he has the idea that he can just ignore his feelings, both when he was alive and when he was dead. However, he wasn't so fortunate because, not only did he have feelings for guys, but he died before he could even begin to consider marriage. and a family.

I think that he fell for Jinx, and he fell hard. I'll talk more about Jinx in his own post, but Frankie is so overprotective of Jinx. The other boys are, too, but Frankie, especially. In most numbers, he's normally next to him, and don't forget that he was the one who convinced him on cry. Frankie, who wouldn't interrupt the show for anything, and it seems like his literal duty to perform, stops Perfidia because he wanted to teach Jinx the simple choreography. Even though Jinx isn't even upset about leaving, Frankie tries to comfort him, to give him something to hold on to. Frankie would get frustrated with Smudge or Sparky if they made mistakes, but not Jinx, never Jinx.

I don't think he's bi-coded, at all, but I think that Frankie being bi is a great way to interpret the character. He does like women, but it is confirmed that he's never really been near one. However, he's been near men for his whole entire life, and he doesn't take it as seriously, because he was taught not to. He seems to have ideas on what his role in a relationship should be, despite the fact that he is also sensitive and sweet (Especially towards Jinx), and his songs share his intense love, which is something that Frankie wants to have, not realizing that it was right in front of him.

I am neither a UTK student nor wish to become one, but I am nonetheless very disappointed in the lack of respect the school and athletic department has shown the Pride of the Southland Marching Band.  I would just like the world to know that I support Gary Sousa 100%.  I think that a successful, talented director of 16 years should not have been fired, regardless of whether the administrative office had thought him in the right or in the wrong for his protests.  He's a talented individual and he's loved by all the students!  Come on, UT!  The students are the ones paying you for their eductation and they are paying for the instruction of Gary Sousa.

Most teachers do not fervently advocate the rights and traditions of their students.  Though the plight of the arts in education has been devastating to many music educators, minimal activism has ever been taken.  The University of Tennessee has deemed Sousa to be unfit for his position of leadership, but isn't he more of a leader than the rest of us?

Although many people agree with Sousa's anger towards the band's treatment, many others feel that he had the right mission but went about it the wrong way.  Placing myself in his shoes, I think I would have been too scared to do anything at all.  He did something.  As Albert Einstein said, "Great spirits have always encoutered violent opposition from mediocre minds."