Oliver Anthony, an up-and-coming country singer from Virginia, is the hottest name in music right now. His song ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ has become an overnight sensation, reaching the top of the iTunes charts and generating more than 9 million plays in just five days.
On Sunday, Anthony held his first public performance since the song went viral and received a rapturous reception from the crowd. Anthony opened the concert with Bible passages from the Book of Psalms.
“The wicked plot against the righteous,” Anthony read. “But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.”
The song touches on the struggles of the working class, detailing the issue of ever-increasing taxes and welfare systems. Some people have theorized that it may also reference the Jeffrey Epstein child sex trafficking case.
Speaking after the performance, Anthony said he was amazed by the public response to his song. “It’s crazy to me, because I remember back in June I played for about 20 people,” he said. “But that’s the beautiful part of this country, though, even an idiot like me can make something happen.”
“People are just sick and tired of being sick and tired,” Anthony continued. “So yeah, I want to be a voice for those people.”
When asked about his political views, Anthony declared himself to be “pretty dead center” and commented that Democrats and Republicans “serve the same master.”
This statement has found many takers on both sides of the political aisle, as Anthony’s music clearly conveys a general dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in the country. The lyrics of the song suggest a feeling of dissatisfaction and despair, something many Americans can relate to.
“I’ve been sellin’ my soul workin’ all day, overtime hours for bulls*** pay, so I can sit out here and waste my life away, drag back home and drown my troubles away. It’s a damn shame what the world’s gotten to for people like me and people like you.”
No matter what one’s political views may be, it is clear that Anthony has managed to craft a song that speaks to the hearts and minds of many Americans. While there is no doubt he will be around for some time, it remains to be seen if his music will be able to continue to affect people in the same way.