Jason Aldean's song "Try That in a Small Town" has been at the center of controversy, with some accusing it of promoting racism and violence. However, a closer examination of the song's lyrics, context, and the artist's intentions reveals that these accusations may be unfounded.
### The Artist's Intention
Jason Aldean has stated that the song is about the sense of community he experienced growing up in a small town, where neighbors took care of each other regardless of their differences in background or belief[1][2]. He has also emphasized that his political views have never been hidden, and that the song is not meant to promote violence or racism[1].
### The Lyrics
The lyrics of "Try That in a Small Town" address crime and the deterioration of smaller towns, urging people to take care of their own communities[2]. While some lines in the song mention gun ownership and criticize certain behaviors, they do not explicitly promote racism or violence. Instead, they emphasize the importance of community values and taking care of one's neighbors[1][4].
### The Music Video Controversy
The music video for "Try That in a Small Town" initially included footage from the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, which led to accusations of racism[3]. However, the video was later edited to remove this footage, with Aldean's label citing "third party copyright clearance issues" as the reason for the change[12]. This alteration suggests that the inclusion of the footage was not intended to promote a racist message.
### Conclusion
While "Try That in a Small Town" has generated controversy, the artist's intention, the song's lyrics, and the edited music video all indicate that the song is not meant to promote racism or violence. Instead, it is a reflection of Jason Aldean's experiences growing up in a small town and the importance of community values.
Citations:
[1] Jason Aldean Try That in a Small Town Lyrics, Racist ... https://stylecaster.com/entertainment/music/1617322/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-lyrics/
[2] The Meaning Behind Jason Aldean's Controversial Hit "Try That in a Small Town" https://americansongwriter.com/the-meaning-behind-jason-aldeans-controversial-hit-try-that-in-a-small-town/
[3] Jason Aldean's 'Try That in a Small Town' Music Video ... https://people.com/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-controversy-everything-to-know-7565407
[4] Jason Aldean speaks out on 'Try That In A Small Town' ... https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/07/18/jason-aldean-speaks-out-on-try-that-in-a-small-town-video-backlash/70426819007/
[5] Try That In A Small Town Lyrics - Jason Aldean https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jasonaldean/trythatinasmalltown.html
[6] Jason Aldean - Try That In A Small Town (Official Music Video) - YouTube https://youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY
[7] Jason Aldean's 'Try That in a Small Town' becomes biggest ... https://ew.com/music/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-charts-racial-controversy/
[8] Jason Aldean responds to controversy over "Try That in a ... https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jason-aldean-responds-try-that-in-a-small-town-controversy/
[9] Jason Aldean's 'Try That in a Small Town' controversy ... https://www.npr.org/2023/07/20/1188966935/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-song-video
[10] Why is Jason Aldean's 'Try That in a Small Town' so controversial? - The Today Show https://www.today.com/popculture/music/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-controversy-rcna95562
[11] TikToker who debunked Jason Aldean's 'Try That in a ... https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/tiktoker-debunked-jason-aldeans-try-small-town-video-receives-racist-h-rcna95996
[12] Jason Aldean's 'Try That In A Small Town' video edited ... https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/07/27/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-video-edited/70473761007/
[13] The outrage over Jason Aldean's 'Try That in a Small Town ... https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2023/07/20/jason-aldean-song-video-pulled-cmt-controversy/
[14] Jason Aldean facing new racism accusations tied to 'pro- ... https://nypost.com/2023/07/24/jason-aldean-facing-new-racism-accusations-for-try-that-in-a-small-town/
[15] Jason Aldean On 'Try That in a Small Town' Backlash https://www.today.com/popculture/news/jason-aldean-try-small-town-backlash-rcna95001
[16] Jason Aldean – Try That In A Small Town Lyrics https://genius.com/Jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-lyrics
[17] How Jason Aldean's controversial hit song became a ... https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-jason-aldeans-controversial-hit-song-became-a-cultural-flashpoint
[18] Jason Aldean: Try That In A Small Town lyrics and video ... https://www.nationalworld.com/us/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-lyrics-video-controversy-blm-4225773
[19] Jason Aldean's 'Try That in a Small Town' music video ... https://abc7chicago.com/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-cmt-controversial-song/13522976/
[20] CMT Pulls Jason Aldean Video for 'Try That in a Small Town' https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/arts/music/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-cmt.html
By Perplexity at https://www.perplexity.ai/?s=m&uuid=4e71b17e-8b47-4884-b27e-08bb489b2278
