Thanks for the link! 
Posted on 08/25/2023 5:45:26 PM PDT by DoodleBob
Country-folk singer Oliver Anthony is denouncing politicians, namely conservatives, and those trying to make his hit song “Rich Men North of Richmond” the new right-wing anthem.
In a 10-minute video shared on YouTube on Friday, the musician said, “The one thing that has bothered me is seeing people wrap politics up in this. I’m disappointed to see [it]. Like, it’s aggravating seeing people on conservative news try to identify with me, like I’m one of them.”
Anthony’s comments come after the GOP’s first debate of the primary season in Milwaukee on Wednesday. A clip of the song was played at the beginning of the debate and moderator Martha MacCallum also referenced the song in the first questions, asking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, “Why is this song striking such a nerve in this country right now?” In his response, DeSantis took aim at President Joe Biden, Congress and government spending while addressing the song.
In the video, the singer said, “It was funny seeing my song at that presidential debate. Because I wrote that song about those people, you know, so for them to have to sit there and listen to that, that cracks me up. It was funny kind of seeing the response to it.”
He continued, “That song has nothing to do with Joe Biden. You know, it’s a lot bigger than Joe Biden. That song’s written about the people on that stage and a lot more too, not just them, but definitely them.”
Earlier this week, Anthony’s “Rich Men North of Richmond” topped the Billboard Hot 100, making it the first song by an artist with no previous chart history to open at No. 1. Following the song’s release earlier in August, many Republicans have praised the track for its lyrics critiquing big government. But some liberals have also criticized the song, saying some lyrics promote negative stereotypes of welfare recipients.
The artist said it has been difficult trying to “get a message out about your political ideology or your belief about the world in three minutes and some change. But I do hate to see that song being weaponized, like I see. I see the right trying to characterize me as one of their own. And I see the left trying to discredit me, I guess in retaliation. That shi*’s gotta stop.”
Later in the video, Anthony said he also needed to “address the left” because “they’re sending a message out that … ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ is an attack against the poor. If you listen to my other music, it’s obvious that all of my songs that reference class defend the poor.”
He added, “I do understand there may be some people who misunderstood my words in ‘Rich Men North of Richmond.’ But I’ve got to be clear that my message, like with any of my songs, it references the inefficiencies of the government because of the politicians within it that are engulfed in bribes and extortion.”
Though he’s excited about the song’s global success, the singer added that the people he’s seen responding to the song are “not conservative people” or “even necessarily Americans.”
“I don’t know that I’ve seen anything get such a positive response from such a diverse group of people, and I think that terrifies the people that I sing about in that song,” he said. “They’ve done everything they can in the last two weeks to make me look like a fool, to spin my words, to try to stick me in a political bucket. And they can keep trying, but I’m just gonna keep on writing.”
And while he doesn’t know what’s next for his music career, Anthony noted that he’s “going to stay true to my word. I’m going to write, produce and distribute authentic music that represents people and not politics.”
I did too.
That’s why I think the song has resonated with people from all sorts of backgrounds
John Rich - Shuttin' Detroit Down
It is about Washington DC.
It is about the fact that it is a big club and us peasants are not in it.
Like it or not both parties have given all Americans who are not upper management and above the middle finger for some time.
Trump is the first guy in a long time who has even acted like he likes us and gives a hoot about us.
You want to know why the Trumpets are sticking?
That is why.
So what’s the target? More than once he went after “conservatives” not “the Republican party.” And he explicitly said his song lamenting the ills of Biden’s America was not about Biden at all but definitely was about Republican candidates.
All publicity, whether good or bad, is good. Just ask Madonna.
All? He said it wasn’t about Biden but it was about the Republican candidates. It doesn’t sound like “all” to me.
Hes’ exactly right. Everyone in that debate and in the audience with the possible exception of Vivek were a subset of the rich men north of Richmond.
Thanks for the link!
Lois Lerner and Andy McCabe.
Yes, he is.
“That song has nothing to do with Joe Biden”
Nothing? It’s about politicians on the stage but not Joe Biden? Has he not been paying attention to the news of the Bidens getting money from foreign governments?
Not to mention all the Beltway Bandits secured to the government teat.
My guess is that he's been intimidated by some progressive family or friends.
I am very happy to see Oliver Anthony denounce the political use of his song by either party. Mr Anthony seems to be pretty apolitical as his music appears to aimed at all of The Rich Men North of Richmond. I for one, do not care how he votes, I simply want his music to keep on keeping on. He truly is a breath of fresh air.
I haven’t heard that in ages.
Tone Deaf = playing the verse ‘Rich Men North of Richmond only want total control, wanna know what you think, wanna know what you do, cause your dollar ain’t sh*t and it’s taxed to no end WHILE showing every candidate smiling their a** off at the same time.
And yes, the uniparty is responsible for the decline of America.
Those mad at Oliver are missing the point. He served a purpose. It’s us against them, not each other. Decades of division allowed government to sell America to the highest bidders.
How is this not a 'party' thing? The democrat party is a leftist party. He says he is neither left nor right. Everything he complains about in the song is the direct result of democratic leftist policies. Sorry, he sounds like a naive fool.
Exactly right. He’s distancing himself from conservatives.
Didn’t take long for him to flake out on us.
Oh well, I wasn’t impressed with his song, so no biggie.
Republicans are complicit in doing these things as well. There is no difference between the parties.
But I’ve got to be clear that my message, like with any of my songs, it references the inefficiencies of the government because of the politicians within it that are engulfed in bribes and extortion.”
That’s a pretty conservative viewpoint there, buddy.
He said it wasn’t about Biden or left or right, it was about the entire government and how it treats the common man.
Check out what the man says...
https://youtu.be/cv9uMXiY29s?si=74Eq34waMGPfsGSR
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