I believe that it's about time for an update on Oliver Anthony after he topped the Billboard HOT 100 and also came out against Republican politicians and others trying to use him.
The left hasn't had nearly enough. The love the checks, the masks, and would love covid era controls on everything, all the time, to keep everyone safe.
Imagine a man that put something original out and was offered millions and he turned it down but many people noticed it and decided to capitalize off his fame. He just sang his heart out to speak to America's heart. God bless this man.
This man is giving us a song, now a catalogue, that will create waves and create more artist of a similar heart and fortitude. I guarantee people 100 years from now will know of this song.
Heavily disagree on the “fudge rounds” take. Welfare exists as a safety net and we should not focus on the few who take advantage of the system. I feel like that line being included takes away from the meaning of working class versus the elites
That the instant reactions to the welfare line are giggles is part of the problem: this is not a thoughtful song, it's a populist one. It appeals to the meaner, more emotional side of people and feeds them conservative nonsense. This is to be expected from someone like Oliver, who enjoys watching conspiracy theory videos about how Jews did 9/11, but I'm disappointed that Grady can't see through this. 'It's how blue collar folks feel!' Ironically, a conservative saying applies: fuck your feelings. Look at the facts. And the facts are this is a heartfelt but dumb political song by a conspiracy theorist that got amplified by right wing outlets almost instantly.
Grady, I respect you a lot, but that analysis at 3:02 is a stretch and a half. He's criticizing the fact that welfare goes to people who he thinks don't deserve it (i.e. fat people). He's toeing what has been the party line on welfare since the Reagan administration started talking about welfare queens.
Most folks who I know who are on welfare are incredibly overweight because they refused to get up off their asses and get a job. There’s nothing wrong with what Anthony said.
Bro, it’s not just that they’re fat. It’s the fact that they will sell their food stamps at half price of their worth so that they can use the real cash on drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, anything that EBT doesn’t qualify for. And no, that’s not every person on welfare. Not by a long shot. But you can’t deny, the government acts as the baby daddy and rewards shitty behavior and destruction of the nuclear family by saying “it’ll all be okay, I’ll provide for you so you can keep making irresponsible choices and choosing irresponsible partners”. Anyone who doesn’t get that, is lost.
3:05 "attacking the system of welfare" -- welfare recipients have been attacked my whole life and I'm currently older than dirt. (It used to be the so-called "welfare queens" that drew the most criticism.) I'm sure there are abuses; all systems have weak points where abuse can occur. I'm also sure there are people who have little or no choice, for whom welfare is a life-line. I am sad that Mr. Oliver chose to include that lyric because I think it diverts attention from the rest of the song, where he is speaking truth to power.
@@beauxbeaux7same. The point at which the system cuts you off of welfare is right where you start doing better financially, but not where you can still afford to pay for your family’s food on your own, often causing people do decline that promotion or refuse the pay raise or stay working in a job like McDonalds for 30 years so they can stay on food stamps because crossing that line from “needing welfare” to “doing it on my own” is very difficult especially when the system cuts you off in the “I’m starting to slowly progress” phase. The system keeps poor folks on it, and in turn keeps people voting for the politicians looking to either maintain the current system or expand it to more people. Most politicians looking to “cut welfare” don’t help either, because they like to lower the cutoff point even further, which is the exact opposite of what they should do if they’d like to get people off of it.
The song debut at number 45 on the mainstream country radio charts. That is without any record label pushing it. The radio stations are picking it up, especially the Independent stations. Many of the independent radio stations have been playing more of the Independent artists than corporate stations.
I appreciate the song for being a traditional song for the working man and the disenfranchised, becuase that's what the best country music has alwasy been. But the tropes and almost conspiracy theories he puts forth with the "Minors", Welfare Abuse and Fudge Rounds lines are the same things spouted forth by those same "Rich Men North of Richmond". I feel like he contradicts his earlier points.
This is not a victory for independent musicians. He was intentionally promoted and his song and video produced by an affluent right-wing music promoter. Not buying it
He writes a song about the “Rich Men North of Richmond” ripping everyone off but then goes on and on in it about how, no, it's actually the poor people making it harder on poor people... Wut?
Just had a thought here. Would love to see Grady interview this guy. Let him say his piece and get him in front of the camera. He seems like a genuinely nice and intelligent individual.
I actually feel a bit bad for Ollie here. I listened to his other stuff (I’ve got to get sober is his best imo) and it’s not political. He is not an industry plant. He is just a working class guy who like everyone else is pissed at everything going on. Songs aren’t meant to be essays on policy, they’re a vehicle for feelings. This guy is pissed so he sang what he felt. Like Grady said, later on you cool down and think logically. But he is being labeled as ‘right wing’ when the dude very clearly is going after bipartisan issues
Sadly, the cheap stuff are the fudge rounds while meat, dairy, veggies, fruits, etc that should be healthy are actually more expensive, and you have to stretch the welfare money for the whole month. You have to eat something, or you would starve to death. Giving like $100 a month to feed a family a month is a slapped in the face when the food prices have been gauged for years since the 80s.
My only issue with this song is he lays all the blame for his plight on politicians in Washington. Meanwhile, he ignores his local politicians, he ignores the local companies underpaying his community, and ignores his own bad decision to turn to alcohol to drown his sorrows.
