Y’allternative is a phrase that has incited a movement. Originating on TikTok, the term was first used by a man to describe a certain type of girl, one who’s a little country and a little emo, by combining the words ‘y’all’ and ‘alternative.’ From then on, TikTok users have loved the phrase and used it all over the application to describe a subject much more meaningful than aspirations for a girlfriend.
The trending term now connects people who have felt alienated or have been marginalized by Southern culture, inspiring them to go back to their roots. TikTokers are showing that Southern people and culture are not defined by stereotypes. The trend also highlights artists who break away from the algorithm-focused modern development of mainstream country music, with lyrics that speak from the heart, tell stories and speak up for marginalized groups—some of the qualities that sound very familiar to older country music listeners.
I first encountered the term when the trend was being ruled by Josh Turner’s fantastic song “Would You Go With Me.” I saw multiple different videos that played the song and asked, “Why doesn’t all country music sound like this?” or claimed, “This is the only kind of country music that I will listen to.” I was confused because, in my opinion, Josh Turner’s music epitomizes real country music that many mainstream artists can’t seem to grasp. Josh Turner’s music is not the type of music that is on the ‘outside’ of country music, rather it’s at the very heart of it.
To those who didn’t grow up with a former bull-riding cowboy as a father, it may come as a shock that not all country music is about beer and trucks. Many people associate the genre with these topics because of the effects of the Sept. 11 attacks, as strange as it may sound. Although these themes were definitely present before, think of Joe Diffie’s 1994 hit, “Pickup Man,” they were not nearly as common in country music. It is due to the rise in patriotism following the terrorist attacks that people called for more music that makes them feel proud to be American. And so, the country music genre became bombarded with songs about stereotypical American customs and ideals, and it still hasn’t recovered.
Singing about these topics has become the norm, and today, these songs dominate the genre, earning them the name Bro-Country. Bro-Country is country music that lacks all depth, featuring shallow themes such as partying, women and any kind of alcohol. But I don’t think there is a single country music fan in the entire world who has thought to themselves, “Yeah, I want to hear another new song about beer.” Even the people who are within the genre seem to forget about the power of Revenge Country, the heartbreak of the Blues, the attitude of Red Dirt, or even the classic instruments that make country music country.
Although today it takes on a new name, Y’allternative, as a movement, is not as new as people think. Alt-Country has been around since the ’80s! What I want to impress on people that are just starting to listen to country music because of this trend is that Y’allternative is what country music was supposed to be this entire time. Music that tells stories, speaks from the heart and represents marginalized groups is exactly how country music began. I originally thought that people shouldn’t even use the phrase, because what they are describing is just real country music. Unfortunately, I cannot control how certain artists have altered the name of country music, so a new term might just be necessary. And if it opens more people up to the genre, and helps them to see it for what it truly is, then Y’allternative might just be my new favorite word.
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