Oliver Anthony teamed up with Shinedown and Papa Roach to bring us the most beautiful cover of “Simple Man,” shared online Saturday.
The more than seven-and-a-half minute-long video shared by the team of brilliant artists is exactly what all of us need right now. The incredible moment came together when Brent Smith of Shinedown invited Anthony and others up on stage at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival for a final song.
The impromptu performance has already received more than half a million views on YouTube in less than four days. And it’s easy to see why.
It’s not just the lads singing and performing this iconic song (and the dogs who joined them on stage) that was magical. It’s the huge crowd that came together to sing in harmony with them, bringing a collective warmth and message of love to the world.
As soon as I started playing the cover at home, my boyfriend started singing along. We had to take a brief reprieve to slow-dance, and then I got back to my real job. (RELATED: Country Music Dominance Proves Real America Is Winning The Culture War)
Apparently the heavens poured at the festival, to the point where people were leaving to avoid another repeat of Burning Man 2023, according to Whiskey Riff. But Anthony and the others wouldn’t let folks bail without hearing at least one song.
And as they sang, the rain stopped, as if God himself was shining his light down upon the grounds, allowing people from all walks of life to come together to hear them play. The crowds chanted “thank you” as the song wrapped. It’s enough to make you cry.