I feel that theres a lot of good in this song but the problem comes when he shifts the blame from the rich to the everyday man deciding to treat himself even though he may be obese. While our welfare system could be better dont let those lines distract you from the fact that the ultra rich elite hoarding their massive wealth are the main problem and everything else comes after
I see a bunch of comments say this speaks for all Virginians but it basically leaves out everyone who lives north of richmond (a vast majority of the state lives above richmond)
I think it’s cool that an indie country artist is blowing up, but I’m afraid that it is blowing up BECAUSE of the right leaning message. You see a lot of people lean into that right wing messaging because it makes money, would rather see him write more about rural Appalachia
I don't care if you are right or left. This song isn't polarizing in the sense of what political line you align with more. Everyone in America should agree that our government as a whole is broken. Our priorities as a country are out of whack. This is a well written song, sang even better. I look forward to seeing this rise as he is a true talent. I am sure he has a lot more to say and I am glad he is getting a platform to express it!
@@PatrickTrentno it isn't, it's clearly pointing out issues with the crooked politicians and messed up economy. That has nothing to do with right or left
@@PatrickTrent Regardless of what it is, you seem to be taking a defensive stance against it. Do you disagree with the sentiment he’s trying to express?
This song is an astroturfed plant. He joined Twitter in August 2023 and had as many followers as Tyler Childers? Come on, Grady. If you had done even a little bit of research into this song's creation and this dude, you'd know that it was a plant explicitly designed and marketed by a conservative ad agency to get a reaction from as many people as possible. I usually love your thoughts on music, but you could have done your due diligence on this.
I just think that it has a beautiful beat, the storyline is there and it reaches out, and the vocals is haunting; all in all it's a truly great song. You could tell it's Indy and not being spouted out by these big labels. That's why I'm listening to more more Indy music, so thank you Grady for that.
I think the song is well-intentioned and lyrically is creative and powerful. I do think he SLIGHTLY missed the mark on who the actual enemy is. It isn’t the people on welfare, and honestly, it isn’t even the politicians (for the most part). It’s the rich people that buy the control of the politicians and the system that allows that to happen. But it is amazing that something can become this big this fast.
Grady, long long time watcher here. I'm begging you. Sit this one out. I understand you just want everyone to get along and find common ground. That's why you believe both sides have more in common than they realize. But the wrong kind of people are excited about this song for the wrong reasons. This is not on Oliver. But he will likely be propped up for the wrong reasons. By people who actively advocate for harm towards Americans. Matt Walsh being the biggest villain so far.
He makes videos about country music why wouldn’t he make a video about a big thing in country music. He is not responsible for what other people think of it. It’s a very relatable song to most working and middle class people. You political mfers are annoying
Grady, long time watcher here and I'm begging you, dont listen to anyone who tells you to be quiet. Also anyone who thinks Matt Walsh is a villain. You put 2 and 2 together there.
@@cam_rock Correct. 'Sit this one out because it will encourage this or that wrong-think' sounds like rich men north of Richmond who just wanna have total control.
I work at a grocery store and yeah the only people with full carts are the ones using food stamps. And those carts are always full of soda, chips, Little Debbie’s, and all kinds of junk like that. If you’re gonna be spending somebody else’s money on food you should at least be buying remotely healthy foods. I don’t see why SNAP can’t be regulated the same way WIC is
It's so weird that so many people on the left are offended by this song especially the welfare lyric but not offended by healthy adults that don't want to work and have no conscience when it comes to taking other people's money.
The 80 year old lady that works at our local grocery store tells me all about it. How young healthy people come in and get all kinds of food for basically nothing and then the elderly come in and can barely afford to buy the necessities and are still working.
Classic Grady eloquence at 4:12: "...He...writes like a novelist...rich men north of Richmond has assonance and consonance...it works...miners and minors, playing on that homophone to make a very provocative point...it works..." Enjoyed listening to your perspective, as usual.
One of the tradeoffs of being a leader (a real leader) is that, yes, you may get to enjoy a bit better lifestyle than everyone else due to your position representing the people, but, when the ish hits the fan, you a$$ is out on the front lines ensuring the protection of those same people from danger. You're also trying to lift all of your people up, first, then everyone else if there's resources left. As a leader, if you fail to do those duties, you throw yourself on your sword. Today it's a proverbial sword but you still do it, step aside and let someone else lead. Washington does not do that anymore, at all. Undoubtedly damn near every single elected official and the middle management bureaucracy that answers to them is in it for themselves, period. Oliver Anthony is merely pointing out what all of us already understand at some level. The beauty is that the Washington cronies in the corporate media can't stop this. They can't even make a tiny dent. There is a tidal wave forming but those Rich Men (and Women) North of Richmond are only going to try to save themselves before it hits.
He could have called out an inefficient welfare system without fat shaming. That’s calling out an individual person. He also could have done some research into it and how social assistance programs provide invaluable help, but actually need more funding. These complaints about “welfare queens” and handouts since Reagan are getting tired and are uninformed at best and disingenuous class bs at worst.
It's a strawman that we've all seen a million times, and is just a cringe thing to say in a song. It's the type of thing the hardcore right wingers say on Facebook thinking that they're making a killer argument, but it's really just the least deep observation that someone can make that barely touches on the real problems with the current welfare system.
I started listening, and loved how it started. However, I hated it as soon as he started punching down - it’s not the people on welfare (or the welfare system) that we need to get rid of or worry about, frankly. It would have been 1000% better if that one lyric was changed.
