Oliver Anthony’s controversial viral country song ‘Rich Men North Of Richmond’ makes US chart history
nme.comBillboard).Anthony (real name is Christopher Anthony Lunsford) is just the sixth person in Billboard history to debut a first solo Hot 100 entry at Number One, following in the footsteps of Zayn, Baauer, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia and Clay Aiken.In addition to this feat, Anthony has marked a rare appearance for an unsigned act at Number One on the Hot 100 having self-released ‘Rich Men…’.“The hopelessness and frustration of our times resonate in the response to this song,” he told Billboard after reaching the top of the Hot 100. “The song itself is not anything special, but the people who have supported it are incredible and deserve to be heard.”Upon its release, ‘Rich Men…’ was praised by various right-wing media figures including Dan Bongino and Matt Walsh.
Republication representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, meanwhile, described it as “the anthem of the forgotten Americans who truly support this nation and unfortunately the world”.But other people have criticised the single for being “fatphobic” and labelled it a “right-wing anthem”.Despite highlighting societal issues such as homelessness in the US and the nation’s mental health crisis, the song sees Anthony punch down on the “obese milkin’ welfare“.
He sings that “if you’re 5-foot-3 and you’re 300 pounds/ Taxes ought not to pay for your bags of fudge rounds“.‘Rich Men…’ could in part be interpreted as a working-class anthem, as Anthony mentions “sellin’ my soul” for “bullshit pay“, and lambasts politicians and the “rich men north of Richmond” who “just wanna have total control“.However, he takes an anti-taxes stance too.
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