Sheryl Crow, the celebrated singer-songwriter, has recently voiced her discontent about Jason Aldean’s contentious new track that has been under scrutiny over the past few days. The 61-year-old artist from Missouri has joined the ongoing discussions surrounding Aldean’s song, ‘Try That in a Small Town.’ She expressed her concern and disappointment, stating that she thought Aldean, aged 46, was giving rise to misconceptions due to the song’s provocative lyrics.
Some of the lyrics that stood out are: “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.” Critics argue that these lines might give off an incorrect and potentially harmful impression, which sparked the controversy in the first place.
In a recent tweet, Sheryl Crow directly addressed Jason Aldean, highlighting her own small-town roots and expressing that even small-town dwellers are weary of violence. The tweet read, “@Jason_Aldean I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence. There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence. You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting.”
Further emphasizing her point, Crow added, “This is not American or small town-like. It’s just lame.” Her remarks underscored the widespread dissatisfaction with the promotion of violence, stating that it goes against both the American spirit and the essence of small-town living.
Sheryl Crow criticized the song’s implicit support of violence, stating that it doesn’t align with American values or embody the spirit of small-town living. She reminded Aldean, who himself was a survivor of the devastating 2017 Las Vegas concert shooting that took 60 lives and injured over 400 people, of the importance of sensitivity towards violence-related issues.
In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests. These references are not only meritless, but dangerous.…
— Jason Aldean (@Jason_Aldean) July 18, 2023
The music video for ‘Try That in a Small Town,’ which shows Aldean performing in front of a courthouse notorious for past lynchings, received immediate disapproval and was consequently removed from CMT programming. Accusations were levelled against the song’s lyrics for seemingly endorsing violent behaviors, and the video stirred additional controversy due to its inclusion of scenes from various protests, including those connected to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Jason Aldean took to Twitter to defend himself against the allegations leveled at his song, vehemently denying any association with pro-lynching sentiments or unfavorable views towards the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests.
“In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests. These references are not only meritless, but dangerous,” he began his statement.
.@Jason_Aldean I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence.There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence. You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting.
This is not American or small town-like. It’s just lame https://t.co/cuOtUO9xjr
— Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) July 19, 2023
He further insisted, “There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it – and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage – and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music – this one goes too far.” Aldean stood his ground, implying that the criticisms were misplaced and the song’s interpretation was stretched beyond reasonable limits.
Aldean, known for his hit ‘Dirt Road Anthem’, then clarified his intent behind ‘Try That In A Small Town’. He stated that the song encapsulates the sense of community he experienced in his childhood, where people looked out for their neighbors irrespective of their diverse backgrounds or beliefs. According to Aldean, the bond of neighborhood transcended all differences. The entire situation presents varying interpretations of the song and its impact. What is your take on this matter? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.