Hmmmmm. I think Oliver almost gets it. But, when I see people trying to analyze lyrics for an artist I automatically assume that's poor writing. I honestly don't think you can interrupt the Fudge round line any other way. It was honestly, a poorly written line that actually highlights the issue that politicians are achieving which is "Direct your attention away from us and blame another set of people." You can interpret it any way you want but pointing out the weight and height of an individual for the 'shock' factor makes little since. I do think this is far better than Aldeans song which is very obviously rich with violent undertones and some false painting of a small town. Oliver is very much what you call a Libertarian. The issue. with that Libertarians live in a bubble of anti-government rhetoric that doesn't actually care about the little man as much as it reflects a very self-centered "I got mine go get your own" motto. So at times, it can be pretty disingenuous to go belly-aching about getting the short end of the stick when in reality as long as you're getting what you think you deserve then you're fine to see the less fortunate suffer. I don't see this as a protest song, a protest song isn't attacking the American public who also become victim to the Washington Elite. This is simply a song about another group of people who've been wronged by the elite but have also been convinced that it's someone else's fault too.
I now want to add that it's been revealed that Oliver didn't even write the song lol, he was contacted to record it through a PR agency. I hate the term industry plant but This is the perfect example of one. @@Sycady
I'm not sure who would defend the DC crowd other than the elites. I heard about this song from leftists who loved it. Conservatives love it. It really speaks to people.
Yes there’s right wing sentiments you can point at but also left wing. I firmly believe the song resonated as much as it did because it isn’t calling out one side or ideology. And just the corrupt system and the fear and uncertainty of this nation. In the end we’re just human. And this song brings out those universal emotions and truths in us
If he had ommited the fat-shaming part, there wouldn't be any controversy (or at least there shouldn't be). The message is resonant, it's about a healthy distrust of well-connected elites and there is good reason for the distrust.
Seeing redditors talk about Oliver makes me absolutely flabbergasted that some of these people are able to go out in public. Like you mentioned, the stuff they come up with is crazy wild and some even have a deep hatred of him like he made the song about them. Anyways, good video.
He's got a good voice and passion, but he's completely missing the point of working class realities in this country. His lyrics are way too boot licker for me.
This is the most obvious industry plant I've ever seen. It's a song full of right wing talking points in a direct response to the recent Tyler Childers backlash from that demographic. They saw they could buy their way to the top of the charts with Jason Aldean, and they're doing it again here. It's so sad to see this get so much recognition when great artists like Jason Isbell, American Aquarium, and others have spent years writing about the troubles of rural America with little exposure.
i've never clicked on or looked for a country song except for one suggestion several years ago. to have this show up on my youtube feed for 3 days straight until i finally caved and listened to it says something about how many it's reaching. and i absolutely loved it btw.
As a Swiftie, I was so embarrassed by the meltdown and classiest BS the Taylor Swift subreddit was having about how he is blocking Cruel Summer from going number one 🙄 Great take as always, Grady!
The singer is an anti-semite and in the lyrics he uses multiple racist dogwhistles. Complaining about people "north of Richmond" is a pretty obvious pro-Confederacy reference. Also, he's an industry plant. Like, he's being promoted by people who've worked for extreme right-wing media companies. He's literally used as an example of a dude on fucking LinkedIn's work in building viral success, like he's literally on some stuffy guy's portfolio. Given that Taylor Swift is the exact opposite of an industry plant, and does NOT stuff her music with a bunch of racist shit, like, not even as a Swiftie, just as a decent person who loves music and opposes racism, yeah, I'm kinda pissed. This dude isn't organic, he's just a racist with financial backers.
As a Swiftie as well, ughh, it’s insufferable. 🙄 I just really need to get off all these online subreddits. They are all so narrow minded and high and mighty. Oliver’s song is amazing with pure emotion that deserves #1
This song is beautiful and I'm so glad Oliver Anthony is getting his flowers, he wrote one of the most real and relatable songs I've ever heard and it's awesome that it's resonated so much with the public. Can't wait to see where his career goes from here!
I appreciate a lot of what you have said here. Here's my beef with the idea that this is a "Pressure Valve" release for a class of people who feel they have been left out by wealthy bureaucrats who don't give a damn about them and that this isn't about right or left but about the top-down: The voting data over the past 40+ years is clear-- The people on both sides, but MOSTLY on one particular side, who hate wealthy bureaucrats who don't give a damn about them, continue to vote, year after year, in local, state, and federal elections, for wealthy bureaucrats who don't give a damn about them. What is clear to me is that the "wealthy bureaucrat who doesn't give a damn about the common man" is actually a proxy for the overweight people buying fudge rounds with food stamps. People who, by the way, have more in common with the angry "common man" than the angry "common man" wants to believe. I know he's singing about both, and people who love the song are supporting the sentiment of anger against both, but I know with a good degree of certainty who those people will be voting for in the next election, and it may not be a wealthy bureaucrat who doesn't give a damn about them, but it will certainly be a wealthy conman who doesn't give a damn about them.
@@MagnificentDevilactually it does, there is one side consistently attempting to undermine the power that this country has, as a precession of a global communist takeover. It has come this time calling itself democratic socialism. There is only one side voting in people who refuse to prosecute lifelong criminals, allowing them to rule the streets and make citizens cower in fear. That’s why there has been a mass exodus from the major cities, and unfortunately, the majority of the folks leaving for these reasons are too brain dead indoctrinated to believe that their “feel good” policies could’ve ever caused the havoc that they did. So they keep voting for them.
He is a symbol of revolution though... it's sort of undeniable and unavoidable. People are absolutely fed up and that is why this song is doing what it's doing, aside from obviously the fact that he's an incredibly gifted artist.
I think that whether or not you agree with the message or how its delivered, this song is very much coming from a genuine place of trying to speak for the downtrodden rural Americans who have been fucked over for decades, if not much longer. I can at least respect that element of it, because we need country and folk music to speak for those people who so often don't have much of a voice otherwise
No matter how much I love his voice, the instrumentation, and even the message. I can't help but find this song incredibly cringe. I hate that criticism so much, because it's so subjective. But I find the miners line so on the nose and the fudge round line so unbearable corny. Those smiles you reference to have a tone of second hand embarrassment rather than joy imo. There's something about overtly candid song writing that I find very cringe. It has a certain Taylor Swift esk. I'm aware I will get eaten alive for this opinion.
