October 2023: Jason Aldean responds to racism controversy
Throughout an interview with CBS Mornings with Jan Crawford, Aldean mentioned he “stands by” all the alternatives he made in writing the mistaken and selecting the situation for the controversial video clip. “I might do it over once more each time,” he mentioned. “I really like the track. I used to be excited to chop it and thought it was really a track that mentioned one thing for a change, not simply right here’s one other track for radio. I didn’t anticipate it to get the type of warmth that it bought, and I feel that was due to the video extra so than the precise track.”
He continued: “For anyone that thinks that we picked that constructing particularly for that cause, as a result of there was a lynching there or no matter,” earlier than Crawford requested if he was conscious of the constructing’s historical past. “No, however I additionally don’t return 100 years and verify on the historical past of a spot earlier than we go shoot it both. It’s additionally the place I get my automobile tags yearly. It’s my county that I dwell in,” he mentioned.
“The entire concept behind the video was to indicate, you already know, the lawlessness and the disrespect for cops and simply, you already know, trashing cities and burning—I’m simply not cool with that,” Aldean mentioned. “It simply — I don’t know, I really feel just like the narrative bought switched over and have become extra of a racial-type factor. It’s like if that’s what you bought out of the track and the video, I imply, I nearly really feel like that’s on you as a result of that wasn’t our intention.”
July 2023: “Attempt That in a Small City” will get pulled from CMT
The track “Attempt That in a Small City” is launched in Might 2023 and flew principally beneath the radar till July, with the discharge of its accompanying music video that depicts protestors as violent and lawless. CMT pulled the clip from its rotation and music followers around the globe slammed Jason Aldean, claiming he was inciting violence.
Aldean dismissed the criticism, saying in a press release revealed to Instagram: “Prior to now 24 hours I’ve been accused of releasing a pro-lynching track (a track that has been out since Might) and was topic to the comparability that I (direct quote) was not too happy with the nationwide BLM protests,” he tweeted. “These references will not be solely meritless, however harmful. There may be not a single lyric within the track that references race or factors to it – and there isn’t a single clip that isn’t actual information footage – and whereas I can attempt to respect others to have their very own interpretation of a track with music – this one goes too far.”
He added: “Attempt That In A Small City, for me, refers back to the feeling of a neighborhood that I had rising up, the place we took care of our neighbors, no matter variations of background or perception. As a result of they have been our neighbors, and that was above any variations. My political beliefs have by no means been one thing I’ve hidden from, and I do know that a number of us on this nation don’t agree on how we get again to a way of normalcy the place we go at the least at some point and not using a headline that retains us up at night time. However the want for it to – that’s what this track is about.”
This didn’t fly with another music stars, although. “I’m from a small city,” Sheryl Crow wrote on Twitter. “Even folks in small cities are sick of violence. There’s nothing small-town or American about selling violence. It’s best to know that higher than anybody having survived a mass capturing. This isn’t American or small town-like. It’s simply lame.”
Mayor Chaz Molder of Columbia, the place the clip was filmed, advised native information station FOX 17 that whereas he respects Aldean’s “freedom of his personal lyrics,” he hopes the following music video filmed in his city will “search a extra constructive message.” He continued: “Like many small cities throughout America, Columbia, Tennessee is targeted on bringing folks collectively. I hadn’t listened to the track previous to at present, however I’ve now seen the video.”
