Brothers Osborne, “Younger Me” | LGBTQ Bopz 🌈🎶

In the 23^rd edition of LGBTQ Bopz 🌈🎶 (2022), we highlight the song, “Younger Me” performed by Brothers Osborne.  

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ring on the B-O-P-Z, like #SLAYYY! LGBTQ Bopz 🌈🎶 is a column t that embraces, highlights, and celebrates singles and tracks by LGBTQIA musicians.  On LGBTQ Bopz 🌈🎶we provide background info and insight into the respective musician(s), as well as analyze + go gaga over the bops being served up.  Furthermore, when the music dictates deeper, more transcendent discussion, we ensure the point is articulated to the fullest.  All styles of music are welcome and the BOPZ can be classics or brand-spanking new. So, without further ado, in the 23^rd edition of LGBTQ Bopz 🌈🎶 (2022), we highlight 🎵 “Younger Me” performed by 🎙 Brothers Osborne.

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Theme & Lyrics ✍

It’s rare that country music and LGBTQ+ are mentioned in the same sentence. Is it even possible? Well, yes, and it’s become more frequent even if country music still seems to be incredibly heteronormative.  🎙 Kacey Musgraves encouraged us to “Follow Your Arrow”, though not sans controversy – those homophobes! Many years prior, 🎙 Willie Nelson sung about gay cowboys post-Brokeback Mountain, which was big (the song was written in the 1980s, believe it or not).  Later, the hunky 🎙 Steve Grand made country music much gayer with “All-American Boy” 😍.  And, of course, there’s the mysterious 🎙 Orville Peck with that gorgeous voice (and eyes, despite the fact that we haven’t seen the rest of his face), and his fearlessness.  Now 🎙 Brothers Osborne join the select few country musicians who add an entry to the LGBTQ+ catalog, 🎵 “Younger Me”.

“Younger me / Hanging out but not quite fitting in / Didn’t know that being different / Really wouldn’t be the end…” 🎙 TJ Osborne took a big risk, sad to say.  Coming out as a majorcountry musician isn’t easy.  Why? Country music trends conservative, and much of the fan base holds conservative views.  There’s a reason why there haven’t been many openly gay country musicians.  The good news is, it seems things have worked out for TJ and 🎙 John Osborne, with TJ, most importantly, living his truth, and the duo continuing to have success.  “Younger Me,” deservingly, earned Brother Osborne their first 🏆 Grammy award, something that’s more significant when you listen to the song and read the lyrics.

 

So, the question is, is “Younger Me” gay? Yes, but it’s not loud or unapologetic.  Honestly, this is a song that can appeal to different fan bases without offending anybody, or at least, I’d like to hope so.  No, it’s not sanitized, but rather, incredibly classy and refined. This very thoughtful record that finds TJ Osborne reflecting on his past and how it’s shaped him now.

“Hey, younger me

Made it harder than it had to be

Trying hard to dodge my destiny…”

The word gay is never uttered, nor does it need to be.  Osborne had already come out, and these lyrics speak to his journey without labeling it – skilled songwriting by him, John, and 🎼 ✍ Kendell Marvel.

“Yeah younger me

Overthinking losing sleep at night

Contemplating if it’s worth the fight

If he only knew he’d be all right

Yeah, younger me.”

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 Final Thoughts 💭 

I am so happy that TJ Osborne can breathe – live his truth and no longer go through the anxiety and stresses depicted in 🎵 “Younger Me”. I wish that it were easier for people who are ‘different’ but, unfortunately, that’s life, and life is a journey and everybody’s different.  I hope that others, not only in the LGBTQ community but everywhere, are inspired by this 🏆 Grammy-winning gem.  Just because you’re different it really isn’t the end.

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🎙 Brothers Osborne • 💿 Skeletons (Deluxe) • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc.  • 🗓 2021

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Brothers Osborne, “Younger Me”: LGBTQ Bopz 🌈🎶 No. 23 (2022) [📷: Anna Shvets, Brent Faulkner, Kurious, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, UMG Recordings, Inc.]

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