Since then, controversial songs seemed to perform really well. Up until today when "cancel culture" is at its peak, the same thing and phenomenon still occurs.
In the case of Jason Aldean's "Try That In A Small Town," its recent ruckus helped the country singer score his first-ever Billboard Hot 100 chart leader, despite being tagged as "racist," "pro-lynching," and "dangerous" by many.
Why is Jason Aldean's 'Try That In A Small Town' Controversial?
Ever since he released the music video of the said song on YouTube, months after the track was released, Jason Aldean started receiving backlash.
The song seemed to be harmless at first. With a seemingly small audience before the video, Aldean's streaming activity surged when the music video was uploaded.
Notably, the "Try That In A Small Town" music video is what got it controversial. Almost a significant part of the music video was shot in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Colombia, Tennesee.
youtube
According to NBC News, the Maury Courthouse was a well-known historical spot in the town where a black teenager was lynched in 1927.
Reports said that an 18-year-old Henry Choate was accused of assaulting a 16-year-old girl. Although not proven, he was jailed. However, a mob, hundreds, of angry white people kidnapped Chaote from his cell.
He was tied at the back of a car and was dragged across town. Eventually, he was tragically and inhumanely hanged in front of the Maury County Courthouse.
READ ALSO: Billboard Hot 100 Has Country Songs On Top 3 For The First Time Ever Since 1958
In Aldean's music video, he sings the song with the lyrics: "Well, try that in a small town. See how far ya make it down the road. Around here, we take care of our own."
What bothered people was that during the song, the music video switches from him singing that song in the infamous courthouse while videos of Black Lives Matter protests and riots were interposed.
However, per Entertainment Tonight, Tacklebox, the production company behind the "Try That in a Small Town" music video, the decision to shoot Aldean in the courthouse because it was a "popular filming location outside of Nashville."
Aldean has since addressed the issue multiple times: "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."
The song has since peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and was tagged by the publication to be the most controversial song ever.
READ ALSO: Billboard Names Controversial No. 1 Hits, But Fans Call It Iconic? 'Being Insane Gets You On Top'