2:10 OH…see I had been seeing lyric videos interpreting BOTH parts of that line as “minors” and thought he meant something very different in terms of ‘looking out for minors’, appreciate the clear up
I love the song and can definitely see its mass appeal, but how are you so sure it’s a natural phenomenon? All you did was dismiss the claims entirely and call them “conspiracy theorists,” which is a classic tactic when there is actually some truth to a claim- Ignore any possibility, not actually attempt to debunk, and dismiss as “crazy”. I agree with the song but it really is unbelievable HOW much I saw/heard it everywhere within a day.
The song sounds pretty good, like I enjoy the music and how he arranges the lyrics. But it does come off as a guy who constantly complains while not doing anything about it. Like he'll write a song about how terrible politicians are but not vote, or even vote for the same politicians he just criticized. And that is kind of a pet oeeve of mine. I support the guy as an indie musician and hope he makes it with the acoustic style, but the song didn't quite hit me.
“Be careful not to shut the young men out of your village, for they will burn it down to feel its warmth”. I know I’ve felt pretty shut out by my nation.
I think it's artistically a good song. But as a person who works for government and whose family and friends all work for government, I feel attacked by it. Many who work for government are poorly paid people just trying to do good. The song misses the opportunity to go after wealthy businessmen who buy government influence.
Wow I sure hope it's *not* an indication of Grady being in any way influenced by 'dark enlightenment' aka 'neoreactionary' claptrap. I'd hate for him to go from smart and thoughtful to a blithering and ill-intentioned idiot.
Hope Grady's not into that wacko's philosophies. Not a cancel culture person so I wouldn't not watch his stuff because of it but you gotta be going through some stuff to actually want to live in an autocracy
This song and artist reminds me of the song “Pills and Poverty” by Tim Goodin about how the mining jobs left the Appalachia region (especially West Virginia) and the drugs and crime came and took over. Another powerful message in song…
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
It’s the new Take This Job and Shove it
Flying to go see his shows. Bruh lmao
Here we are a few months later and it's at 92 million views!
I think its like 70vmillion views now.
This is his peak. He can't make any other country song now after this.
Both parties suck…dudes onto something !!!
I believe that it's about time for an update on Oliver Anthony after he topped the Billboard HOT 100 and also came out against Republican politicians and others trying to use him.
I was SO HAPPY to see that video he made!!!! He’s the MAN. What a genuine guy
Lol untill he plays for them, its part of that game.
He is clearly part of that setup:
He's criticized both sides of the aisle, however.
This song really hits different, the every day blue collar man feels this deeply. Left, Right, or Center, it doesn't matter. We are all fed up.
The left hasn't had nearly enough. The love the checks, the masks, and would love covid era controls on everything, all the time, to keep everyone safe.
It’s definitely a right wing song.
@@PatrickTrent get your hands dirty son
@@theodriscoll6873 what does that have to do with anything, son?
@@PatrickTrenthow is it right wing? I don’t identify as right wing but I identify with this song.
I think it’s a bit unfortunate that people are saying this is a “right wing anthem”.. its nothing like that.
Great analysis 👍
If he hasn't done something wrong, they'll just make it up.
If people don’t understand what this song is talking about, they’re part of the problem
Show me a person who thinks this song is a political anthem, and I'll show you a person who is part of the problem.
Imagine a man that put something original out and was offered millions and he turned it down but many people noticed it and decided to capitalize off his fame. He just sang his heart out to speak to America's heart. God bless this man.
This man is giving us a song, now a catalogue, that will create waves and create more artist of a similar heart and fortitude. I guarantee people 100 years from now will know of this song.
Great take.
I've been waiting for this one!
Heavily disagree on the “fudge rounds” take. Welfare exists as a safety net and we should not focus on the few who take advantage of the system. I feel like that line being included takes away from the meaning of working class versus the elites
That the instant reactions to the welfare line are giggles is part of the problem: this is not a thoughtful song, it's a populist one. It appeals to the meaner, more emotional side of people and feeds them conservative nonsense. This is to be expected from someone like Oliver, who enjoys watching conspiracy theory videos about how Jews did 9/11, but I'm disappointed that Grady can't see through this.
'It's how blue collar folks feel!' Ironically, a conservative saying applies: fuck your feelings. Look at the facts. And the facts are this is a heartfelt but dumb political song by a conspiracy theorist that got amplified by right wing outlets almost instantly.
This isn’t a protest song really, it’s an astroturf anthem putting the blame on the wrong people. He sounds great but the message is toxic
What you do when you Make noise for 10 minutes and leave people less Smart.
Grady, I respect you a lot, but that analysis at 3:02 is a stretch and a half.
He's criticizing the fact that welfare goes to people who he thinks don't deserve it (i.e. fat people). He's toeing what has been the party line on welfare since the Reagan administration started talking about welfare queens.
Your analysis is as much of a stretch as his. That’s art.. it is what you make it.
Most folks who I know who are on welfare are incredibly overweight because they refused to get up off their asses and get a job. There’s nothing wrong with what Anthony said.
yup... love his voice and sound, but he certainly did not write an anthem of working class solidarity.
Bro, it’s not just that they’re fat. It’s the fact that they will sell their food stamps at half price of their worth so that they can use the real cash on drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, anything that EBT doesn’t qualify for. And no, that’s not every person on welfare. Not by a long shot.
