Jason Aldean defends ‘Small Town’ song, calls out ‘cancel culture’ – National
Jason Aldean still stands behind controversial new song try it in a small town.
Audiences listened intently as country singer Aldean talked about the reaction to the new single Friday on stage at the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The song and its music video have been accused of encouraging vigilante activity and racial violence.
Aldean, 46, accused a “cancellation culture” of coming for him and his songs.
“I want to tell you guys, it’s been a really long week. It’s been a long week and I’ve seen a lot,” Aldean said, referring to the outcry against his song.
“I’ve seen a lot of things suggesting that I am this way or that I am that way. This is the problem and one of the things I feel is that everyone feels entitled to their opinion,” he said. “You can think as much as you like, but that doesn’t mean it’s true, right?”
“I’m a proud American. I’m proud to be from here.”
A thunderous applause erupted from the crowd.
“I love our country. I want to see this bull go back to how it was before it started happening to us,” he concluded. “I love my country, I love my family, and I will do anything to protect it.
Then the crowd shouted “USA”.
Aldean went on to talk about the “cancellation culture,” saying that people are hungry to “ruin their lives and ruin everything” when they don’t agree with what they say in public. He said that country music fans “have the ability to see through a lot of bullish issues.”—. ”
After his speech, Aldean gave a performance try it in a small town for the crowd.
many critics mention try it in a small town As “Lynch Promotion” song.
The song was released in May, but controversy reignited when the country artist released an accompanying music video earlier this month.
Aldean filmed the song’s music video in front of the Morley County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee. That’s where a black man named Henry Chaote was arrested. dragged behind a car by a white mob The courthouse was also the scene of the 1946 Colombian race riots. Tennessee Highway Patrol Officers Raid Black Neighborhood following a controversial trial.
The music video contains footage of a Black Lives Matter protest, along with footage of an Aldeen singing in front of a courthouse. The video also contained a clip of a violent robbery, with some critics claiming Aldean confused protests against police brutality with violent crime.
Country Music Television (CMT) is Music video Outside the broadcast in the midst of the commotion. The video played in station rotation throughout the weekend until it was taken down on Monday. According to Billboard.
Aldean previously defended his song in a lengthy statement posted to Twitter (now rebranded as ‘X’). He wrote, “None of the lyrics in the song refer to or point to race.”
“I can strive and respect that other people have their own interpretation of a song with music, but this is going too far,” he continued.
“For me, ‘let’s do it in a small town’ refers to the sense of community I grew up with that cared for its neighbors regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs.”
The confusion surrounding Aldean’s latest song (which many claimed glorified gun violence) was further intensified by headlines reminding the crowd that 58 people were killed and hundreds more injured in a shooting at Aldean’s concert in Las Vegas in 2017.
— with files from Global News’ Kathryn Manny
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