Country artist Oliver Anthony, who went viral earlier this month since debuting his song “Rich Men North of Richmond”, is reacting to the controversy surrounding the hit.
17.08.2023 - 11:57 / nme.com
sellin’ my soul” for “bullshit pay“. He also lambasts politicians and the “rich men north of Richmond” who “just wanna have total control“.The song raises societal problems like homelessness and the country’s mental health crisis, but also sees Anthony punch down on the “obese milkin’ welfare“, singing that that “if you’re 5-foot-3 and you’re 300 pounds / Taxes ought not to pay for your bags of fudge rounds.”The country track has been praised on social media by right-wing media figures including Dan Bongino and Matt Walsh.
Republication representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, meanwhile, described it as “the anthem of the forgotten Americans who truly support this nation and unfortunately the world”.However others have criticised the song for being “fatphobic” and offensive.One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote that the song is “so uniquely offensive to me as a Virginian, a guitarist, a songwriter, a lover/ interpreter of folk music, a worker and an anti-fascist that I’m kinda hung up on it.”I'm sorry I keep posting about Oliver Anthony but that shit is so uniquely offensive to me as a Virginian, a guitarist, a songwriter, a lover/interpreter of folk music, a worker and an anti-fascist that I'm kinda hung up on it— the modern folk (@themodernfolk) August 14, 2023Another wrote that the song is not “some ode to the working class”, but rather a “reactionary tune that perpetuates fatphobia and the classic ‘welfare queen’ trope popularised by [former president] Reagan.“It vaguely critiques the wealthy yet directly/inaccurately blames the poor for ‘milkin’’ the system.”"Rich Men North of Richmond" isn't some ode to the working class. It's a reactionary tune that perpetuates fatphobia and the classic "welfare queen" trope
.Country artist Oliver Anthony, who went viral earlier this month since debuting his song “Rich Men North of Richmond”, is reacting to the controversy surrounding the hit.
Oliver Anthony, the country artist behind the viral release ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’, has said that it’s been “really funny to watch” the debate and controversy surrounding his song.Anthony has experienced a month of viral fame after a video of him performing his song ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ went live on August 8. It has since reached Number One on the iTunes Country Charts and is currently on 50million YouTube views and counting.It also made chart history by debuting at Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making Anthony the first artist to do so without any prior chart history.But the song’s viral success hasn’t been without controversy.
overnight music sensation Oliver Anthony to perform at his club, The Comedy Mothership, on Tuesday night.Anthony, the songwriter of “Rich Men North of Richmond” — which has been No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks now — appeared onstage to wild applause.Comedian and close friend of Rogan, Tom Segura, introduced Anthony to the raucous crowd at the Austin, Texas, venue, telling audiencegoers he had a “special treat” for them.In between sets, Segura teased the next act, saying, “Guess what? I’ve got a special treat for you.
William Earl Oliver Anthony, whose hit song “Rich Men North of Richmond” is at the top of the charts and created a political firestorm on both sides of the aisle, took to The Joe Rogan Experience on Wednesday for a longform interview about his life and many other topics. After saying in a tearful video posted last week that he was uncomfortable being presented as a flag-bearer for the right by hopeful Republican presidential candidates during last week’s debate, Anthony was cagey about any political leanings about “Rich Men”: He said little more than “at least I know I’m doing something right” by upsetting both sides of the aisle with the song.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has shared a message of support for singer Oliver Anthony whose song ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ went viral this month.Anthony quickly went viral after a video of him performing the song went live on YouTube August 8, and has since hit Number One on the iTunes Country Charts, soared to the top spot on Apple Music’s Global Music Charts, and racked up over 47million views on YouTube.It then made chart history by debuting at Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making Anthony the first artist to do so without any prior chart history.However, the song – which many interpreted to be a working class anthem – has been surrounded by controversy since its release, after it was criticised for being “fatphobic”, while others labelled it a “right-wing anthem”.Anthony – a former factory worker and farmer – has since sad that left-wingers “misunderstood my words”, while at the same time criticising Republicans for “weaponising” the meaning behind his viral hit.A post shared by Oliver Anthony (@oliver_anthony_music_)The singer has now received a message of support from Johnson, who praised the singer’s handling of the sudden wave of attention that came his way.In a recent Instagram post featuring a screenshot of Anthony’s huge surge in monthly Spotify listeners, he wrote: “I was thrilled at 300 and and I’m thrilled today. I’m beyond thankful for everyone.”‘The Rock’ commented shortly after to say: “Great to connect with u brother.
