Conversation

Notices

1. Embed this notice
   The Rob Burgess Show (therobburgessshow@newsie.social)'s status on Thursday, 20-Jul-2023 03:09:58 JST The Rob Burgess Show

   I just listened to Jason Aldean's disgusting vigilante justice anthem "Try That In A Small Town." Here's the thing: I grew up in a small town (Mitchell, Indiana: population 4,000) and I've spent most of my adult life working in other small towns not much larger than that. So, it's very rich for me to hear Jason Aldean, who grew up in a large city (Macon, Georgia) and lives in another large city (Nashville, Tennessee), tell me how things really are in small town.

   • Embed this notice
     Municipal Adhesives (municipaladhesives@kolektiva.social)'s status on Thursday, 20-Jul-2023 03:09:48 JST Municipal Adhesives

     in reply to

     • Kevin
     • Michael Gemar
     • DemocracySpot
     • Theodore Painsworth

     @DemocracySpot @michaelgemar @kevin @Itty53 @therobburgessshow

     It's also bullshit.

     Aldean and his ilk aren't "taking care of our own." Rural violence and premature death is skyrocketing out of control.

     You're substantially more likely to die peacefully of natural causes in New York City, Chicago or Los Angeles than you are in Phillips County, Arkansas or Lowndes County, Alabama.

   • Embed this notice
     Michael Gemar (michaelgemar@mstdn.ca)'s status on Thursday, 20-Jul-2023 03:09:49 JST Michael Gemar

     in reply to

     • Kevin
     • Theodore Painsworth

     @kevin @Itty53 @therobburgessshow Yep. For example, Taylor Swift started off as a country artist, and she grew up in Pennsylvania and trained in New York City. Keith Urban is from Australia.

   • Embed this notice
     DemocracySpot (democracyspot@mstdn.social)'s status on Thursday, 20-Jul-2023 03:09:49 JST DemocracySpot

     in reply to

     • Kevin
     • Michael Gemar
     • Theodore Painsworth

     @michaelgemar @kevin @Itty53 @therobburgessshow

     The important point isn't who's a poseur, but what message Jason Aldean was sending to the like-minded "We're not gonna take it anymore" disaffecteds. I live behind the red curtain in MAGAmerica, and everyone—everyone—listens to Country and would fist-bump Aldean and thank him for the song, if they could.

     They're the core audience for the music, whether they drive a pick-up or a Tesla. It's #MAGAMusic.

     Y'all come visit—have a look around.

     AnthonyJK-Admin repeated this.
   • Embed this notice
     Kevin (kevin@dice.camp)'s status on Thursday, 20-Jul-2023 03:09:50 JST Kevin

     in reply to

     • Theodore Painsworth

     @Itty53 @therobburgessshow As someone who grew up in small towns (and never wants to go back), that is really funny. I also get the feeling that most popular country music is listened to by city people with small town fantasies. Maybe even the performers. The standard drawl vocals sound so fake to me.

   • Embed this notice
     Theodore Painsworth (itty53@mstdn.social)'s status on Thursday, 20-Jul-2023 03:09:57 JST Theodore Painsworth

     in reply to

     @therobburgessshow

     Radio friendly country music has been explicitly propaganda since the days of George W Bush. When they stopped playing Garth Brooks, Reba, the Dixie Chicks, etc. Dixie Chicks really were the big, loud turning point but it was earlier than them.

     I really wish an experienced documentary maker would tackle the subject because it feels so, so heavily coordinated. Right wing political operatives co-opted country music the same way they did the churches before.