Leftists are raging over the popularity of Oliver Anthony’s smash hit “Rich Men North of Richmond,” a song that has hit home for ordinary Americans who no longer matter to the Washington, D.C. political elite.
In terrible times of crushing inflation, rampant crime, a federal government that’s been weaponized against the citizenry, and the American dream on life support, Anthony’s song harkens back to the days of the traditional left, showing how out of touch the modern Democratic Party and a large percentage of the country have become.
With “Rich Men North of Richmond” rocketing to the top of the Apple Music charts where it has even displaced Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town,” left-wing cultural revolutionaries are so mad that they’re spitting nails at what some have falsely characterized as “right-wing” and a “conservative anthem.”
The unhinged reaction to Anthony’s ode to an America that is slowly slipping away was a topic of discussion during Friday’s edition of “Outnumbered,” the popular Fox News daytime show.
(Video: Fox News)
“According to the media, this is a viral right-wing anthem. It’s offensive, it’s fat-phobic, it’s controversial, it’s championed by the right, it’s obscure. He punches down. I can go on and on. But I mean, how out of touch can you be?” asked co-host Kayleigh McEnany of the smash hit by Anthony, a high school dropout with the distinctive full red beard.
In addition to its popularity on Apple Music, “Rich Men North of Richmond” had received over 21 million views on YouTube as of Friday, as Anthony’s themes of elite greed, government corruption and working-class problems including suicidal despair and desperation have resonated with Americans in one of the darkest periods of the nation’s history.
(Video: YouTube/radiowv)
“One of the reasons that he said he wrote this song was not for fame, not for glory, but he was feeling a sense of mental illness, depression and anxiety because of the state of our economy. And so many Americans resonate with that,” said Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Fox News medical contributor.
“That’s why he shot up to number one because he understood and acknowledged the pain, the suffering and the struggling that so many Americans are dealing with on a daily basis. he is a voice for all of those who aren’t able to express what they’re feeling, what they’re going through, and be able to say, we need change now.”
Jeremy Hunt, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute said that progressive politicians should be “paying attention” to the response received by the song from ordinary Americans instead of the left-wing media.
“A lot of these kind of progressive politicians should be paying attention and trying to understand what’s going on in this cultural moment. Why are people so upset and willing to listen and to see what made this hit go viral?” Hunt said.
“20 years ago, ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ would have been considered a left-wing anthem because it’s about working class struggle, elitist corruption, and the frustrations of an ‘average Joe’,” Twitter/X user Zuby summed it up. “Things are so inverted that these sentiments are now considered ‘right wing’ lol.”
20 years ago, ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ would have been considered a left-wing anthem because it’s about working class struggle, elitist corruption, and the frustrations of an ‘average Joe’.
Things are so inverted that these sentiments are now considered ‘right wing’ lol.
— ZUBY: (@ZubyMusic) August 18, 2023
One person who responded to the video on Radio WV said, I’m a 39-year-old Iraq vet and Construction worker, struggling like a dog to take care of two kids and keep a farm going when I’m not working 11-hour days. This hit so hard today I had to stop my old Peterbilt and tear up. Preach brother.”
“I’m a carpenter of 24 years. At this very moment, I’m struggling to make ends meet, I’m raising two sons by myself, my wife left a week before our anniversary this year, missed my sons birthday, got strung out on drugs and is living with another man. My buddy sent me this video this morning. You have no idea what you just did for me brother. This was a blessing,” another responded.
“It feels like this world and the people in it are through with me. Like it’s just thrown me away. Hearing you put your frustrations into words reminded me that I’m not alone. There are other people out there like me who are sick and tired of being sick and tired. And those people are about to change your life forever,” the YouTube user wrote. “You aren’t gonna have to worry about paycheck to paycheck anymore. We’ll make you famous. And you deserve everything that’s coming your way. Keep making a difference. Guys like me need guys like you. Thanks man.”
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