But you can’t deny, the government acts as the baby daddy and rewards shitty behavior and destruction of the nuclear family by saying “it’ll all be okay, I’ll provide for you so you can keep making irresponsible choices and choosing irresponsible partners”. Anyone who doesn’t get that, is lost.
What is the problem? Welfare is very abused.
3:05 "attacking the system of welfare" -- welfare recipients have been attacked my whole life and I'm currently older than dirt. (It used to be the so-called "welfare queens" that drew the most criticism.) I'm sure there are abuses; all systems have weak points where abuse can occur. I'm also sure there are people who have little or no choice, for whom welfare is a life-line. I am sad that Mr. Oliver chose to include that lyric because I think it diverts attention from the rest of the song, where he is speaking truth to power.
I think it is fair to say that he is attacking the corruption of welfare, not those who genuinely need it.
I take it more as a shot at the system keeping people stuck instead of helping them help themselves tbh
@@beauxbeaux7same. The point at which the system cuts you off of welfare is right where you start doing better financially, but not where you can still afford to pay for your family’s food on your own, often causing people do decline that promotion or refuse the pay raise or stay working in a job like McDonalds for 30 years so they can stay on food stamps because crossing that line from “needing welfare” to “doing it on my own” is very difficult especially when the system cuts you off in the “I’m starting to slowly progress” phase.
The system keeps poor folks on it, and in turn keeps people voting for the politicians looking to either maintain the current system or expand it to more people.
Most politicians looking to “cut welfare” don’t help either, because they like to lower the cutoff point even further, which is the exact opposite of what they should do if they’d like to get people off of it.
An actual country artist singing a genuine protest song. I’m sure Grady’s subreddit will absolutely despise it
Well one listen to that yikes of a second verse, it’s not hard to understand why
@@JacksonDreyerwhats wrong with it?
@@JacksonDreyerI, for one, love it.
@@JacksonDreyer Yikes my guy. Touch grass.
@@JacksonDreyer "yikes of a second verse" i can tell you never worked a real hard day in your life
The song debut at number 45 on the mainstream country radio charts. That is without any record label pushing it. The radio stations are picking it up, especially the Independent stations. Many of the independent radio stations have been playing more of the Independent artists than corporate stations.
Oliver Anthony actually lives across the street from my grandparents and my parents went to his garage sale 😂
Is he really how he seems? An honest blue collar man?
@@johncena-pt7eu rich people don’t have garage sales. So I’d say so.
@@ImPistolKnight you are correct lol
I appreciate the song for being a traditional song for the working man and the disenfranchised, becuase that's what the best country music has alwasy been. But the tropes and almost conspiracy theories he puts forth with the "Minors", Welfare Abuse and Fudge Rounds lines are the same things spouted forth by those same "Rich Men North of Richmond". I feel like he contradicts his earlier points.
This is not a victory for independent musicians. He was intentionally promoted and his song and video produced by an affluent right-wing music promoter. Not buying it
He writes a song about the “Rich Men North of Richmond” ripping everyone off but then goes on and on in it about how, no, it's actually the poor people making it harder on poor people... Wut?
Just had a thought here. Would love to see Grady interview this guy. Let him say his piece and get him in front of the camera. He seems like a genuinely nice and intelligent individual.
I feel like he would actually talk to Grady unlike a lot of the other bigger media outlets he's been turning down this week.
I actually feel a bit bad for Ollie here. I listened to his other stuff (I’ve got to get sober is his best imo) and it’s not political. He is not an industry plant. He is just a working class guy who like everyone else is pissed at everything going on. Songs aren’t meant to be essays on policy, they’re a vehicle for feelings. This guy is pissed so he sang what he felt. Like Grady said, later on you cool down and think logically. But he is being labeled as ‘right wing’ when the dude very clearly is going after bipartisan issues
Fucking Amen
Sadly, the cheap stuff are the fudge rounds while meat, dairy, veggies, fruits, etc that should be healthy are actually more expensive, and you have to stretch the welfare money for the whole month. You have to eat something, or you would starve to death. Giving like $100 a month to feed a family a month is a slapped in the face when the food prices have been gauged for years since the 80s.
Johnny Cash would be proud of Oliver Anthony.
@7:07 cathedral. Is dat a Mencius Moldbug reference?
I saw Matt Walsh post about it on my feed and I face palmed.
Right, I didn't care to check it out at first, but when I saw Matt Walsh and Ben Shapiro promoting it I was like... Turned off so much...
@wolfcrisp so you don't like a song bc someone you disagree with does?
@@MK-og9hk damn, lib destroyed with facts and logic
RUSTED BED by songwriter Dennis Callahan
Not the Qanon song!!!!
He looks a little like you Grady!!
My only issue with this song is he lays all the blame for his plight on politicians in Washington. Meanwhile, he ignores his local politicians, he ignores the local companies underpaying his community, and ignores his own bad decision to turn to alcohol to drown his sorrows.
The crazy thing is it isn't near as good as his other songs. "I've Got to Get Sober" "90 Some Chevy" both amazing and much better songs.
I feel that theres a lot of good in this song but the problem comes when he shifts the blame from the rich to the everyday man deciding to treat himself even though he may be obese. While our welfare system could be better dont let those lines distract you from the fact that the ultra rich elite hoarding their massive wealth are the main problem and everything else comes after
I see a bunch of comments say this speaks for all Virginians but it basically leaves out everyone who lives north of richmond (a vast majority of the state lives above richmond)
When you said they'd turn him into Katniss Everdeen I laughed soooo hard.
