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Country singer Oliver Anthony's “Rich Men North of Richmond” tops the charts after right-wing pundits and conservative social media users defend its pro-working class and anti-Washington elite message. , another triumph for right-wing country music on the charts. , just weeks after Jason Aldean's controversial “Let's Try It in a Small Town” went viral.
“Rich Men North of Richmond” has already topped the Apple Music and iTunes charts. (Photo provided by … [+]
important facts
In his surprising hit song “Rich Men North of Richmond” (ostensibly referring to Washington, D.C., the political elite north of Richmond, Virginia), Anthony sings a variety of phrases, including “We're being taxed endlessly.” He strongly criticizes the government for serious social problems. High youth suicide rates and 'welfare milking obesity'.
The song is Posted Formerly known as Twitter, Anthony .
Prominent right-wingers who have defended the song include Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). was praised The song, along with the former Arizona gubernatorial candidate, is “an anthem for forgotten Americans who wholeheartedly support this country.” Lake Kali and the critic benny johnson.
The song currently ranks at No. 1 on the iTunes chart, No. 1 on the Apple Music Daily Stream chart, and No. 3 on the U.S. Spotify Daily Stream chart. As well as other songs by Anthony, such as “Ain't Gotta Dollar” and “Ain't Gotta Dollar.” “I've Got to Get Sober” also ranked in the top three of the iTunes chart.
anthony Posted A video of a live performance of the song in front of a cheering crowd on August 13th was posted on the X profile, garnering 100,000 likes and thanking fans for their support.
Although the song is primarily supported by right-wingers, Anthony stated in a YouTube video that he is politically “moderate” and disagrees with both conservatives and liberals on this issue.
Main background
Anthony is a singer-songwriter who lives and works as a farmer in Farmville, Virginia. He started writing his own music in 2021, he said in an introductory video posted to his YouTube channel last week, saying it was an outlet for the difficult times he was going through, including “spending many nights getting high and drunk.” said. He says his experience working his 12-hour shifts at a North Carolina factory and his belief that people are overburdened and unable to advance economically despite working hard led him to the “Richmond North I believe that it has become an inspiration for the wealthy people of the world. Anthony first posted a performance of “Rich Men North of Richmond” on his YouTube channel on August 1st, and has been posting covers and original songs since 2020.
main critic
Some people criticized the song on social media. pointed In the song's line about welfare, Anthony criticizes the way obese people “squeeze” taxpayer funds to buy “bags of fudge”, calling it fatphobic and evoking negative emotions. There is. Stereotype About welfare recipients.other critics Noticed Anthony's official YouTube channel has a playlist titled “Videos that will make your nagging louder,” which promotes conspiracy theories, including claims that Israelis were involved in the September 11 attacks. Contains several videos. Anthony responded to a popular tweet referencing conspiracy videos on his own playlist, saying, “That's interesting, but what about the tip videos?” He's referring to another video he included in the same playlist. It's an hour-long video in which potato chips are rotated while the song “Funkytown” is continuously looped.
Contra
right-wing commentator Matt Walsh claimed Anthony's songs resonate with audiences not for political reasons, but because they are “raw and authentic.”He also defended Anthony criticizes welfare, arguing that “blue-collar Americans are tired of having their money stolen from them to maintain a system that is nothing more than a Democratic vote-buying scheme.” Conservative commentator Ben Shaprio praised the song, calling it “a cry for many in America” who feel “too many people have their hands in their pockets, especially the elites in the federal government.” Stated. Right-wing commentator Jack Posobiec said the song went viral and has since garnered 5 million views. Post Video of Anthony's performance at X – and was praised Its anti-establishment message.country singer john rich was praised Anthony sang the song and asked his fans to “pray for this man to achieve fame and maintain the independence he has been given.”
tangent
Anthony's hits came in the midst of country music's historic rise in America. signboard chart. Morgan Wallen's hit song “Last Night” is currently number one in the US. signboard It has been at the top of the Hot 100 chart for 16 weeks, making it the longest reign at the top of the chart for a non-collaborative song and the second-longest of all time. Jason Aldean's “Try That in a Small Town” hits the 7th amid a storm of controversy over the song, with some critics claiming it glorifies gun violence. It topped the charts for one week in May. The video was also controversial and was removed from Country Music Television because it was set in the Maury County Courthouse building in Columbia, Tennessee. The building was the scene of a 1946 race riot and a 1927 lynching, leading some critics, such as Congressman Justin Jones. (Democrat of Tennessee) called it a “heinous song that calls for racist violence.” Conservative commentators and politicians, including Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis, expressed support for Aldean, with Trump calling him “a great guy who just released great new music.” is. When Aldean's song topped the Hot 100, “Last Night” and Luke Combs' “Fast Car” came in at No. 2 and 3, making the trio of country songs the top of the chart. This is the first time they have ranked in the top three.
“Richman North of Richmond” lyrics
I sold my soul and worked all day long
overtime hours for bullshit pay
So I can sit here and waste my life
Drag me home and drown out my worries
It's really unfortunate that the world has become like this.
For people like me and for people like you.
I wish I could just wake up, it's not true
But that's, oh, that's
live in a new world
with an old soul
These rich people north of Richmond.
Lord knows they all just want total control
I want to know what you're thinking, I want to know what you're doing
And they don't think you know, but I know that you know
'Cause your dollars are worthless and you're endlessly taxed
There are rich people north of Richmond.
I wish politicians cared about miners.
It's not just minors on some island.
Lord, there are people in the street, there is nothing to eat
and obese milking welfare
God, if you're 5-foot-3 and weigh 300 pounds.
You shouldn't pay tax on a bag of fudge rounds.
Young people are placing themselves six feet deep in the ground.
'Cause all this damn country does is keep kicking them
Lord, I am so sorry that the world has become like this.
For people like me and for people like you.
I wish I could just wake up, it's not true
But that's, oh, that's
live in a new world
with an old soul
These rich people north of Richmond.
Lord knows they all just want total control
I want to know what you're thinking, I want to know what you're doing
And they don't think you know, but I know that you know
'Cause your dollars are worthless and you're endlessly taxed
There are rich people north of Richmond.
I sold my soul and worked all day long
overtime hours for bullshit pay
References
Right-wing influencers have found a new favorite country song (Rolling Stone)
How an unknown country artist's viral song became a conservative anthem (NBC News)
Jason Aldean's “Try That in a Small Town” tops the Hot 100, reaching No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 in country for the first time (Billboard)
