This Working Man Anthem Is The Actual Deal

“Wealthy Males North Of Richmond” rapidly shot to primary on iTunes after going viral on social media. Whereas singer-songwriter Oliver Anthony, together with his wily beard and bluegrass model, is just not the everyday country-pop star one would anticipate to prime the charts, he breaks the mould of indie-country music as nicely. By failing to evolve to both of the 2 types within the style which might be standard right now, Anthony reveals that his blue collar anthem is the actual deal.

Oliver Anthony | Wealthy Males North of Richmondpic.twitter.com/egEqDHcZXB

— Nation Chord (@CountryChord) August 10, 2023

Nation music is making a “comeback,” in line with Billboard journal. Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Kelsea Ballerini, Marren Morris — all among the many prime nation stars — mix nation themes with “hip-hop aesthetics,” bringing mainstream cross-genre attraction. Whereas typically hitting the identical repetitive motifs — filth roads, ripped denims, chilly beer, pick-up vehicles — they conform to the concept of what producers in Los Angeles think about appeals to the common joe. And with the common sell-out reveals, it’s clear the method works. Earlier this yr, Wallen turned the primary nation artist to prime the Billboard Scorching 100 chart in 42 years.(RELATED: The True Life Story Behind Mega Viral Nation Hit ‘Wealthy Males North Of Richmond’ Despatched Chills Up My Backbone)

This country-pop star typically conforms to the strictures of the broader left-wing music business. The media has lengthy insisted that nation music atone for its sins — its “longstanding race drawback” and “intensely homophobic” historical past. This “new class” of nation singer largely abides. These stars aren’t shy about promoting their left-wing bona fides on social media. At minimal they’re prepared to bend to the mob.

Combs engaged in a wrestle session about his “personal position in upholding systemic racism,” whereas Stapleton is a “BLM activist.” Ballerini infamously carried out alongside drag queens on the CMT Music Awards, whereas Morris went on Ru Paul’s Drag Race to apologize for the business’s “homophobia.”

There’s one other pressure within the style that types itself as a traditionalist different to  commercialized nation. Indie artists like Tyler Childers and Jason Isbell additionally obtain broad success, however with an aesthetic that hearkens again to the folks roots of early nation music. They focus themes of wrestle related to rural life in post-industrial America — nostalgia, habit, financial decline and cultural malaise with a real connection to native lore. Rolling Stone has deemed Childers the genuine “voice of Appalachia.” What was as soon as a counterculture stalwart is now an authorized institution mouthpiece.

Why would {a magazine} dedicated to delegitimizing Donald Trump as a dictatorial racist gush over a musician who claims to characterize the demographic probably to vote for him? Maybe it’s as a result of they’re each on the identical aspect.

Childers and Isbell are each adherents of the social left — variously termed “hicklibs” or “woke yokels.” Isbell is proudly “not afraid of alienating Southern followers” over their assist for Trump. He’s so overtly politically that he even thought of operating for workplace after his youngsters are grown, “if we nonetheless have a democracy” by then, he stated, in his greatest impression of a CNN anchor.

Childers too made a descent into left-wing racial activism on his 2020 album “Lengthy Violent Historical past,” denouncing American police brutality. On the time, NPR proudly coated how he “pushe[d] again” towards the apathy of his rural, white listeners. His newest launch, “In Your Love,” tells the story of a “queer love story.” NPR praised him for “taking possibilities,” however is it actually a threat to echo the favored political narrative of America’s elite?

Finally, the media loves the woke yokel nation star as a result of his reputation sends the message that resistance is futile. These musicians applicable the model and language of genuine nation music and exploit their very own real connection to the regional tradition to slyly re-orient conventional values towards a left-wing social agenda. Your chosen representatives within the music business all assist these new values — so surrender your backward traditions and fall in line, bigot.

Being instructed their hole advantage signalling is definitely a courageous stand of resistance permits hicklibs to maintain their indie cred, all whereas racking up mainstream reward and revenue. You may’t blame them for taking such a candy deal. (RELATED: Nation Music Backlash Reveals The Left’s Visceral Hatred For Conservative America)

Oliver Anthony is the uncommon nation singer who doesn’t fall into both class. “Wealthy Males” feedback on the real grievances of working class America— the dearth of financial alternative (“additional time hours for bullshit pay”), a politically incorrect critique of cultural decline (“the overweight milkin’ welfare), and the institution’s ceaseless want for “complete management” and indifference towards non-favored teams (“‘cause all this rattling nation does is carry on kickin’ them down”).  These are the true iconoclastic positions that the majority country-pop stars or their indie comrades would by no means contact. However that is precisely what makes Anthony so interesting to the lots. 

Now dominating the iTunes charts, Anthony reveals that an aspiring nation star doesn’t want to evolve to the aesthetics or the values of the broader music business. There’s a swelling urge for food for a really genuine voice in nation music, which is why the media has labored tirelessly to trivialize his success. Anybody who brings conventional values and types again to the style has the facility to disrupt the left’s narrative on what nation music needs to be.