I disagree with his message but I wasn’t upset because I felt he had good intentions unlike people such as Matt Walsh or Ben Shabibo
Best advice I've ever heard? met Erv Woolsey once and he told me "Money doesnt matter, ya can't beat a good song"
Really shocked you haven't done a video on In Your Love by Tyler Childers yet
Idk, I'm pretty blue collar and this is just too thinly veiled for me.
I think it’s cool that an indie country artist is blowing up, but I’m afraid that it is blowing up BECAUSE of the right leaning message. You see a lot of people lean into that right wing messaging because it makes money, would rather see him write more about rural Appalachia
Biggest overnight sensation since Susan Boyle. Amazing.
Social media is helping lots of independent artists make it without the label… love it
Totally agreed
Oliver looks suspiciously like Grady after “a series of episodes”!
The sad thing is I doubt the rich men north of Richmond will ever hear this, or they'll just laugh at it because nothing will change
I don't care if you are right or left. This song isn't polarizing in the sense of what political line you align with more. Everyone in America should agree that our government as a whole is broken. Our priorities as a country are out of whack. This is a well written song, sang even better. I look forward to seeing this rise as he is a true talent. I am sure he has a lot more to say and I am glad he is getting a platform to express it!
the Right isn't the one forcing you to use someone's pronouns.
The Right aren't the one pro-killing babies
don't be a fence sitter.
It’s definitely a right wing song
@@PatrickTrentno it isn't, it's clearly pointing out issues with the crooked politicians and messed up economy. That has nothing to do with right or left
@@PatrickTrent Regardless of what it is, you seem to be taking a defensive stance against it. Do you disagree with the sentiment he’s trying to express?
@@TheJohnDoe64 it sounds like he is.
This song reminds me of Working Class Hero - written by John Lennon and performed by Lennon on a resonator
This song is an astroturfed plant. He joined Twitter in August 2023 and had as many followers as Tyler Childers? Come on, Grady.
If you had done even a little bit of research into this song's creation and this dude, you'd know that it was a plant explicitly designed and marketed by a conservative ad agency to get a reaction from as many people as possible. I usually love your thoughts on music, but you could have done your due diligence on this.
Let it be a bridge not a wall. Very well said, I wish more people had that sentiment.
I appreciate what he is going for but this song goes from being sharp and insightful to classist and nasty
I just think that it has a beautiful beat, the storyline is there and it reaches out, and the vocals is haunting; all in all it's a truly great song. You could tell it's Indy and not being spouted out by these big labels. That's why I'm listening to more more Indy music, so thank you Grady for that.
I think the song is well-intentioned and lyrically is creative and powerful.
I do think he SLIGHTLY missed the mark on who the actual enemy is. It isn’t the people on welfare, and honestly, it isn’t even the politicians (for the most part). It’s the rich people that buy the control of the politicians and the system that allows that to happen.
But it is amazing that something can become this big this fast.
He’s a rich asshole of course he blames poor people for everything
idk bro that is a little optimistic, I have some experience in elite circles and the bussinesspeople and the politicians are all in the same circle
He is not attacking people on welfare. He is saying the government can't even distribute welfare fairly.
@@k999ford right but why are they in the same circle would be my question
@@tye8876 perhaps that’s what he meant. But it didn’t quite land on me like that.
Grady, long long time watcher here. I'm begging you. Sit this one out.
I understand you just want everyone to get along and find common ground. That's why you believe both sides have more in common than they realize. But the wrong kind of people are excited about this song for the wrong reasons. This is not on Oliver. But he will likely be propped up for the wrong reasons. By people who actively advocate for harm towards Americans. Matt Walsh being the biggest villain so far.
Along with Dan Bongino and Joe Rogan.
He makes videos about country music why wouldn’t he make a video about a big thing in country music. He is not responsible for what other people think of it. It’s a very relatable song to most working and middle class people. You political mfers are annoying
Grady, long time watcher here and I'm begging you, dont listen to anyone who tells you to be quiet. Also anyone who thinks Matt Walsh is a villain. You put 2 and 2 together there.
@@cam_rock Correct. 'Sit this one out because it will encourage this or that wrong-think' sounds like rich men north of Richmond who just wanna have total control.
Ironic take from a guy who sounds like he sits nothing out. Touch some grass.
I work at a grocery store and yeah the only people with full carts are the ones using food stamps. And those carts are always full of soda, chips, Little Debbie’s, and all kinds of junk like that.
If you’re gonna be spending somebody else’s money on food you should at least be buying remotely healthy foods. I don’t see why SNAP can’t be regulated the same way WIC is
It's so weird that so many people on the left are offended by this song especially the welfare lyric but not offended by healthy adults that don't want to work and have no conscience when it comes to taking other people's money.
The 80 year old lady that works at our local grocery store tells me all about it. How young healthy people come in and get all kinds of food for basically nothing and then the elderly come in and can barely afford to buy the necessities and are still working.
Classic Grady eloquence at 4:12: "...He...writes like a novelist...rich men north of Richmond has assonance and consonance...it works...miners and minors, playing on that homophone to make a very provocative point...it works..." Enjoyed listening to your perspective, as usual.
One of the tradeoffs of being a leader (a real leader) is that, yes, you may get to enjoy a bit better lifestyle than everyone else due to your position representing the people, but, when the ish hits the fan, you a$$ is out on the front lines ensuring the protection of those same people from danger. You're also trying to lift all of your people up, first, then everyone else if there's resources left.
As a leader, if you fail to do those duties, you throw yourself on your sword. Today it's a proverbial sword but you still do it, step aside and let someone else lead.
