On Aug. 10, an unknown artist launched a tune that quickly received labelled the ‘anthem of our occasions’
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America’s tradition wars have a brand new theme tune. During the last two weeks, an Appalachian country-folk quantity with the title Wealthy Males North of Richmond has grow to be a viral music hit, with some distinguished U.S. conservatives amongst its extra vocal followers. Right here’s what it’s essential to learn about it.
What’s it about?
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Like a whole lot of working-class anthems, Wealthy Males North of Richmond is a paean to the way in which issues was. Lyrics embody: “It’s a rattling disgrace what the world’s gotten to / For folks like me and folks such as you / Want I might simply get up and it not be true / However it’s, oh it’s.”
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However whereas principally speaking concerning the widespread man versus the political fats cats who “simply need to have whole management,” the tune additionally takes goal at “the overweight milking welfare,” declaring: “For those who’re five-foot-three and 300 kilos / Taxes ought to not pay to your baggage of fudge rounds.”
It’s most head-scratching lyric: “I want politicians would look out for miners / And never simply minors on an island someplace.” It’s an obvious reference to Jeffrey Epstein’s personal island, the place crimes towards minors had been stated to have been dedicated by the intercourse offender.
Who’s the artist?
Oliver Anthony is the singer/songwriter behind Wealthy Males North of Richmond. His beginning identify is Christopher Anthony Lunsford and he hails from Farmville, Va. (west of Richmond), the place he lives on a small plot of land along with his three canines, which will be seen within the video for his tune.
What’s he recognized for?
Earlier than this mega-hit, little or no. Anthony began releasing music on Spotify in 2022, however was little seen till Aug. 8, when Wealthy Males North of Richmond was launched on YouTube by radiowv, a channel devoted to West Virginian music. It has since been seen nearly 30 million occasions. A nine-minute spoken introduction by Anthony on his personal Youtube channel has greater than 1,000,000 views. His Twitter feed, @aintgottadollar, went dwell on Aug. 10 and already has some 400,000 followers.
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What are his politics?
“I sit fairly lifeless centre down the aisle on politics and all the time have,” Anthony says in his introduction video. “I keep in mind as a child the conservatives wanting struggle, and me not understanding that. And I keep in mind a whole lot of controversies when the left took workplace. And it looks as if … each side serve the identical grasp. And that grasp is just not somebody of any good to the folks of this nation.”
That stated, he’s upset that “a greenback’s not price sufficient. It’s being overtaxed. Individuals are sick and uninterested in being sick and drained. I need to be a voice for these folks.” And he’s very riled up over little one trafficking. “I feel one of many worst issues a human being can do is make the most of a baby.”
Who’re his followers?
Regardless of his self-described centrist opinions, Anthony has grow to be a people hero of the far proper within the U.S., garnering reward from such politicians as Kari Lake (“It’s uncooked, it’s true, & it’s touching the hearts of males & girls throughout this nice nation”), Marjorie Taylor Greene (“That is the anthem of the forgotten Individuals”) and Lauren Boebert (“You’ve created an anthem for our occasions”). Nation music star and political commentator John Wealthy has supplied to assist Anthony produce an album.
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Not all conservatives are followers, thoughts you. A column by Mark Antonio Wright within the Nationwide Assessment pilloried Anthony’s “fuzzy lament.” Its recommendation to the musician: Get an actual job.
What’s his tackle all of this?
Anthony hasn’t spoken to the press since his breakout, however he launched a YouTube video, “Transferring Ahead,” that appears to handle his newfound fame.
“I’m no Dr. Phil,” he says, “however I simply really feel like, on this second in time, when so many individuals are feeling the identical frustrations, it will be fantastic to capitalize on that.”
He provides: “We have to discover a solution to take this vitality from this anomaly of a tune, from this silly man that – I imply, look, I admire the compliments, however I’m not a superb musician … and discover a solution to begin having good conversations with individuals who dwell round you. That’s all I need after this.”
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