Thania Garcia After enjoying a historic opening week on Billboard’s Hot 100 songs chart, Oliver Anthony’s “Rich Men North of Richmond” now spends a second week topping a list that also includes fresh releases from Doja Cat, Olivia Rodrigo and Gunna. The single first launched to No. 1 in the tracking week ending Aug.
Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, propelling a once-unknown songwriter from south-central Virginia onto the national stage. But he’s staying close to his roots.He opened his Rock the Block festival appearance by reading a Bible verse to the crowd of about 350 locals then said, “Despite what you’ve been reading on the Internet, this song still rings true,” and launched into his first song, “Ain’t Got a Dollar.”His life has changed since he first sang its lyric “I ain’t gotta dollar, But I don’t need a dime,” with his estimated earnings now as high as $40,000 a day.Then the crowd became his chorus when he sang his viral hit hit “Rich Men North of Richmond,” and when he invited anyone who wanted an autograph or photo after his four-tune set on the “Rock the Block” festival stage on Fourth Street, squeezed between the Railroad Club and First Baptist Church, he was mobbed.It was his second Farmville gig in four days.
Oliver Anthony, the singer of viral hit ‘Rich Men North Of Richmond’, has hit out at both those on the left and right for “weaponising” his song.Released on August 8, the song has since hit Number One on the iTunes Country Charts, soared to the top spot on Apple Music’s Global Music Charts, and racked up over 32million views on YouTube.It then made chart history by debuting at Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making Anthony – a former factory worker and farmer – the first artist to do so without any prior chart history.Upon its release, ‘Rich Men…’ was praised by various right-wing media figures including Dan Bongino and Matt Walsh. Republication representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, meanwhile, described it as “the anthem of the forgotten Americans who truly support this nation and unfortunately the world”.But other people have criticised the single for being “fatphobic” and labelled it a “right-wing anthem”.Now, Anthony has released a video statement in which he hits out at those on both sides of the political divide for their opinions on the song and its meaning.The statement came after Republican Party members mentioned it at a presidential debate this week (August 23).“It was funny seeing it at the presidential debate, because it’s like I wrote that song about those people,” he said.
Oliver Anthony, and I don’t approve this message. The man behind the No. 1 blue-collar anthem “Rich Men North of Richmond” shared his thoughts about his song being brought up in the Republican presidential debate on Wednesday.
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The singer-songwriter responsible for the unexpected summer hit Rich Men North Of Richmond released a video statement on Friday that lamented the way that it has been “weaponized” by political figures, including the way that GOP candidates addressed it at Wednesday night’s presidential debate.
“Rich Men North of Richmond” singer Oliver Anthony is speaking out to clear up his political beliefs amid the the success of his song, which has been adopted as an anthem for conservatives in America.
Ethan Shanfeld Oliver Anthony, the country-folk singer behind this year’s most surprising No. 1 hit “Rich Men North of Richmond,” delivered a message to fans in a teary-eyed, 10-minute video posted to YouTube. In the video, Anthony addressed his viral song’s mention at Wednesday’s GOP debate.
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic If you look at Billboard’s latest charts, there’s an anomaly: Oliver Anthony’s “Rich Men North of Richmond” is No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart … but nowhere to be found on the Country Airplay chart, or Mediabase’s radio rankings.
It’s not hyperbole to describe Oliver Anthony as an overnight sensation, thanks to the out-of-the-blue success of his hit song “Rich Men North of Richmond”.
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Billboard).Anthony (real name is Christopher Anthony Lunsford) is just the sixth person in Billboard history to debut a first solo Hot 100 entry at Number One, following in the footsteps of Zayn, Baauer, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia and Clay Aiken.In addition to this feat, Anthony has marked a rare appearance for an unsigned act at Number One on the Hot 100 having self-released ‘Rich Men…’.“The hopelessness and frustration of our times resonate in the response to this song,” he told Billboard after reaching the top of the Hot 100. “The song itself is not anything special, but the people who have supported it are incredible and deserve to be heard.”Upon its release, ‘Rich Men…’ was praised by various right-wing media figures including Dan Bongino and Matt Walsh.
Oliver Anthony has been the surprise success story in the music industry this summer thanks to his song “Rich Men North of Richmond,” which has drawn lots of controversy.
Oliver Anthony’s viral hit “Rich Men North of Richmond” debuts at No. 1 on the next Billboard Hot 100 singles tally, marking a first for chart in the process. It’s the first time that an artist with no prior chart history has turned the trick since the Hot 100 began in 1958.
Ethan Shanfeld Oliver Anthony’s viral breakout hit “Rich Men North of Richmond” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making the singer-songwriter the first artist ever to notch the achievement with no prior chart history in any form. He is the sixth artist in Billboard chart history to debut a first solo Hot 100 entry at No.