Is viral sensation Oliver Anthony too good to be true? Is he just another industry plant or a genuine working-class hero? These are the questions that have arisen since the release of his song “Rich Men North of Richmond” less than a week ago. Anthony, an Appalachian country-folk singer from Virginia, has quickly gained a massive following, with fans hailing him as a phenomenon while others question his motives and political affiliations.
One of the main suspicions surrounding Anthony is the swift success he has achieved as an independent artist with no apparent industry support. The music video for “Rich Men” has garnered 12 million views in just six days, and he has amassed 341,000 Twitter and Instagram followers shortly after joining the platforms. His songs dominate the iTunes downloads chart, with three tracks in the top three and five in the top ten. Notably, his breakout tune has even cracked Spotify’s daily USA Top 50, a significant achievement. This rapid rise in popularity is reminiscent of Jason Aldean’s right-leaning anthem “Try That in a Small Town,” but with a seemingly more accessible and friendly persona.
Critics argue that Anthony’s lyrics in “Rich Men” target both the less fortunate and the elites in Washington, D.C., making it difficult to gauge his true intentions. The song contains lines like “the obese milkin’ welfare” and criticizes those receiving government assistance. Detractors claim that these lyrics reflect right-wing views or even echo QAnon conspiracy theories. Anthony, in a YouTube monologue released prior to the song’s debut, claimed to be nonpartisan and expressed dissatisfaction with both sides of the political spectrum. However, his association with right-wing figures such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and former Mumford & Sons member Winston Marshall raises further questions about his true beliefs.
While Anthony’s controversial lyrics and associations have garnered attention, his public appearances present a slightly different image. At his first-ever live performance at a farmer’s market, he displayed a more conciliatory demeanor, promising to meet and pose for pictures with each fan in attendance. However, there is an underlying sense of righteousness in his undertones that extends beyond his criticisms of obesity. During his show, he began by reciting a biblical passage from Psalm 37, which speaks of the destruction of the wicked. The crowd responded with immense enthusiasm, leaving observers unsure whether they were cheering for the promise of divine punishment or simply for the music to begin.
Many progressives suspect that Anthony may be a creation of hidden forces, but little evidence supports this theory. The singer claims to be a factory worker turned farmer with minimal industry connections, and his online presence under his real name reveals no indications of PAC or major label financing. It is plausible that Anthony organically fills a niche in music, particularly as conservative commentator David Harris highlighted the lack of right-leaning singer-songwriters in the roots-based music scene.
To conservatives, Anthony’s rise to fame may be seen as a vindication and an opportunity to embrace an artist who shares their ideology. Progressives, however, may view him as a satirical figure or a right-wing counterpart to left-leaning musicians like Tyler Childers. As Anthony’s popularity continues to soar, only time will tell whether he truly embodies the values he espouses or if he remains an enigmatic figure in the music industry.
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