Oliver Anthony, a rising star in the country music scene, has taken the nation by storm with his debut single, “Rich Men North of Richmond.” This song made an unprecedented entrance onto the music charts, skyrocketing to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 21, 2023. In a remarkable feat, Anthony joins an elite group of artists, becoming only the sixth musician ever to achieve a debut number one hit.
What makes Anthony’s accomplishment truly remarkable is that he achieved this milestone without any prior chart entries. He is the first artist in the history of the Hot 100 to reach the top spot with their inaugural solo release. This groundbreaking success story has captured the attention of audiences worldwide. Despite his focus on American themes, Anthony’s music has struck a chord globally, earning spots on charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the UK, and securing the number two position on the Billboard global chart.
The music video for “Rich Men North of Richmond” features a young, bearded man playing a resonator guitar in the Appalachians. While initially drawn to the music, UK singer-songwriter Billy Bragg expressed mixed feelings about some of the song’s lyrics, particularly those addressing social issues in a provocative manner. Billboard describes Anthony’s song as delving into various topics such as politics, taxes, and welfare from the perspective of a struggling working man, leading to labels of “anti-establishment, conservative, or conspiratorial.”