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BIZARRE: 3 - You Need To See This

‘Dangerous gatekeeping’: why is country music still resistant to diversity?

Grammy-winning star Maren Morris has announced she is leaving the genre that made her famous due to bigotry, revealing an industry still stuck in the past

The Guardian - US

Maren Morris quits country over Trump

Singer describes Jason Aldean's "Try That in a Small Town" as example of country hits designed to "own the libs"

Salon

Country star Maren Morris announces she’s leaving the genre over its role in US culture wars

Morris has been a rare advocate for LGBT+ rights in the country music scene for years

The Independent UK

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‘Sticking it to the liberal media’: how conservative pop culture broke out this summer

The success of Sound of Freedom, Jason Aldean and Oliver Anthony has created a moment for outrage to take center stage

The Guardian - US

How this summer's hit 'Rich Men North of Richmond' was appropriated by both the right and left

This summer two American country singers, Jason Aldean and Oliver Anthony, came out of nowhere with unexpected hits. In both cases, their songs were politically appropriated.

The Conversation

The Guide #101: Why is rightwing music suddenly storming the charts?

In this week’s newsletter: Country tunes that talk of downtrodden folk and shadowy elites are making Billboard Top 100 history in the US. And songs about sausage rolls are to blame

The Guardian - UK

The rise of Oliver Anthony and 'Rich Men North of Richmond'

Audiences may have only just learned about a fast-rising country singer during the Republican debate Wednesday night. But "Rich Men North of Richmond" also has ties to extremist narratives.

WEKU

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Do Republican anthems have to be quite so terrible as Rich Men North of Richmond?

The pointed protest song has become a No 1 hit, aided by endorsements from Joe Rogan and a host of prominent American conservatives. The issues aren’t just political, writes Louis Chilton – the track is just downright bad

The Independent UK

The Return of Country Protest Songs

Sincere concerns, twangy guitars.

Reason

Billy Bragg releases pro-unionisation response song to viral country hit Rich Men North of Richmond

The British songwriter and labour rights advocate took aim at Oliver Anthony’s viral US country hit, urging people to join unions

The Guardian - UK

Do Republican anthems have to be as terrible as Oliver Anthony’s viral hit ‘Rich Men North of Richmond?

The Independent UK

Viral country song is a right-wing fave

Oliver Anthony's "Rich Men North of Richmond" calls out corporate elitism and the rich in a conservative bait song

Salon

Remy: Try That in a Large Town (Jason Aldean Parody)

Bro-country bureaucracy

Reason

Cancellation Axe Rumors Swirl Around The View. What's Really Going On Behind The Scenes

Rumors have been swirling that The View might in danger of cancellation, but what do sources say is really going on behind the scenes?

Cinemablend

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Salon

Jason Aldean's "Small Town" hits No. 1

The controversial tune made its Billboard debut just last week when it secured the No. 2 spot on the charts

Chicago Sun-Times

Stop fussing about Joe Biden’s age

Biden has what it takes to be president, or we’d already be in sorry straits.

Salon

The Boss knows real small towns, Aldean

It is not only easy to find better politics in small towns, but also better music than Billboard's No. 2 song

Chicago Sun-Times

Protests give Jason Aldean too much credit for his terrible country song

Aldean himself comes from Macon, Georgia, a city with among the highest violent crime rates in the U.S. His lyrics are banal, and unlike most good country music, they don’t tell a story.

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Chicago Sun-Times

Jason Aldean thinks he’s been misunderstood. He’s hasn’t.

His claim that there is not a “single lyric” in the song that references race is disingenuous. For one thing, the term “good ol’ boy” refers exclusively to white people. And then there are the images — a number of which are from protests in other countries!

The Independent UK

‘A modern lynching song’? Jason Aldean and the most controversial song in country

Star hits back after being accused of writing promoting violence and division with the video for his new track ‘Try That in a Small Town’, writes Joe Sommerlad

Salon

Aldean's “Small Town” video removes BLM

The edited video is now six seconds shorter than the original, which was posted nearly two weeks ago

The Independent UK

Jason Aldean removes Black Lives Matter clip from ‘Try That In A Small Town’ music video amid controversy

Country singer’s accompanying video for his latest single has been accused of containing offensive images

The Guardian - US

Jason Aldean’s controversial video reportedly edited to remove BLM references

Country singer’s popular yet heavily criticized Try That in a Small Town previously featured clips from police brutality protests

The Guardian - US

Musicians like Jason Aldean love to glorify ‘small-town’ America. It’s embarrassing

America’s cities are often safer and more diverse. Perhaps that’s why Aldean, who claims to despise big-city values, lives in one?

The Independent UK

Jason Aldean’s ‘Try That in a Small Town’ soars to the top of US charts amid music video controversy

Critics have called out the country song for its violent, inflammatory lyrics

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