Friday, March 17, 2006

Money Music

The financially fabulous SingleMom wants to know what I'm bumpin'!

I had actually been planning a post about this anyway, so it's perfect timing. Here's my ever-evolving personal finance iPod playlist-- these songs are not all explicitly about money but they all have lyrics that have something to do with money, consumerism, greed, aspirations, and dreams of the good life, or at least sound like they do when taken out of context! (I know I'm missing some obvious candidates, but these are my personal favorites-- it's not intended to be an all-encompassing list of songs about money.)

There's a gypsy down on Bleecker Street, I went in to see her as a kind of joke, And she lit a candle for my love life, and eighteen bucks went up in smoke.
Song for Sharon-- Joni Mitchell

You ain't got no money, you just ain't no good.
Hit the Road Jack-- performed by Shirley Horn

In a college town, away from home a new identity I found, said I was born elite with maids and servants at my feet. I must have been insane.
I'm Livin' in Shame-- The Supremes

Give me my money back, give me my money back, you bitch! I want my money back, and don't forget... and don't forget to give me back my black T-shirt!
Song for the Dumped-- Ben Folds Five

Once I lived the life of a millionaire, spending my money and I didn't care, takin' my friends out having a good time, buying bootleg liquor, champagne and wine. Ah, but when my money began to fall so low, didn't have a friend and I couldn't go. If I ever get my hands on a dollar again, I'm gonna squeeze it and squeeze it, until that eagle grins, 'cause noboby knows you when you're down and out. In your pocket, not one penny, and friends, you haven't any.
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out--Alberta Hunter

All the money in the world won't buy you peace of mind, you can have it all but you still won't be satisfied.
Money Can't Buy It-- Annie Lennox

Don't even like it, but you've just gotta try it, you don't even want it, but you're gonna buy, gonna-gonna-gonna buy it.
Swine Fever-- The The

You just haven't earned it yet baby, you must suffer and cry for a longer time.
You Just Haven't Earned it Yet Baby--The Smiths (also as performed by Kirstie MacColl)

Speak to me of universal laws, The whores hustle and the hustlers whore, All around me people bleed, Speak to me your song of greed.
The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore-- PJ Harvey

I am a man of means, of slender means.
Nowhere Fast-- The Smiths

Don't be mad 'cause I got it made, diva-hatin' waitin' snake in the grass, look me up and down when I pass, vibin' with your girlfriends, jealous of my dividends and my Benz...
RU Ready-- Salt-N-Pepa

I'm not the type to look for a man with cash...
Nature of a Sista-- Queen Latifah

Oh if you work hard you can be the boss, But if you don't work at all then that's nobody's loss, There's room on top - if you dig in low, And the idea is what they reap you sow.
The Lodgers-- The Style Council

We know where our hearts are--right behind our wallets, yes, and that's where they're staying.
Sugar and Stress-- The English Beat

Junk bond trader trying to sell a sucker a style, rich man in a poor man's clothes...
Junk Bond Trader--Elliott Smith

After man makes everything, everything he can, you know that man makes money to buy from other man.
It's a Man's, Man's Man's World-- James Brown

If you get too cold, I'll tax the heat, if you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.
Taxman-- The Beatles

I'm about to give you all my money and all I'm asking in return honey is to give me my propers when you get home.
Respect-- Aretha Franklin

We want the best, we won't settle for less. Don't be a drag, participate-- clams on the half shell and roller-skates!
Good Times-- Chic

Move on up and keep on wishin', remember your dream is your only scheme, so keep on pushin'.
Move on Up-- Curtis Mayfield

12 comments:

Tiredbuthappy said...

Oh lord, won’t you buy me a mercedes benz?
My friends all drive porsches, I must make amends,
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,
So oh lord, won’t you buy me a mercedes benz?

Mercedes Benz by Janis Joplin
(one of my favorite songs to sing in the shower)

Anonymous said...

Ben Folds rocks.

"Ya'll don't know what it's like,
being male, middle-class, and white!"
Rockin'the Suburbs

Single Ma said...

HA HA! Madame X, I'm luvin your list. The variety is awesome! I wonder what ever happened to Salt-N-Pepa anyway?

LOL @ "you ain't got no money, you just ain't no good." I gots no love for a broke man! LMAO!

Tiredbuthappy said...

This is fun.

Here's another of my favorites:

"Everytime we go somewhere
I gotta reach down in my purse
To pay your way and your homeboys way
And sometimes your cousin's way
They don't never have to pay"
From "Tyrone" by Erikah Badu

uzvards said...

"Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the rich man's world
Money, money, money
Always sunny
In the rich man's world"

How didn't you mention this ABBA song?!

Madame X said...

What can I say, the only Abba songs on my iPod are "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and "The Name of the Game." I thought I had "Dancing Queen" too, but I guess not.

Likewise, these are not on my iPod:
Material Girl-- Madonna
Money's Too Tight to Mention--Simply Red
Money -- Pink Floyd

I had forgotten about that Janis Joplin song! Definitely a good one!

Anonymous said...

Impressive list. Any Style Council mention will always get my attention.

Caitlin said...

Holy cow...your list reads like our CD collection post Caitlin and LaLa merge! And ditto on the Style Council! My friends and I listened to them constantly in high school (on vinyl!) Man that takes me back.

lola aronovich said...

How about the Money Song from Cabaret? It's great!
I also like the Bradford/Gordy "Money", sung by the Beatles: "The best things in life are free / But you can keep them for the birds and bees / Now give me money / That's what I want (etc) Your lovin' gives me a thrill / But your lovin' don't pay my bill"... Very cynical!

Janet said...

Some of my favorite money music songs are:

Beatles - can't buy me love

the line goes "I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love"

Scissors for Lefty - Nickels and Dimes
the song's about how to live cheap in San Francisco (www.myspace.com/scissorsforlefty). the song suggests opening your window for culture/entertainment referring to the city's diversity.

LCD Soundsystem - New York I love you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQphuL0RMNU

i came across the video looking around on YouTube. the song's about how expensive the city's gotten. james murphy did a press conference on how he had to move from his DFA office to williamsburg because of increasing rents.

Anonymous said...

"It's nice to be liked, but it's better by far to get paid. I know that most of the friends that I have, don't really see it that way. But if you could grant them each one wish, how much do you want to bet, they'd wish success for themselves and their friends. And that would include lots of money." Shitloads of Money - Liz Phair (the anthem of me & all my non-profit friends)

Anonymous said...

And two fun ones by the Pet Shop Boys:

"Opportunities":

I've got the brains, you've got the looks
Let's make lots of money
You've got the brawn, I've got the brains
Let's make lots of

I've had enough of scheming and messing around with jerks
My car is parked outside, I'm afraid it doesn't work
I'm looking for a partner, someone who gets things fixed
Ask yourself this question: Do you want to be rich?


.... and "Rent":

You dress me up, I'm your puppet
You buy me things, I love it
You bring me food, I need it
You give me love, I feed it
And look at the two of us in sympathy
With everything we see
I never want anything, it's easy
You buy whatever I need
But look at my hopes, look at my dreams
The currency we've spent
I love you, you pay my rent