Jason Aldean’s latest single, “Try That in a Small Town” is soaring and with more strength amid the controversy over its lyrics since the accompanying video was released on July 14.
On Monday (24 July), the song debuted at #2 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 chart (a record high for Aldean) and #1 on the Hot Country Songs Chart.
The entertainment data company Luminate says its on-demand audio and video streams have increased by 999%, rising from 987,000 to 11.7 million.
Weekly sales of the song have also increased from 1,000 to 228,000, the company said.
Since the video was released, it has received over 17 million views on YouTube. The video was pulled from rotation on CMT (Country Music Television) on July 18, though to date, the American broadcaster has not provided a reason for its decision.
Critics have called the song a “racist” “lynching anthem” after learning that the music video was filmed outside the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, where 18-year-old Black teenager Henry Choate was lynched in 1927, as well as where the Columbia race riot was held in 1946.
Aldean responded to the criticism on a post on his social media.
“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,” his message began.
“These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. 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.”
“‘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.”
The single will be a part of Aldean’s upcoming album due out later this year.
