Nashville artist Hayden Joseph has struck back against the “bro” culture of country music with a happy and gay new video called “Backwoods Bougie.”
Joseph unveiled the video on August 20 as a rebuttal to the ongoing, pervasive tropes in country music that usually focus on drinking beer, womanizing, and driving around in oversized trucks. Instead, Joseph envisions a group of gays frolicking in a backwoods setting, sipping on White Claw, and getting wet from squirting on each other…with squirt guns, of course.
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“For obvious reasons, I am never going to be able to write to that template and feel remotely authentic,” the 27-year-old gay singer told HuffPost. “As a form of subtle protest, we crafted a song that plays into country music stereotypes, but also stays true to me. And the result is a ton of fun.”
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For Joseph, the video also pushes back against homophobic harassment he has received from other country artists.
“I’ve written off veiled remarks for years about my appearance, sound and lyrical content,” Joseph recalled. “But this was, unfortunately, a situation where I couldn’t do that. I was surprised, though, that this came from an artist several years younger than me, rather than an old-school exec. I was upset for a few days but have moved past it. I love how the video turned out, and we were able to edit him out of the final cut seamlessly.”
Joseph joins a handful of growing country (or country adjacent) artists that include Lil Nas X and TJ Osborne who have come out as gay, and who hope doing so will quash homophobia within the genre.
Have a look at the video. Prepare to get wet.
Fahd
I enjoyed his thoughtful comments – thing are explained more in the original HufPost piece- and the video. Nice voice and look. I hope he finds a wide audience. Is White Claw really a thing?
phuquall
Seriously? That’s the most popular brand of seltzer. Yes it’s real
ptn2719
At my age, having long ago realized I’ll never have a six pack (outside of my fridge), my Yeti will more likely contain something from Bent Paddle Brewing (Duluth, MN).
hotflyer99
Once Again Hayden has forgot to add men of color. The last I checked Nashville gay community has lots of diverse men. How can the LGBTQ say we are all inclusive and a United community when we continue
to never color outside the lines to include all different shades and backgrounds. Let’s do better next time please and thank you.
Mike Hunt
Ha. I just knew someone would play the race card about this video. First of all, not EVERY single thing or event or artistic creation has to include everyone. Secondly, the creator of this video has the right to determine his content and is not required to account to you or anyone else. Lastly, it was a bit boring; the guy in shades dominating the video was annoying, the guy (?) with extra long hair needs a haircut, and that dog was downright fugly.
RyanMBecker
Sure, but you’ve clearly missed the point of the video. “Bougie” is a disparaging remark for people obsessed with status and wealth, derived from “bourgeois.” So “backwoods bougie” is sort of like modern day Beverly Hillbillies. He was playing with, and mocking, country stereotypes. How many black Hillbillies, much less black bougies in the backwoods, do you know? Mockery is no fun if it’s not based on reality.
You might as well also complain that there are no women in the video, even though there are plenty of them in Nashville. But women aren’t the point is the video, is it?
Thad
Somehow I don’t think people of color would be turned away from this party. I want to go.
Yes, a LOT of today’s country music is gawdawful. But I liked this.
Jer
At my age I shouldn’t like Lil Nas X, but I do. And that bod? To live for. (And I’m 86.)
RyanMBecker
I’ve never heard of him but he’s cute. 😉
Okay, that was my superficial comment of the day.
Openminded
Love his voice!
Abraxas020
I so wanted to like this song. But damn is it flat & whiney.