Jason Aldean- Try That in a Small Town Music Video Controversy

[Brat]

I'm surprised nobody is talking about the Jason Aldean music video "Try That in a Small Town" controversy here!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY

CNN — 

A music video for a controversial Jason Aldean song that has received both backlash and support has been shortened by a few seconds, removing apparent television footage of a protest in Atlanta, Georgia.

The original video shows Aldean singing “Got a gun that my granddad gave me/They say one day they’re gonna round up/Well, that s–t might fly in the city, good luck/Try that in a small town” before footage from a Fox News station is seen with the chyron reading “State of Emergency Declared In Georgia.”

That footage also appeared in the beginning of the original video just after a Molotov cocktail, as it is known, is lit. The news footage was seen projected onto a building behind Aldean as he sings.

But the current video on YouTube no longer contains either instance of the footage.

It is unclear as to when and why the video was edited, but public outcry over the music video erupted last week.

CNN has reached out to reps for Aldean, his record label and Fox for comment.

While the song was released in May, according to Billboard, the accompanying video wasn’t released until July 14. 

Critics say the tune’s lyrics are evocative of vigilantism, racism and “sundown towns” that practice a form of all white segregation in which people of color and others who are considered outsiders know they faced violence if they are not out of an area before the sun goes down.

Some viewers noticed scenes in the video were shot in front of what appears to be the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee. The courthouse has been the site of several incidents of racial violence, including the 1927 lynching of a Black man named Henry Choate. It also served as a backdrop for the Columbia Race Riot in 1946.

CMT pulled the music video from rotation last week. 

Aldean has defended the song, tweeting “There isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage.”

The song recently debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Global 200 chart and the music video had more than 19 million views as of Wednesday.

 

I have my thots, but what do you think Exhale? 

[ByDemand]

[itsxrichiexbish]

i think it is important to never forget our past but learn from it. using these back drops is only inciting drama on what happened from the past. that’s really scary, because if we forget it only gives more room for it to happen again. that’s why cancel culture is ridiculous and that’s why the snowflakes are crazy. but just my opinion, i never seen the video… 

[jalpha]

The video is pure trash - so is the song, lyrics, etc. Beyond disingenuous and out of touch. He lives in a bubble with a TV tuned to Fox News.

Love how he didn't include any footage from 01/06/21 & none from the Charlottesville Protest.

Edited July 27, 2023 by jalpha

[Propagandalf]

[i sometimes sing live]

Quote

The song recently debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Global 200 chart

Racism won, but I can't say I'm surprised.

[MikeHunt]

I thought about starting this topic a few days ago but exhale is one of the few places I can escape the harsh realities of this world. I watch a lot of political and news channels/podcasts and it’s terrifying how America is going. 

[Bigno]

The whole thing was disgusting, but he knows his audience. Sadly

[Brat]

The song/video seems contradicting since there was no mention of the attack on the White House by people from "small towns" It also sounds like a threat to those who visit small towns. 

[bitbitboi]

1 hour ago, Bigno said:

he knows his audience. Sadly

...this...

[1stopBopshop]

If we all collectively paid this stunt the dust it deserves, he wouldn't have the no.2 song in the country. My opinion is that I do not care. I haven't heard the song, but I have seen some discussions and memes surrounding the song on my socials. That was enough for me. All that good ol'boy small town racist **** can be kept on the empty road next to a dollar general where it belongs. 

 

[icybaby]

I don't know him. I saw smth in a news though. I am not going to watch or listen this.

[ifuseekcody]

16 hours ago, i sometimes sing live said:

Racism won, but I can't say I'm surprised.

They say s. e. x. sells, but apparently so does racism  That Morgan Wallen ***** has had the Hot 100 #1 song for like the past month until recently, and now this Jason song debuting at #2. So disappointing!