The problem with looking for racism in 2023 in every nook and cranny is that you will always find it, whether or not it is genuinely racist.
As one illustration, take a look at Jason Aldean’s most recent smash, “Try That in a Small Town.”
Polarizing? Sure. Aggressive? Absolutely. Unapologetic? Unequivocally.
though racist? Really? Not precisely “One in a Million” by Guns N’ Roses, but close enough.
Despite the song being in circulation since May, the music video, which was released on Friday, seems to ignite a brand-new wave of criticism.
Although the video as a whole was criticized for being “pro-lynching,” it’s important to note that the majority of the crime depicted in the clip—the crime that the lyrics are so adamantly against—is being committed by white people.
In fact, it would be difficult to identify anything that truly related to race in the song if you went through the entire thing. The song contains arguments in favor of the police and the Second Amendment, yet neither of them has anything to do with a person’s skin tone.
The fact that the absolutely over-reactionary reaction to the months-old song was enough to prevent Country Music Television (CMT) from removing Aldean’s song makes the entire “controversy” considerably more annoying.
According to a story in Deadline, CMT is removing the song “Try That in a Small Town” from its playlist due to complaints that it is objectionable.
Yes, the very same music station that purports to evoke the essence and spirit of the Western frontiersmen is visibly trembling in its false cowboy boots because lefties are allegedly enraged by Aldean’s song.
Yes, the very same music station that purports to evoke the essence and spirit of the Western frontiersmen is visibly trembling in its false cowboy boots because lefties are allegedly enraged by Aldean’s song.
(It should be noted that former President Donald Trump has given Aldean’s current “Highway Desperado Tour” his full support, which may help to explain some of the newfound lefty enmity.)
Aldean personally addressed the outrage on social media after the video was widely criticized for being “pro-lynching” and racist.
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.…
— Jason Aldean (@Jason_Aldean) July 18, 2023
“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,” Aldean tweeted. “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.
Aldean also added what the song truly meant to him: “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.”
These unjustified criticisms of Aldean’s popular music video are just the latest setback in a string of bad days.
Aldean experienced a heat stroke during his performance on Saturday and had to end his Connecticut set early.
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