Washington does not do that anymore, at all. Undoubtedly damn near every single elected official and the middle management bureaucracy that answers to them is in it for themselves, period.
Oliver Anthony is merely pointing out what all of us already understand at some level. The beauty is that the Washington cronies in the corporate media can't stop this. They can't even make a tiny dent. There is a tidal wave forming but those Rich Men (and Women) North of Richmond are only going to try to save themselves before it hits.
He could have called out an inefficient welfare system without fat shaming. That’s calling out an individual person. He also could have done some research into it and how social assistance programs provide invaluable help, but actually need more funding. These complaints about “welfare queens” and handouts since Reagan are getting tired and are uninformed at best and disingenuous class bs at worst.
Thank you!
Fats need to be shamed into getting in shape.
It's a strawman that we've all seen a million times, and is just a cringe thing to say in a song. It's the type of thing the hardcore right wingers say on Facebook thinking that they're making a killer argument, but it's really just the least deep observation that someone can make that barely touches on the real problems with the current welfare system.
new house, new weightloss, new green shirt
I started listening, and loved how it started. However, I hated it as soon as he started punching down - it’s not the people on welfare (or the welfare system) that we need to get rid of or worry about, frankly. It would have been 1000% better if that one lyric was changed.
Hmmmmm. I think Oliver almost gets it. But, when I see people trying to analyze lyrics for an artist I automatically assume that's poor writing. I honestly don't think you can interrupt the Fudge round line any other way. It was honestly, a poorly written line that actually highlights the issue that politicians are achieving which is "Direct your attention away from us and blame another set of people." You can interpret it any way you want but pointing out the weight and height of an individual for the 'shock' factor makes little since. I do think this is far better than Aldeans song which is very obviously rich with violent undertones and some false painting of a small town. Oliver is very much what you call a Libertarian. The issue. with that Libertarians live in a bubble of anti-government rhetoric that doesn't actually care about the little man as much as it reflects a very self-centered "I got mine go get your own" motto. So at times, it can be pretty disingenuous to go belly-aching about getting the short end of the stick when in reality as long as you're getting what you think you deserve then you're fine to see the less fortunate suffer. I don't see this as a protest song, a protest song isn't attacking the American public who also become victim to the Washington Elite. This is simply a song about another group of people who've been wronged by the elite but have also been convinced that it's someone else's fault too.
Raylinmae's out here spitting facts
I now want to add that it's been revealed that Oliver didn't even write the song lol, he was contacted to record it through a PR agency. I hate the term industry plant but This is the perfect example of one. @@Sycady
Great song.
Wow this was such a great take. Good stuff Grady!!
I'm not sure who would defend the DC crowd other than the elites. I heard about this song from leftists who loved it. Conservatives love it. It really speaks to people.
It's a perfect distillation of victimhood
Yes there’s right wing sentiments you can point at but also left wing. I firmly believe the song resonated as much as it did because it isn’t calling out one side or ideology. And just the corrupt system and the fear and uncertainty of this nation. In the end we’re just human. And this song brings out those universal emotions and truths in us
If he had ommited the fat-shaming part, there wouldn't be any controversy (or at least there shouldn't be). The message is resonant, it's about a healthy distrust of well-connected elites and there is good reason for the distrust.
Seeing redditors talk about Oliver makes me absolutely flabbergasted that some of these people are able to go out in public. Like you mentioned, the stuff they come up with is crazy wild and some even have a deep hatred of him like he made the song about them. Anyways, good video.
90 Some Chevy
Bro looks like 2017 Grady
Grady, my respect for you has skyrocketed seeing you cover this. Very well done, as well. Love it.
He's got a good voice and passion, but he's completely missing the point of working class realities in this country. His lyrics are way too boot licker for me.
Yes. The guy who wrote a whole song about how politicians don’t care about the working class is a boot licker.
This is the most obvious industry plant I've ever seen. It's a song full of right wing talking points in a direct response to the recent Tyler Childers backlash from that demographic. They saw they could buy their way to the top of the charts with Jason Aldean, and they're doing it again here. It's so sad to see this get so much recognition when great artists like Jason Isbell, American Aquarium, and others have spent years writing about the troubles of rural America with little exposure.
Ahh yes. Right-wing industry plant. The least delusional liberal accusation.
@@Mendamar-uv4jghaters are going to hate
i've never clicked on or looked for a country song except for one suggestion several years ago. to have this show up on my youtube feed for 3 days straight until i finally caved and listened to it says something about how many it's reaching. and i absolutely loved it btw.
As a Swiftie, I was so embarrassed by the meltdown and classiest BS the Taylor Swift subreddit was having about how he is blocking Cruel Summer from going number one 🙄
Great take as always, Grady!
Lol I was unaware that this is blocking Cruel Summer. That's such a Swiftian issue, and I say that as a fan. 😂
The singer is an anti-semite and in the lyrics he uses multiple racist dogwhistles. Complaining about people "north of Richmond" is a pretty obvious pro-Confederacy reference. Also, he's an industry plant. Like, he's being promoted by people who've worked for extreme right-wing media companies. He's literally used as an example of a dude on fucking LinkedIn's work in building viral success, like he's literally on some stuffy guy's portfolio. Given that Taylor Swift is the exact opposite of an industry plant, and does NOT stuff her music with a bunch of racist shit, like, not even as a Swiftie, just as a decent person who loves music and opposes racism, yeah, I'm kinda pissed. This dude isn't organic, he's just a racist with financial backers.
As a Swiftie as well, ughh, it’s insufferable. 🙄
I just really need to get off all these online subreddits. They are all so narrow minded and high and mighty.
