MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS: During a performance at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts, Jason Aldean defended his song ‘Try That In A Small Town’ by comparing it to the resilience shown by people following the Boston Marathon bombing. The center is about 40 miles south of where the bombings attack took place.
The song and its music video faced criticism and was even removed from CMT due to concerns over its portrayal of civil rights and city dwellers in a hostile manner. However, Aldean said that it was a "really cool song" with a message that has been “overshadowed by all the b******t."
What did Jason Aldean say about 'Try That In A Small Town'?
Aldean reportedly said during the performance, "I was lying in bed last night and I was thinking to myself, you guys would get this better than anybody, right? Because I remember a time, I think it was April 2013, when the Boston Marathon bombings happened, you guys remember this right?"
Aldean added, "The last time that happened was a whole, not a small town, a big-ass town came together, no matter your color, no matter anything. No matter if you’re anything. The whole country and especially Boston came together to find the people responsible for the bombings."
What happened that fateful day in Boston?
On April 15, 2013, the Boston Marathon was targeted by a devastating attack when bombs made from pressure cookers were planted at the finish line. The perpetrators behind this tragic event were the brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who were supporters of Chechen independence.
The attack resulted in the deaths of three and 260 were injured. The victims included Boston University graduate student Lu Lingzi, 23, restaurant manager Krystle Campbell, 29, and eight-year-old Martin Richard, who was watching the marathon with his family.
After the bombing, a manhunt ensued, during which Tamerlan, 26, died from injuries sustained after a car chase and shootout with the police. Dzhokhar, who was 19 at the time, managed to escape but was captured hours later, hiding in a backyard in Watertown.
‘Try That in a Small Town’ receives mixed reactions
Aldean told the crowd gathered during his performance, "And anybody, any of you guys that would’ve found those guys before the cops did, I know you guys from Boston, and you guys would’ve beat the s**t out of them, either one of ‘em," adding, "And I’ve been trying to say, this is not about race, it’s about people getting their s**t together and acting right, acting like you’ve got some common sense."
Peter Norden, whose two nephews lost their legs in the attack, told NBC that he believed his song did not carry any ill intent. "I don't have any problem using that (the 2013 attack) as an example (of a rallying community)," he said, adding, "I didn't take offense to it at all. If I would have taken offense to a song like that, then why wouldn't I take offense to some of the songs that really degrade women?"
However, some people were furious at Aldean for the comparison, with one netizen stating if the Country singer would say the same thing to Richard's family, who run a non-profit for peace.
