Nation singer Oliver Anthony has been within the headlines not too long ago after his music ‘Wealthy Males North Of Richmond’ was criticised as a “right-wing anthem” and branded “offensive”.
Within the eight days since its launch, the music has hit Quantity One on the iTunes Nation charts and has racked up over 17million views on YouTube, and has soared to Quantity One on Apple Music’s World Music Charts.
In an announcement, Anthony has stated he received’t rush into signing a file deal although, and has turned down a number of provides.
“Folks within the music trade give me clean stares after I brush off 8 million greenback provides,” he wrote on Fb. “I don’t need six tour buses, 15 tractor trailers and a jet. I don’t need to play stadium exhibits, I don’t need to be within the highlight.”
It has been tough as I flick thru the 50,000+ messages and emails I’ve obtained within the final week. The tales that…
Posted by Oliver Anthony Music on Thursday, August 17, 2023
He continued: “I wrote the music I wrote as a result of I used to be struggling with psychological well being and despair. These songs have linked with thousands and thousands of individuals on such a deep stage as a result of they’re being sung by somebody feeling the phrases within the very second they had been being sung. No modifying, no agent, no bullshit.
“Just a few fool and his guitar. The type of music that we should always have by no means gotten away from within the first place.”
Right here’s every little thing we all know in regards to the singer and why he has been stirring up controversy.
Who’s Oliver Anthony?
Anthony is a former manufacturing facility employee and farmer, who then determined to change into a rustic singer.
“There’s nothing particular about me,” he not too long ago wrote on Fb. “I’m not musician, I’m not an excellent individual. I’ve spent the final 5 years combating psychological well being and utilizing alcohol to drown it.
“I’m unhappy to see the world within the state it’s in, with everybody combating with one another. I’ve spent many nights feeling hopeless, that the best nation on Earth is rapidly fading away.”
Final weekend (August 13), he held his first public live performance for the reason that viral consideration for his music, and appeared to attract an enormous crowd to the North Carolina gig.
In a current tweet, the singer stated he was “in a state of shock on the outpouring of affection I’ve seen within the feedback, messages and emails”.
Wealthy Males North of Richmond has been uploaded to all main streaming platforms and can present up there in a couple of days.
Im nonetheless in a state of shock on the outpouring of affection I’ve seen within the feedback, messages and emails. I am working to reply to everybody as rapidly as doable. pic.twitter.com/iScaYp9AWQ
— Oliver Anthony (@AintGottaDollar) August 11, 2023
Why is Oliver Anthony controversial?
Upon its launch, ‘Wealthy Child North Of Richmond’ has been praised on social media by right-wing media figures together with Dan Bongino and Matt Walsh. Republication consultant Marjorie Taylor Greene, in the meantime, described it as “the anthem of the forgotten People who really help this nation and sadly the world”.
That is the anthem of the forgotten People who really help this nation and sadly the world with their hard-earned tax {dollars} and extremely laborious work.
This music represents my district and the folks of America I do know and love.
I’ll battle for the forgotten…— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) August 11, 2023
The monitor has additionally been criticised for being “fatphobic” and labelled a “right-wing anthem”.
At first hear the music may very well be interpreted as a working class anthem, as he sings of “sellin’ my soul” for “bullshit pay“. He additionally lambasts politicians and the “wealthy males north of Richmond” who “simply wanna have complete management“.
The music raises societal issues like homelessness and the nation’s psychological well being disaster, but additionally sees Anthony punch down on the “overweight milkin’ welfare“, singing that that “in case you’re 5-foot-3 and also you’re 300 kilos / Taxes ought to not pay in your baggage of fudge rounds.”
Elsewhere, The Guardian so it was “no shock” that the best wing loves it, whereas The Unbiased requested if “Republican anthems must be as horrible as Oliver Anthony’s viral hit ‘Wealthy Males North of Richmond?”
