One of the first songs written, but the final single to be released from pink suits’ recent album Dystopian Hellscape, ‘Are You Gay Yet?’ has now been blessed with an accompanying music video, complete with all the riotous style that makes up the band’s signature impact on the punk scene.
The video is set in the kind of classic British pub that will be instantly recognisable to anyone who has ever stopped for a pint in a small town. Union flag bunting is strung up above the bar and a painting of the queen watches over the punters. Other than rather muted blues and greys, the only pop of colour is the golden yellow of very manly beer as the old mate from school chuckles, “Are you gay yet?”
As the music ramps up and the band delivers their response, the video switches gear. With the rallying cry “Am I gay yet? Fuck yes”, the band infuse the drab, simple setting with vibrant energy and colour. They swap out a grey hoodie for a pink mesh tank top and fringed leather waistcoats and leap up onto the karaoke stage. As the song goes on, the crowd joins in, replacing jeans and jumpsuits with bold silk scarves, bright pink cowboy hats and an eclectic assortment of fetish-wear. The camera lingers on different looks, highlighting all the styles and identities that fall under the queer umbrella; making a question as simple as “Are you gay yet?” horribly insufficient in its goal of pinning a label on any individual.
Throughout, neither the setting nor the people change. But the way the band bursts unapologetically into the scene opens a door for everyone there to embrace their own uniqueness and individuality. It hammers home the unavoidable truth that queer people aren’t separate from society, but a fundamental part of it. Whether you see that at a glance or not, the only difference is how much they hide it from you when they’re not sure if you’re safe to come out to. By standing up and being themselves, pink suits take a bland heteronormative room, where it passes as a hilarious joke to suggest someone might be gay, and turn it into the party of the century.
As the video continues, the line “What will the neighbours say?” is delivered from behind a pink latex fetish mask complete with blond braids and a spiked collar. The answer is right there in the room: the neighbours are as wild as anyone else and have been waiting for exactly this permission to show off their authentic selves.
Of the inspiration behind the video, the band explain:
The video was inspired by a real conversation Lennie had in a pub in Manchester with someone they went to school with, as well as an awkward experience doing Karaoke in a bar in a small town in Colorado. The guy hosting the karaoke night had a toy guitar and would play all of the guitar solos, so Lennie did a song and on the solo got on their knees to play the guitar with their mouth and it made the guy absolutely freak out and lose his shit at having a bloke drop to his knees in from of him. It was a very uncomfortable end to the song!”
Watch the joyously empowering new video for ‘Are You Gay Yet?’ now:
Kirstie Summers
@actuallykurt
Get In Her Ears 