Country-folk singer Oliver Anthony has expressed his disappointment and frustration at politicians, particularly conservatives, who have tried to align his hit song “Rich Men North of Richmond” with their political ideologies. In a 10-minute video posted on YouTube, Anthony made it clear that he does not identify with any particular political group and criticized the attempts to make his song a right-wing anthem.
These comments came after the GOP’s first debate of the primary season in Milwaukee, where a clip of Anthony’s song was played at the beginning of the debate and the moderator referenced it in the opening questions. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded to the song by taking aim at Joe Biden, Congress, and government spending. Anthony found it amusing to see his song being discussed at a presidential debate, as he wrote it to critique the very politicians who were now listening to it.
He clarified in the video that the song was not about Joe Biden specifically but is instead a critique of politicians in general. He believes that the song is much bigger than any individual politician and encompasses a broader criticism of those on the political stage.
“Rich Men North of Richmond” recently topped the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first song by an artist with no previous chart history to debut at No. 1. While many Republicans have praised the track for its criticism of big government, some liberals have criticized it for promoting negative stereotypes of welfare recipients.
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Anthony acknowledged the difficulty of conveying a political message in a three-minute song and expressed his frustration at the song being weaponized by both the right and the left. He felt that the right was trying to claim him as one of their own, while the left was trying to discredit him as retaliation.
In response to criticisms that the song attacks the poor, Anthony argued that his other music makes it clear that he defends the poor in his songs that reference class. He emphasized that his message in “Rich Men North of Richmond” centers around the inefficiencies of the government caused by corrupt politicians who are involved in bribes and extortion.
Despite the global success of the song, Anthony noted that the people responding to it are not just conservatives or Americans. He believes that the positive response from such a diverse group of people terrifies the politicians he sings about in the song. He expressed his determination to continue writing authentic music that represents people and not politics.
In conclusion, Oliver Anthony, the country-folk singer behind “Rich Men North of Richmond,” has denounced politicians who have tried to align his song with their political ideologies. He made it clear that he does not identify with any political group and criticized attempts to make his song a right-wing anthem. Anthony believes that the song is a critique of politicians in general and not about any specific individual. He defended his lyrics against criticisms that they attack the poor and expressed his determination to continue writing music that represents people and not politics.
