Oliver Anthony Music, Rich Men North of Richmond | Track Review 🎵

Ascending conservative-championed country singer Oliver Anthony Music is brutally honest on his blue collar record, “Rich Men North of Richmond.”

“I’ve been sellin’ my soul, workin’ all day / Overtime hours for bullshit pay… ” Whether you like it or not, country music is having a moment in 2023.  Some of those moments are fine, while others a sus.  Regardless, one of the latest country music moments to make a splash in 2023 is 🎙 Oliver Anthony, who releases music as 🎙 Oliver Anthony Music.  Mr. Anthony has definitely tickled the interests of conservative, right-wingers, and many disgruntled Americans with his raw, blue collar country song, 🎵 “Rich Men North of Richmond”.  Essentially, over the course of three minutes and change, Anthony expresses his feelings about the state of the country and those rich men north of Richmond, Virginia, aka Washington DC. 

“It’s a damn shame what the world’s gotten to / For people like me and people like you.” Throughout the course of “Rich Men North of Richmond,” Oliver Anthony serves up authentic, expressive vocals. He has a raw, rough around the edges sound. As the excerpted lyrics suggest, he is brutally honest, intact with some salty language.  One of the most colorful moments occurs in the third verse:

“Well, God, if you’re 5-foot-3 and you’re 300 pounds

Taxes ought not to pay for your bags of Fudge Rounds

Young men are puttin’ themselves six feet in the ground

‘Cause all this damn country does is keep on kickin’ them down.”

Naturally, 🎵 “Rich Men North of Richmond” is polarizing to a degree, as many protest, socially conscious songs tend to be.  Many will relate and embrace it, particularly references to mining and, perhaps, the poor taking advantage of welfare. Others will acknowledge valid points but question, what are the next steps? What is the fix as opposed to merely expressing it. Personally, I don’t agree with some of his takes BUT everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and I can see why the record resonates with people.

🎙 Oliver Anthony Music • 🎵 “Rich Men North of Richmond” • 🏷 DistroKid • 🗓 8.11.23

[📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; DistroKid; OpenClipart-Vectors, PIRO via Pixabay]