Oliver’s song is amazing with pure emotion that deserves #1
“Ain’t Got a Dollar” my jam
This song is beautiful and I'm so glad Oliver Anthony is getting his flowers, he wrote one of the most real and relatable songs I've ever heard and it's awesome that it's resonated so much with the public. Can't wait to see where his career goes from here!
He’s gonna be a legend
I appreciate a lot of what you have said here. Here's my beef with the idea that this is a "Pressure Valve" release for a class of people who feel they have been left out by wealthy bureaucrats who don't give a damn about them and that this isn't about right or left but about the top-down: The voting data over the past 40+ years is clear-- The people on both sides, but MOSTLY on one particular side, who hate wealthy bureaucrats who don't give a damn about them, continue to vote, year after year, in local, state, and federal elections, for wealthy bureaucrats who don't give a damn about them. What is clear to me is that the "wealthy bureaucrat who doesn't give a damn about the common man" is actually a proxy for the overweight people buying fudge rounds with food stamps. People who, by the way, have more in common with the angry "common man" than the angry "common man" wants to believe. I know he's singing about both, and people who love the song are supporting the sentiment of anger against both, but I know with a good degree of certainty who those people will be voting for in the next election, and it may not be a wealthy bureaucrat who doesn't give a damn about them, but it will certainly be a wealthy conman who doesn't give a damn about them.
Theyre all wealthy conmen. You vote for either side and you're getting played. Ive never had a politician help my bottom line with policies they enact
You have to be wealthy to be a politician.
keep voting for politicians who want to inject kids with hormones
@@TheEclecticBeardexcept that the wealthy bureaucrats “on the right” are simply leftists in disguise.
@@MagnificentDevilactually it does, there is one side consistently attempting to undermine the power that this country has, as a precession of a global communist takeover. It has come this time calling itself democratic socialism.
There is only one side voting in people who refuse to prosecute lifelong criminals, allowing them to rule the streets and make citizens cower in fear. That’s why there has been a mass exodus from the major cities, and unfortunately, the majority of the folks leaving for these reasons are too brain dead indoctrinated to believe that their “feel good” policies could’ve ever caused the havoc that they did. So they keep voting for them.
He is a symbol of revolution though... it's sort of undeniable and unavoidable. People are absolutely fed up and that is why this song is doing what it's doing, aside from obviously the fact that he's an incredibly gifted artist.
I think that whether or not you agree with the message or how its delivered, this song is very much coming from a genuine place of trying to speak for the downtrodden rural Americans who have been fucked over for decades, if not much longer. I can at least respect that element of it, because we need country and folk music to speak for those people who so often don't have much of a voice otherwise
This is modern blues, pure and raw emotion.
Love the chair painting updates Grady
This song is such a banger
No one even questions how this song jist took off? Like it’s organic? Come on, now
No matter how much I love his voice, the instrumentation, and even the message. I can't help but find this song incredibly cringe. I hate that criticism so much, because it's so subjective. But I find the miners line so on the nose and the fudge round line so unbearable corny. Those smiles you reference to have a tone of second hand embarrassment rather than joy imo. There's something about overtly candid song writing that I find very cringe. It has a certain Taylor Swift esk. I'm aware I will get eaten alive for this opinion.
2:10 OH…see I had been seeing lyric videos interpreting BOTH parts of that line as “minors” and thought he meant something very different in terms of ‘looking out for minors’, appreciate the clear up
I love the song and can definitely see its mass appeal, but how are you so sure it’s a natural phenomenon? All you did was dismiss the claims entirely and call them “conspiracy theorists,” which is a classic tactic when there is actually some truth to a claim- Ignore any possibility, not actually attempt to debunk, and dismiss as “crazy”.
I agree with the song but it really is unbelievable HOW much I saw/heard it everywhere within a day.
It's been said that John Rich has offered his studio to Oliver to produce an actual album!
Rich is a horrible choice to produce his debut. He needs to go with someone like Dave Cobb.
The song sounds pretty good, like I enjoy the music and how he arranges the lyrics. But it does come off as a guy who constantly complains while not doing anything about it. Like he'll write a song about how terrible politicians are but not vote, or even vote for the same politicians he just criticized. And that is kind of a pet oeeve of mine.
I support the guy as an indie musician and hope he makes it with the acoustic style, but the song didn't quite hit me.
“Be careful not to shut the young men out of your village, for they will burn it down to feel its warmth”. I know I’ve felt pretty shut out by my nation.
Please let this be the start of the end of the pop country music industry…
I think it's artistically a good song. But as a person who works for government and whose family and friends all work for government, I feel attacked by it. Many who work for government are poorly paid people just trying to do good. The song misses the opportunity to go after wealthy businessmen who buy government influence.
Grady using Curvis Yarvin's term "the Cathedral" to describe the modern bureaucracy was not on my bingo card. Great to see these terms go mainstream
Wow I sure hope it's *not* an indication of Grady being in any way influenced by 'dark enlightenment' aka 'neoreactionary' claptrap. I'd hate for him to go from smart and thoughtful to a blithering and ill-intentioned idiot.
Hope Grady's not into that wacko's philosophies. Not a cancel culture person so I wouldn't not watch his stuff because of it but you gotta be going through some stuff to actually want to live in an autocracy
I know it comes from Yarvin, but I picked it up from Michael Malice who doesn’t exactly strike me as a neomonarchist. 😆
@@nayslayer2563 Funny enough, the first time I heard it was on a podcast the two did together back in 2020 I believe.
This song and artist reminds me of the song “Pills and Poverty” by Tim Goodin about how the mining jobs left the Appalachia region (especially West Virginia) and the drugs and crime came and took over. Another powerful message in song…