Song request: It's nice to be liked but it's better by far to get paid
January 26, 2012 8:05 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for songs by female singers which include the trope of prioritizing money over love. I'm going fairly broad with this -- so I have "Material Girl", "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend", and "Shitloads of Money," but also "Maid on the Shore." I'm also willing to go a bit outside those lines -- for instance, "Ka-Ching" (Shania Twain) and "More Money Tonight" (Violent Femmes). The presence of money or other LIQUID assets is the major criterion.
What are examples of popular music which contain explicit references to prioritizing money over love?
Thanks!
And if you wanna go back to 1958, Money Honey by Wanda Jackson.
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:08 AM on January 26, 2012
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:08 AM on January 26, 2012
Money (That's What I Want) (remake -- there's one I'm thinking of from the early 90s? with a female singer)
Santa Baby, if that counts as "popular music"
posted by chickenmagazine at 8:11 AM on January 26, 2012
Santa Baby, if that counts as "popular music"
posted by chickenmagazine at 8:11 AM on January 26, 2012
^ I was about to chime in with the same thing. Money (That's What I Want) - The Flying Lizards
posted by pimli at 8:14 AM on January 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by pimli at 8:14 AM on January 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
Girls and Boys, by Good Charlotte (doesn't have a female singer, I think, but neither do some of the examples)
posted by phoenixy at 8:16 AM on January 26, 2012
posted by phoenixy at 8:16 AM on January 26, 2012
Response by poster: I don't mean to threadsit, but I want to encourge people to think broadly -- Santa Baby is great, so is stuff from the 50's and earlier. I'm even beginning to regret the "popular" restriction -- I'm sure this has been addressed in opera, for instance.
posted by endless_forms at 8:16 AM on January 26, 2012
posted by endless_forms at 8:16 AM on January 26, 2012
Coming at it sidewise, "Everybody Knows:" The things people do to get money, when they prioritize money over love. I like the Concrete Blonde version.
Everybody knows that you love me baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody knows that you've been faithful
Ah give or take a night or two
Everybody knows you've been discreet
But there were so many people you just had to meet
Without your clothes
And everybody knows
posted by Ys at 8:17 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Everybody knows that you love me baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody knows that you've been faithful
Ah give or take a night or two
Everybody knows you've been discreet
But there were so many people you just had to meet
Without your clothes
And everybody knows
posted by Ys at 8:17 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Tracy Chapman's Mountains o' Things (youtube) is about prioritizing wealth and possessions over anything else. It's not really a happy song, but it might work?
posted by Elly Vortex at 8:18 AM on January 26, 2012
posted by Elly Vortex at 8:18 AM on January 26, 2012
Does TLC's "No Scrubs" hit your spot? It's not about choosing money over love, exactly, but it's about how approaches from cheap/broke guys aren't welcome, and it does mention diamonds and (then) expensive gear.
posted by immlass at 8:27 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by immlass at 8:27 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Lily Allen, The Fear. "I want to be rich and I want lots of money."
Elephant Love Medley from Moulin Rouge -- contains the line "There's no way, 'cause you can't pay"in response to "We could be lovers!"
posted by pie ninja at 8:33 AM on January 26, 2012
Elephant Love Medley from Moulin Rouge -- contains the line "There's no way, 'cause you can't pay"in response to "We could be lovers!"
posted by pie ninja at 8:33 AM on January 26, 2012
Blu Cantrell, "Hit 'Em Up Style"
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:33 AM on January 26, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:33 AM on January 26, 2012 [4 favorites]
Money Money Money by ABBA (Frida sings).
posted by Melismata at 8:34 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Melismata at 8:34 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Money That's What I Want was originally written by Barrett Strong.
But versions of the song by female singers have really helped to make the song famous.
Like this version by Etta James
and this version by the Flying Lizards (i love this version)
posted by Flood at 8:35 AM on January 26, 2012
But versions of the song by female singers have really helped to make the song famous.
