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That is an opinion editorial by Spencer Nichols, Product Advertising Affiliate at Bitcoin Journal and host of The Cosmic Bitcoin Podcast.
Folks music artist Oliver Anthony took the web by storm with a video of his tune “Wealthy Males North of Richmond,” recorded within the woods close to his off-grid dwelling in Virginia, and has created one thing resembling the Bitcoin tune of the 12 months. Anthony’s uncooked emotion and lamentation of the “new world” alongside together with his statement that “the greenback ain’t shit” has definitely aided him in receiving accolades from the Bitcoin neighborhood.
It’s in fact no coincidence that Bitcoiners gravitated towards this tune given its criticism of “wealthy males North of Richmond” — glares on the Washington uni-party — however what I discover most necessary is Anthony’s cathartic, grieving tone. For my part, those that acknowledge the decay of belief and our fiat-induced collective incapacity to make sense of the world, really feel loss, anger and ache over what may have been, and disbelief over the present state of the world. Anthony’s blues-laden vocals seize this all-too-well:
“For folks like me and folks such as you
“Want I may simply get up and it not be true
“However it’s, oh, it’s”
Somewhat than a highly-produced, pop-adjacent and area of interest celebration of Bitcoin or Satoshi Nakamoto — a la Gramtik’s 2016 tune “Satoshi Nakamoto” which lauds “shopping for whips with cryptocurrency” — Anthony has given the Bitcoin neighborhood one thing to latch onto that ordinary, on a regular basis folks can as effectively. A confluence that has been … lower than widespread for Bitcoin tradition. It’s value noting that Anthony has captured an emotion that the Bitcoiner and blue collar disenfranchised can each recognize while not having to have mutual understanding of cryptography, nodes or the attraction of permissionless cash. It’s merely a message that speaks to the issues that each of those cohorts can simply acknowledge.
In sharp distinction to the cultural zeitgeist in Bitcoin post-2020 bull market, Anthony’s mashup of folks music and genuine Americana with a contemporary twist doesn’t really feel contrived or constructed on bullishness and moonboy hype. I acknowledge this paints Bitcoiners with a broad brush, however the reputation of “Wealthy Males North of Richmond” goes to mirror that many exterior of the Bitcoin neighborhood harbor convergent sentiments to our personal: belief on this nation has been damaged, and “it’s a rattling disgrace what the world’s gotten to.”
After all, there are additionally parallels to CBDCs and digital panopticon fears which might be palatable for Bitcoiners. Anthony writes, “These wealthy males north of Richmond. Lord is aware of all of them simply need to have whole management. Wanna know what you suppose. Wanna know what you do.”
Is This Actually A Bitcoin Music?
I feel you will need to notice that whereas this tune has been well-received by Bitcoiners, partly as a result of their sometimes right-leaning, anti-authoritarian political affiliations, we should be cautious to not name this a Bitcoin tune, per se, and never use this as a sort of “blue collar-washing.” Whereas Bitcoin is definitely a great tool for the economically disaffected given its roots within the Nice Monetary Disaster/Occupy Wall Road motion, it will be disingenuous to carry Anthony up as consultant of Bitcoiners, given the tech-forward financialization of Bitcoin and the looming entry of market individuals like BlackRock and others of their ilk that stand to learn.
Anthony’s music has definitely discovered a fanbase in Bitcoin circles and for good motive, and maybe this may function a helpful signpost to create extra bridges between the Bitcoin neighborhood and people additional afield. However I don’t suppose it will be truthful to assert Anthony or a caricature of the tradition he represents (struggling males from Appalachia) as consultant of Bitcoin. That is for 2 causes: 1) to not painting Bitcoin’s cultural motion as one thing it isn’t, and a couple of) to not enable Bitcoin influences from Wall Road, Silicon Valley and elsewhere to make use of his aesthetic and attraction as an expedient facade.
I discovered Anthony’s tune extremely shifting, and was very glad to listen to his point-blank criticism of the greenback resonate with so many individuals. Admittedly his political ideology (so far as it’s expressed) appeals to my very own, however I don’t suppose it real to carry Anthony or his tune up as being a Bitcoin anthem. As a lot as I’d prefer to LARP as a folksy mountain man with hard-earned grievances — shoutout my fellow Bay Space millennials — I’m going to exit on a limb right here and say I don’t suppose too many Bitcoiners are blue collar mountain males, both. I feel we ought to be cautious to not use Anthony or his message as a method of reaching our personal pursuits, however we are able to nonetheless recognize his music and message for what they’re.
“Wealthy Males North of Richmond” has undoubtedly struck a chord. Its rawness, seeming lack of commercialization and folksy nature have attraction for good motive compared to the favored music of “fiat land” at this time. Its alignment with many beliefs in Bitcoin usually are not an anomaly, however its reputation amongst Bitcoiners could belie a need to color Bitcoin as one thing of a populist motion of impoverished, blue collar people. I’d posit that, on common, this isn’t at the moment true for Bitcoin.
These caveats apart, this tune may assist us perceive the best way to break exterior the echo chamber of market watchers, number-go-up maxis and techno-libertarians. There’s definitely an necessary lesson right here in displaying how divergent the everyday Bitcoin elevator pitch is from what evidently has precise mass attraction. Whereas we are able to debate whether or not “mass adoption” is admittedly the sport to be taking part in, for the sake of argument let’s assume that’s certainly our intention. Thus, this could function an necessary knowledge level for the best way to tailor our messaging.
That is clearly an necessary tune and cultural second, however it’s not a Bitcoin anthem irrespective of how a lot we want it have been. Kudos to Anthony for his newfound success and for illuminating an necessary dialogue via his artwork.
This can be a visitor put up by Spencer Nichols. Opinions expressed are totally their very own and don’t essentially mirror these of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Journal.
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