Everybody’s talking about Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” song and the video.
The noise got so loud that CMT decided to pull the video. They didn’t give a reason, but we all know that’s why.
Some people on social media are saying the song is pro-racism. They think the video and the song’s lyrics are referring to the chaos and rioting that went down after the George Floyd video, and the Black Lives Matter protests. That’s their interpretation, but Jason disagrees. He said so in statement.
The “pro-lynching” reference is because the video opens with Jason performing in front of the Maury County courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee. It’s where an 18-year-old Black man was lynched by a mob in 1927. The video and the song have absolutely nothing to do with that by the way. People are reaching for something and trying to compare things that aren’t even comparable .
The video features scenes of robberies, car-jackings, and protestors defying police. Which are problems and crimes that are often seen in major cities. Jason also defended the lyric about the gun his “granddad” gave him. A lot kids are gifted their granddads guns and there’s nothing wrong that. Never has been.
Jason’s statement reads:
“In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests. These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it- and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage -and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far.
As so many pointed out, I was present at Route 91-where so many lost their lives- and our community recently suffered another heartbreaking tragedy. NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart.
Try That In A Small Town, for me, refers to the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief. Because they were our neighbors, and that was above any differences. My political views have never been something I’ve hidden from, and I know that a lot of us in this Country don’t agree on how we get back to a sense of normalcy where we go at least a day without a headline that keeps us up at night. But the desire for it to- that’s what this song is about.”
I grew up in small town America. It really is about community, looking out for one another and taking care of each other in a time of need. Crime was dealt with and people weren’t scared to leave their doors unlocked.
This song speaks to the core of the country music audience and CMT is buying into the false narrative by pulling this video. While at the same time…showing how they don’t know their core audience at all.
Those fly over states are still important and the people that still live there are damn good people.
@brinatayloive – follow our HILLBILLY LIVE playlist on Spotify
