Sweater weather: The real meaning behind TikTok's trend

“Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood has long been a staple on TikTok. The catchy song has taken on a new meaning recently, though.

It’s been dubbed a “bisexual anthem” by users. Simply playing a clip of the song or writing the words “sweater weather” signals to viewers that the subject of the video is bisexual.

As The Neighbourhood’s lead singer Jesse Rutherford explained to ABC News Radio, the lyrics to “Sweater Weather” are about intimacy — and are relatively genderless.

“One love, two mouths / One love, one house / No shirt, no blouse,” the song goes.

According to unpublished magazine, “Sweater Weather” was a massive hit among the Tumblr community.

Tumblr, which was at its prime in 2013 when the song came out, was an integral medium for exploring identity for many Millennials — whether that identity involved their sexuality or just the “soft-grunge” aesthetic that the Arctic Monkeys, Lana Del Rey and The Neighbourhood belong to.

Many members of the LGBTQIA+ community associate those popular Tumblr artists with the period in which they came out — and now, a younger generation is showing a sort of nostalgic appreciation for that era with this trend.

This isn’t the only TikTok trend of its kind, either. Earlier this year, the phrase “Do you listen to Girl in Red?” became a popular way to subtly ask someone if they are a lesbian. The name comes from LGBTQIA+ artist Girl In Red.

It’s similar to the euphemisms of the past, such as being a “friend of Dorothy” or wearing a ring of keys, but the tone is different — it’s more of a celebration than something meant to be hidden.

TikTok user James Wright, a member of the Hype House creator collective, uploaded an extremely subtle video that included the audio from “Sweater Weather.”

“Plz don’t hate me, i have my whole life but i’m finally starting to love myself,” he wrote in his caption.

Commenters got the message.

“So proud and happy for you,” one wrote.

“You saved so many lives by being yourself,” another said.

“I feel like a new person I love you guys sm oh my god,” Wright responded.

If you enjoyed this story, read more about what “my yellow” means on TikTok.

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