Wikipedia

Rich Men North of Richmond

2023 single by Oliver Anthony

"Rich Men North of Richmond" is a song by American folk singer Oliver Anthony. It was released in August 2023. The song became very popular fast.[1][2][3] It was the number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This means that Anthony is the first artist to do this without Billboard success before.[4]

"Rich Men North of Richmond"
Single by Oliver Anthony
ReleasedAugust 8, 2023 (2023-08-08)
GenreCountry-folk
Length3:07
LabelSelf-released (through DistroKid)
Songwriter(s)Oliver Anthony
Producer(s)Oliver Anthony
Oliver Anthony singles chronology
"I've Got to Get Sober"
(2023) 		"Rich Men North of Richmond"
(2023)
Music video
"Rich Men North of Richmond" on YouTube

The song

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The song was first uploaded to YouTube on August 8, 2023.[5] It had 5 million views in three days.[6] Anthony self-recorded songs on his cell phone before.[7] "Rich Men North of Richmond" was Anthony's first professional song.[8] The song lyrics mentioned working long hours, but not being payed much.

In a video explaining his songwriting, Anthony said that his lyrics are attempting to speak for the working class and that he aspires to be a "voice for those people", noting that "whatever it is they're doing, they can't quite get ahead".[9] Anthony has described his politics as "dead center".[10] The song was played at a debate for the Republican presidential primary. Anthony said he did not like this because the song critiques them.[11]

“It’s aggravating seeing people on conservative news try to identify with me, like I’m one of them.... It was funny seeing my song… at the presidential debate because it’s like I wrote that song about those people, you know, so for them to have to sit there and have to listen to that, that cracks me up.”

Success of the song

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"Rich Men North of Richmond" was at the number one spot on Billboard Hot 100 on August 26, 2023, with 147,000 downloads and 17.5 million streams that week.[12]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Rich Men North of Richmond"
Chart (2023) Peak

position

Australia (ARIA)[13] 13
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 8
Global 200 (Billboard)[15] 2
Ireland (IRMA)[16] 13
Netherlands (Global Top 40)[17] 11
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 17
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 58
UK Singles (OCC)[20] 23
UK Indie (OCC)[21] 5
US Billboard Hot 100[22] 1
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[23] 1
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[24] 1

References

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  1. ↑ Oliver, Ned (August 14, 2023). "Farmville singer's blue-collar anthem "Rich Men North of Richmond" goes viral". Axios.
  2. ↑ Chilton, Louis (August 16, 2023). "Viral 'right-wing anthem' by country singer Oliver Anthony branded 'offensive'". The Independent. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  3. ↑ Rosen, Evan (August 12, 2023). "'Rich Men North of Richmond' becomes new right-wing, blue-collar anthem". New York Daily News.
  4. ↑ Trust, Gary (August 21, 2023). "Oliver Anthony Music's 'Rich Men North of Richmond' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  5. ↑ Hudak, Joseph (August 11, 2023). "Right-Wing Influencers Just Found Their Favorite New Country Song". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  6. ↑ Rosen, Evan (August 12, 2023). "'Rich Men North of Richmond' becomes new right-wing, blue-collar anthem". New York Daily News.
  7. ↑ Keates, Emma (August 14, 2023). "What is "Rich Men North of Richmond" and why is it suddenly everywhere?". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  8. ↑ Yang, Angela (August 14, 2023). "How an obscure country artist's viral song became a conservative anthem". NBC News. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  9. ↑ Geller, Wendy (August 13, 2023). "Who Is Oliver Anthony? What to Know About the 'Rich Men North of Richmond' Viral Hitmaker". The Messenger. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  10. ↑ Nicholson, Jessica (August 12, 2023). "'Rich Men North of Richmond' Viral Hitmaker Oliver Anthony: 5 Things You Need to Know". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  11. ↑ Suliman, Adela (2023-08-26). "After GOP debate, Oliver Anthony says politicians 'weaponized' his song". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  12. ↑ Trust, Gary (August 21, 2023). "Oliver Anthony Music's 'Rich Men North of Richmond' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  13. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Oliver Anthony Music Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Oliver Anthony Music Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  16. ↑ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Nederlandse Global Top 40 – week 34, 2023" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  18. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 28, 2023. Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 33". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Oliver Anthony Music Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Oliver Anthony Music Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Oliver Anthony Music Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
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