Oliver Anthony, a relatively unknown country singer-songwriter just a few weeks ago, has skyrocketed to the top of the charts with his song “Rich Men North of Richmond” thanks to a surge of support from right-wing fans on social media. This newfound popularity has also boosted the sales and streaming numbers of his other politically-charged songs. In fact, Anthony currently holds the top three spots on the U.S. iTunes chart with “Rich Men North of Richmond,” “I Want to Go Home,” and “Ain’t Gotta Dollar.” Additionally, he has a total of 19 songs in the top 70 of the U.S. iTunes chart.
Anthony recently released a live performance of “I Want to Go Home,” which quickly garnered 1.5 million views within just 20 hours of its release and even reached the number one spot on the YouTube trending chart. The song, like his breakout hit, contains political lyrics that criticize the rich elite and shed light on mental health struggles. His music video for “Rich Men North of Richmond,” originally posted on August 8, has already amassed over 35 million views on YouTube and tops the YouTube trending chart for music videos.
In terms of streaming, “Rich Men North of Richmond” currently holds the third spot on the U.S. Spotify chart, with 1.5 million streams, just behind Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” and Gunna’s “fukumean.” Since its release, the song has been streamed over 20 million times. It’s worth noting that Anthony’s success on the charts is particularly impressive, as he only started writing and performing his own music this year. Previously, he worked as a farmer in Farmville, Virginia, and found solace in music during challenging times in his life, including struggling with substance abuse and working long hours in a factory.
The viral success of “Rich Men North of Richmond” can largely be attributed to its promotion by notable right-wing pundits and politicians, such as Matt Walsh, Ben Shapiro, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Kari Lake, who have shared the song with their followers on social media. However, the song has faced criticism from those on the left wing, who argue that its lyrics unfairly target welfare recipients. Nevertheless, the song’s widespread attention has propelled it to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, accumulating 17.5 million streams and 147,000 downloads.
Moving forward, it will be interesting to see how Anthony’s songs continue to perform on the Billboard charts. With his debut single “Rich Men North of Richmond,” Anthony made history by becoming the first artist to debut at number one on the Hot 100 without any prior chart history. His music often touches on political and social issues, with thought-provoking lyrics like “Son, we’re on the brink of the next world war, and I don’t think nobody’s prayin’ no more” from the song “I Want to Go Home.” Anthony’s songs, including “Rich Man’s Gold,” “Virginia,” and “Ain’t Gotta Dollar,” continue to draw attention with their exploration of poverty, drug use, and the desire for a better life.
In conclusion, Oliver Anthony’s rise to the top of the charts with his politically-charged songs has been fueled by a wave of social media support from right-wing fans. His unique and heartfelt music has resonated with listeners, garnering millions of streams and downloads. As he continues to make his mark in the music industry, it will be worth keeping an eye on how his songs fare on the Billboard charts in the coming weeks.
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