Like this version by Etta James
and this version by the Flying Lizards (i love this version)
posted by Flood at 8:35 AM on January 26, 2012
‘Ain’t Nothing Going On But the Rent’ by Gwen Guthrie
posted by HandfulOfDust at 8:36 AM on January 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by HandfulOfDust at 8:36 AM on January 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
I'll venture "Midnight Train to Georgia".
The singer decides to leave her established life and follow her man back to his home in Georgia after his career as a musician in Los Angeles fails to take off.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 8:36 AM on January 26, 2012
The singer decides to leave her established life and follow her man back to his home in Georgia after his career as a musician in Los Angeles fails to take off.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 8:36 AM on January 26, 2012
The Mekons - Millionaire
Selected lyrics: "I've lost count of my lovers, but I can count my money."
It's a little odd b/c it's a song about loving a Millionare, but the implicit point is that she loves the money and puts up with the people connected to it.
posted by allen.spaulding at 8:37 AM on January 26, 2012
Selected lyrics: "I've lost count of my lovers, but I can count my money."
It's a little odd b/c it's a song about loving a Millionare, but the implicit point is that she loves the money and puts up with the people connected to it.
posted by allen.spaulding at 8:37 AM on January 26, 2012
Cee Lo Green, "Fuck You"
posted by mkultra at 8:39 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by mkultra at 8:39 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Bills, Bills, Bills - Destiny's Child
posted by elle.jeezy at 8:43 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by elle.jeezy at 8:43 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
"Lyin' Eyes" by the Eagles
posted by easily confused at 8:45 AM on January 26, 2012
posted by easily confused at 8:45 AM on January 26, 2012
I guess it doesn't specifically reference money *over love*, but since you said "broad" AND part of it's title matches part of YOUR title, I'd say Solo Power (Let's Get Paid) by Salt n Pepa.
posted by mreleganza at 8:49 AM on January 26, 2012
posted by mreleganza at 8:49 AM on January 26, 2012
HandfulOfDust: "‘Ain’t Nothing Going On But the Rent’ by Gwen Guthrie"
Referenced by Foxy Brown and Mya.
posted by mkb at 8:52 AM on January 26, 2012
Referenced by Foxy Brown and Mya.
posted by mkb at 8:52 AM on January 26, 2012
Money Changes Everything - Cyndi Lauper
posted by quoththeraven at 9:00 AM on January 26, 2012
posted by quoththeraven at 9:00 AM on January 26, 2012
Always true to you in my fashion from Kiss me Kate. A slightly confusing prioritization.
posted by sciencegeek at 9:11 AM on January 26, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by sciencegeek at 9:11 AM on January 26, 2012 [3 favorites]
Any of the awesome remixes of Diamonds are Forever by Shirley Bassey.
posted by slogger at 9:14 AM on January 26, 2012
posted by slogger at 9:14 AM on January 26, 2012
There's a lot of this in the folk tradition - the "loved and left" songs are a really broad genre, and about half those story-lines involve money or wealth as one of the motivators. Although Girl A is often ditched for the bigger dowry of Girl B, it never ends well. Usually expressed as the "pining away because my true love had to marry someone richer" genre, or the humorous song of an unhappy marriage genre. Also "I woke up and (s)he was gone, along with everything I own". The trick for your request is finding what's essentially the same story, but from the perspective of the dumper, not the dumpee. Maid on the Shore is a fine example; I know there are more but I'm having trouble thinking of them. My favorite such is Roving Jack the Baker. excerpt:
Twenty pounds she had in gold which caused me to be funny:
a thousand lies I told that night all for to take her money.
I courted her with such an air she asked me if I'd take her,
but I'd let her know before I go, I'm Roving Jack, the baker.
posted by aimedwander at 9:15 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Twenty pounds she had in gold which caused me to be funny:
a thousand lies I told that night all for to take her money.
