I-I-I LOVE BOYS STATE! — There’s no denying that one of the staples of being a citizen of Boys State is the constant slew of chants like this coming from each of the parishes. It is what gets all of us fired up and shows how proud we are of where we reside.
Everyone wants their chant to win their parish the flag in the morning, and there are most definitely certain parishes that have greater rivalries with others, such as the Falayas with each other or Mississippi with Pearl.
So how does one go about making their chant better to achieve this? Here are interviews from some counselors and citizens that show their thoughts on the matter.
When asked if he would strive to achieve more volume or synchronicity when chanting with a parish, SC Vedros stated, “That’s a good question, because I think both are equally as important. You have to be loud […] I’m thinking of something executed at a high level […] and synchronous, right? I want to be able to hear it from a mile away.”
A citizen from Mississippi Parish responded similarly when he was asked what things could be done to better coordinate: “…it’s mostly being louder, so everyone can hear you.”
On the topic of bringing citizens of Boys State together with chants, SC Terro said, “I’d say that chants are a very good way to bring not only cities and parishes and academics in the state as a whole together, but I think it also helps create memories every single year that citizens and counselors can take home, and they’ll always remember that…” He also added, “Definitely looking for louder, higher-quality, more creative chants.”
So, there you have it. While being loud is definitely a core piece of a great chant, it takes more coordination than just that to make your chant the best.