The song “Rich Men North of Richmond,” worked its way into the first Republican presidential primary debate, and singer Oliver Anthony dropped a bomb Friday on the people who have been promoting it as a conservative anthem. “It’s aggravating seeing people on conservative news trying to identify with me like I’m one of them,” Anthony said. (NBC)
According to the New York Times, Anthony, whose song “Rich Men North of Richmond” has soared to the top of the Billboard singles chart, released a YouTube video on Friday denouncing Republicans and conservative outlets for co-opting his song.
That is likely to come as a shock to right wing politicians who have been promoting the song like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who has called it “the anthem of the forgotten Americans who truly support this nation … with their hard-earned tax dollars.”
Anthony said Friday “it “cracks me up” that the candidates had been forced to listen to his song onstage during the Republican debates, because he was singing about powerful people like them.”
A clip of Anthony performing was played by Fox News moderators at the start of the Republican presidential debate on Wednesday night in Milwaukee, after a series of videos of Americans lamenting conditions under President Biden, including inflation and homelessness.
Per The Guardian, “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.”He added: “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, not just them.”
