Rich Men North of Richmond

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This song is like a Rorschach test. People are hearing what they want to hear.

I happen to like it. Interesting voice. The song feels authentic unlike 99 percent of the country coming out of Nashville. The singer is giving voice to some of the frustrations non-college educated small town Americans feel about life today. Is it an accurate assessment of contemporary economic and political realities? No. But so what. There are tons of hip hop and rock songs that make people feel something vaguely political. This is like the redneck version of Fight the Power or Killing in the Name. You might be offended or appalled by the lyrics but it's resonating with a huge swath of Americans

Yes, but no one can actually pin down his positions. “I’m angry cuz Walmart owning type rich people give us checks, but they ain’t enough, and also my obese aunt shouldn’t git no disability check cuz she ain’t earn it.” Like I don’t understand who the fk this song is addressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the song is more of a negative reflection on Biden and the extreme inflation that we are having.
People and families are struggling.

If the economy was good Anthony would not have written the song nor would it have had the large support it is getting.

It is now Billboard #1.

No it's not, MAGA idiot.

https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/

Your link actually shows that it is at #1.

And, just to prove pp's point.....

The poster to whom you were responding was too busy name-calling ("MAGA idiot") to read.

Actually, the link took you to the week of August 19 last night and the song was not on there. This morning, the link takes you to the week of August 26, in which the song is number one. PP was not wrong, just premature and perhaps ignorant of the way Billboard times its lists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand what the fk this song is supposed to protest.

Is he mad that obese “welfare queens” abuse disability benefits.

Is he advocating for less worker protections and is anti-union?

I agree it seems like some singer with a unique voice, but a poor grasp of economics and capitalism, is railing against things he doesn’t really understand.

On the welfare thing, he seems to be complaining about misplaced priorities. The line about the "And the obese milkin' welfare" is preceded by "Lord, we got folks in the street, ain't got nothin' to eat."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the song is more of a negative reflection on Biden and the extreme inflation that we are having.
People and families are struggling.

If the economy was good Anthony would not have written the song nor would it have had the large support it is getting.

It is now Billboard #1.

No it's not, MAGA idiot.

https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/

Your link actually shows that it is at #1.

And, just to prove pp's point.....

The poster to whom you were responding was too busy name-calling ("MAGA idiot") to read.

Actually, the link took you to the week of August 19 last night and the song was not on there. This morning, the link takes you to the week of August 26, in which the song is number one. PP was not wrong, just premature and perhaps ignorant of the way Billboard times its lists.

PP was also arrogant and snarky in her ignorance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the song is more of a negative reflection on Biden and the extreme inflation that we are having.
People and families are struggling.

If the economy was good Anthony would not have written the song nor would it have had the large support it is getting.

It is now Billboard #1.

No it's not, MAGA idiot.

https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/

Your link actually shows that it is at #1.

And, just to prove pp's point.....

The poster to whom you were responding was too busy name-calling ("MAGA idiot") to read.

Actually, the link took you to the week of August 19 last night and the song was not on there. This morning, the link takes you to the week of August 26, in which the song is number one. PP was not wrong, just premature and perhaps ignorant of the way Billboard times its lists.

And perhaps too busy tossing out the dreaded "MAGA idiot" phrase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He didn’t intend it to send a divisive message, in fact, the opposite. He’s apolitical, thinks the media is divisive, wants people to see what’s common between them. It will be unfortunate if it’s used as a political tool. That isn’t his intention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNqvfMrYdNo

He wants people to see what’s common between them by dividing the north from the south? He thinks that echoing the divides of the civil war is the best way to be apolitical? He must be pretty dumb or you are completely wrong about his motives.

[Anonymous]

Bet there will be a lot of trump, confederate and Nazi flags at this “concerts” or rallies from now on. Wonder if trump will have him play at his events?

[Anonymous]

I have a feeling that those on this thread blowing this off as some uneducated idiot who doesn't know anything are going to be in for a rude awakening in the coming years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He didn’t intend it to send a divisive message, in fact, the opposite. He’s apolitical, thinks the media is divisive, wants people to see what’s common between them. It will be unfortunate if it’s used as a political tool. That isn’t his intention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNqvfMrYdNo

He wants people to see what’s common between them by dividing the north from the south? He thinks that echoing the divides of the civil war is the best way to be apolitical? He must be pretty dumb or you are completely wrong about his motives.

How in the hell did he divide the north and the south?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He didn’t intend it to send a divisive message, in fact, the opposite. He’s apolitical, thinks the media is divisive, wants people to see what’s common between them. It will be unfortunate if it’s used as a political tool. That isn’t his intention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNqvfMrYdNo

He wants people to see what’s common between them by dividing the north from the south? He thinks that echoing the divides of the civil war is the best way to be apolitical? He must be pretty dumb or you are completely wrong about his motives.

How in the hell did he divide the north and the south?

What part of "North of Richmond" did you miss? Did you actually even bother to listen to and think about any of the lyrics? Seems glaring that you haven't.

[Anonymous]

Southern White self-pity is a hell of a drug.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a feeling that those on this thread blowing this off as some uneducated idiot who doesn't know anything are going to be in for a rude awakening in the coming years.

Gosh what’s going to happen— are a bunch of his fanboys going to get together, riot, and try to overturn a free democratic election? Spoilers: we know.

[Anonymous]

now the far right is mad b/c he said he likes diversity apparently

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a feeling that those on this thread blowing this off as some uneducated idiot who doesn't know anything are going to be in for a rude awakening in the coming years.

Gosh what’s going to happen— are a bunch of his fanboys going to get together, riot, and try to overturn a free democratic election? Spoilers: we know.

Gosh this smugness is exactly what I'm talking about. Get a clue.

To be more specific, the poor are polling more for Trump (and only Trump, not R as a whole) than they did in 2020. The indictments are making him MORE relatable to those people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's amazing how many people want to deny a man's lived experience. You need to hear and understand his voice. And maybe you'll reveal something about your own biases.

I totally understand his experience. Being hard working and poor is the experience shared by both left and right. Poor people should unite and overthrow the rich and ruling class, be it democratic or republican. It is a false narrative that this anger only comes from the right, against the left.

The song isn’t about his experiences. It’s about stereotypes and imaginary grievances. No rich men from the North or welfare queens persecuted this guy. He’s a simple small-town Virginia guy who has lived the simple small-town life he chose for himself. The song is popular because millions of people want to believe that they are being persecuted if the whole world isn’t kissing their asses every day. They actually have fewer obstacles in life than at any time in history.

Based on your assessment of his situation, it seems that you think life is about choices. Do you apply that line of thinking to everyone's circumstances or just certain groups of people?

Nobody discriminated or segregated or did anything to limit his opportunities. Nobody forced him to drop out of school. He has lived the life he chose. Now he has a successful music career using the old Southern formula of blaming all his struggles on Yankees and welfare queens.