Zach Bryan, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and U.S. Navy veteran, recently stirred controversy with a snippet of new music shared on his official Instagram account. On Friday, a friend of ours posted this lovely audio clip. It explores delicate subjects involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids from the Trump era. This is powerful, like lyricist Bryan’s phrase “The fading of the red white and blue.” This has led to a highly polarized response from both the listening audience as well as prominent public figures.
In the brief clip, Bryan sings, “Didn’t wake up dead or in jail / Some out of town boys been giving us hell / I got some bad news / I woke up missing you.” The song’s behind-the-scenes creativity has garnered even more attention. This is in large part thanks to ICE’s recent wave of immigration raids in cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. These actions were met with strong opposition from local communities and advocacy groups around the country.
Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, responded to Bryan’s fresh tracks. In her words, “Stick to Pink Skies, bro.” This beautiful compliment demonstrates the impact of Bryan’s breakout smash “Pink Skies.” It’s included on his new 2024 album, “The Great American Bar Scene.” McLaughlin’s comment reflects the divided opinions surrounding Bryan’s choice to address political issues in his music.
Bryan’s lyrics have sparked a healthy conversation on social media. Some fans have been praising his audacity, while others have been attacking him for daring to address controversial issues in his art. He was and still is an important force in rock and country music. His art is created to foster the public discourse and sway minds in the direction of justice.
Perhaps most surprisingly, Zach Bryan has risen as one of the strongest voices in contemporary music. His raw honesty and lyrical vulnerability cut right to the core. His boldness in embracing tough issues will undoubtedly appeal to the most people while potentially pushing away the greatest number of his audience members.
