Edward Snowden suggests that the FBI might have initiated a dossier on singer Oliver Anthony following his rapid rise to fame with his song that criticizes the elite. Anthony, aged 31, gained instant widespread recognition due to his track “Rich Men North of Richmond,” which laments the notion of working hard only to pay taxes and feel like life is being wasted. This song, which resonates with the working class, surged to the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Its impact has reached the realm of politics, being played during this week’s 2024 Republican presidential primary debate.
Edward Snowden, renowned for leaking highly classified information from the National Security Agency in 2013, has cautioned that the song’s attention and its provocative message could make Anthony a focal point for FBI scrutiny. Snowden conveyed on his Twitter account, “With hitting the iTunes chart and tweeting like this, the FBI will be reserving a spot for him on a different type of list, too. Think I’m joking? The FBI kept records on John Denver for attending one anti-war protest. They’ll keep compiling lists — until they’re compelled to cease.”
Anthony has shared tweets such as, “You weren’t born to merely settle bills and pass away.” He has also responded to the utilization of his song in a political context. In a video posted on YouTube, he expressed amusement that the song was played during the Republican debate, clarifying that it was written about the individuals on that very stage. He voiced his frustration with attempts by certain conservative news outlets to associate him with their ideologies and with musicians and politicians attempting to align his message with theirs.
In connection to Snowden’s remark, John Denver had a dossier initiated on him after participating in an anti-war rally in 1971, coupled with references to drug use documented in his 1994 autobiography titled “Take Me Home: An Autobiography.”
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