The battle for a national identity has been fought for 250 years
Does American exceptionalism come from divine favor, or from the collective struggle to fulfill a larger promise?
Aaron Lee Tasjan is speaking out after reports of some fans walking out of a concert.
The folk musician first revealed on July 14 that toward the end of a performance of his song “I Love America Better Than You,” eight people walked out who were “clearly put off by the messages in the song.” But he felt no ill will, saying he feels his role is to “create works that affect the listener” and that “time to remain comfortable is gone.”
As media outlets began resurfacing the moment, a growing debate has emerged online, with the “Diamond Studded Shoes” singer responding to digs directed at him.
“These articles about people walking out of my show in Texas two weeks ago have brought some true characters into my life today!” the singer, 39, wrote on X Thursday, July 23. “People who love to play the role of patriotic American. Bless ’em.”
And in response to a now-removed tweet telling people to remember his name so they can avoid his music, Tasjan wrote, “Good luck remembering it most people can’t even pronounce it.”
On his Instagram story on July 23, he reposted the exchange, simply captioning it, “People are so mad I wrote a song lolz.”
His 2024 song takes swipes at the wealth gap, gun culture and “Christian nation” rhetoric before referring to the “land of immigrants” and “queer trans feminists.”
At one point, Tasjan sings, “I love America better than you / Her Founding Mothers and her hotdogs, too / First Black president / Insurrectionists / I love America better than you.”
Tasjan is known for blending politics and cultural commentary with personal themes in his music. The track is from his previous album “Stellar Evolution,” which is openly political.
Tasjan released his latest album, the somewhat less political “Get Over It, Underdog,” on July 17.
