“Try That In A Small Town”

In recent weeks, the music industry has found itself caught up in a whirlwind of controversy surrounding a video released by country singer Jason Aldean. The video has sparked intense debate, with some viewers accusing it of being racist, while others argue that it’s merely another case of the race card being needlessly played. What are your views on this? Do you think the video was intentionally racist, or do you see it as a misunderstanding blown out of proportion? Let’s talk about it…

Gary Zeinert: “I haven’t seen the video. I have heard the song. I definitely don’t think the lyrics of the song are racist. I really think this is somewhat of a double standard. I grew up in the 80’s listening to NWA, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, The Ghetto Boys, and Public Enemy. The lyrics and videos for some of those songs are 1000 times more racist than any song or video put out by Jason Aldean.”

Jessica Lynn Bergen: “I really don’t see how it’s offensive. It’s the reality we live in. Small towns tend to stand together more than the big cities. I’ve seen our small town come together a few times when there have been children missing, and suspected violence. The big cities? Not a Chance. And after what he was lucky enough to survive. He has a right to use his voice.”

Kelsey Bernard:“It’s very simple, if you don’t like it don’t listen. I think it’s an amazing song. Good job Jason!!!”

Tina Chapman: “Anyone reminded of 91 when Garth brooks released Thunder Rolls and everyone freaked out?!?”

Gilbert Dimas: “Nope not at all racist. Blown way out of proportion. Blm, Antifa, and KKK are cancers.”

Jessie Smith: “This will all just turn into another way to polarize people even more. Some can easily say the “offended” group is being dramatic, but the other side is going to dig in their heels and make an even bigger deal of the song simply because others are offended by it. Aldean however is riding his publicity train all the way to the bank and probably could care less about either side’s opinion. You know what they say, ‘there’s no such thing as bad publicity’. Donald Trump virtually ran his entire campaign on that ideology.”

John Saito: “There is nothing surprising about the fact that small, isolated communities can be very proud and protective of their particular way of life, though sometimes pathologically so. Browse the videos by Youtubers like Peter Santenello and you’ll see this is not unique to any one region, ethnicity, race, religion, etc. Even in big cities, you have neighborhoods with small, tight-knit communities that are very distrustful of outsiders trying to impose their norms with no understanding or regard for what local residents value or need. In short, this is a very human phenomenon. We just don’t scale well, still.”

Haley McLucas:“ ‘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.’-Jason Aldean.”

Steve Woolworth : “Racism has always been in country music. It’s just now being called out.”

Jason Christenson:” All music that pushes boundaries will offend even when we are the world’s offended people.”

Mandie Tyler: “Smart moves as usual you start your own controversy and then your song goes to number one. Then you get all your fans, hyped buying all your stuff and listening to your music. Oldest marketing trick in the book. Still smart though.”

Tiffany Burks: “ I personally like a lot of music and I do like this song. I also find it interesting how people complain about this song and the video yet we have drugs, gangs, coochie popping, violence in other song lyrics and videos and no one complains about that. I know everyone has different opinions but I definitely feel that all the videos on this song in particular are REAL. He didn’t make a music video with false photos. If you don’t want things that have been done to be out for the world to see or hold against you then don’t do it. And no it has nothing to do with race EVERYTHING to do with character.”

Brenda Maddox: “I live in a fairly small town in Texas and that song fits our community well. Love it.”

Kimberly Walton: “Let Freedom ring in song ! Go Jason Aldean!”

Adam Martinez: “Jason Aldean doesn’t have the courage to admit the Jim Crow eras, court house video and the blurred out newspapers talking about NAACP wasn’t insinuating something. Just like many people defending it don’t have the courage to say they don’t like brown or blacks as much as whites. Maybe he didn’t do it on purpose but he has some pretty bad neo nazis going crazy for it. If they are smart enough to read between the lines then I’m sure these people see it too. Just too scared to admit it. In Uvalde, so many people use the N word and think it’s funny. Very disgraceful.”

Jessie Rizo “It’s all relative… take Uvalde. That wouldn’t apply to this town…showed weakness and vulnerability. Take January 6th – insurrection day… same.
However, take Nashville TN. The officers didn’t hesitate and eliminated the shooter. Again, it’s just a song and doesn’t apply across the board.”