I courted her with such an air she asked me if I'd take her,
but I'd let her know before I go, I'm Roving Jack, the baker.
posted by aimedwander at 9:15 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
"Where is My Man", as performed by Eartha Kitt, is a song about finding a wealthy man. I love the dance version in which she says at the end, "I want a man with a big, big, big, big.... yacht."
posted by orange swan at 9:27 AM on January 26, 2012
posted by orange swan at 9:27 AM on January 26, 2012
Kanye West / the Eagles / Cee Lo Green
People! These are not female singers.
It's a shame that this is the stipulation, because there are a couple of other perfect examples of this with male vocals:
The Wonder Stuff - It's Your Money I'm After, Baby
Spinal Tap: Gimme Some Money
posted by The Discredited Ape at 9:34 AM on January 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
People! These are not female singers.
It's a shame that this is the stipulation, because there are a couple of other perfect examples of this with male vocals:
The Wonder Stuff - It's Your Money I'm After, Baby
Spinal Tap: Gimme Some Money
posted by The Discredited Ape at 9:34 AM on January 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
Billie Holiday, God Bless the Child. About the importance of having your own money. Love doesn't come into the picture for this.
posted by sciencegeek at 9:44 AM on January 26, 2012
posted by sciencegeek at 9:44 AM on January 26, 2012
"Money, Money, Money," from Mamma Mia! (originally "Gypsy Girl" by Abba)
"Rich Man's Blues," Dinah Washington
"Fuck Me Pumps," Amy Winehouse
"Money Talks," Lil' Kim
"That Man," Macy Gray
posted by dlugoczaj at 10:01 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
"Rich Man's Blues," Dinah Washington
"Fuck Me Pumps," Amy Winehouse
"Money Talks," Lil' Kim
"That Man," Macy Gray
posted by dlugoczaj at 10:01 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: People! These are not female singers.
It's a shame that this is the stipulation, because there are a couple of other perfect examples of this with male vocals:
I confess it didn't occur to me that people wouldn't recognize the Violent Femmes as having a male lead. That's a bad case of being boxed in my own brain. Female voices are preferred -- the various leads to female-voiced versions of "Money (that's what I want)" are great -- and I'm trying to avoid men talking ABOUT women, but, for instance, "More Money Tonight", in which Gordon Gano is glorying in being richer than the kids who bullied him as a teenager, is in theme.
But I'd rather a person make a suggestion that's off-point rather than not make a suggestion that would have been useful, since a lot of what makes a song "on-theme" versus "off-theme" is happening in my head.
posted by endless_forms at 10:03 AM on January 26, 2012
It's a shame that this is the stipulation, because there are a couple of other perfect examples of this with male vocals:
I confess it didn't occur to me that people wouldn't recognize the Violent Femmes as having a male lead. That's a bad case of being boxed in my own brain. Female voices are preferred -- the various leads to female-voiced versions of "Money (that's what I want)" are great -- and I'm trying to avoid men talking ABOUT women, but, for instance, "More Money Tonight", in which Gordon Gano is glorying in being richer than the kids who bullied him as a teenager, is in theme.
But I'd rather a person make a suggestion that's off-point rather than not make a suggestion that would have been useful, since a lot of what makes a song "on-theme" versus "off-theme" is happening in my head.
posted by endless_forms at 10:03 AM on January 26, 2012
Sugar Babe is a folk song about a man who loses his woman to another man with more money. The version above is sung by women, though.
posted by ropeladder at 10:12 AM on January 26, 2012
posted by ropeladder at 10:12 AM on January 26, 2012
"Money Makes the World Go Round," from Cabaret, is not usually sung by a woman, but otherwise fits this bill.
posted by Bardolph at 10:24 AM on January 26, 2012
posted by Bardolph at 10:24 AM on January 26, 2012
I can't think of specifics because I don't tend to listen to them, but I'm POSITIVE Rhianna and ke$ha have songs based on this theme. Especially ke$ha, she seems to do the trashy, shallow party chick thing well. (Hope you like autotune with that one.)
posted by Heretical at 10:26 AM on January 26, 2012
posted by Heretical at 10:26 AM on January 26, 2012
Best answer: Fancy by Reba McEntire might fit the bill.
posted by WowLookStars at 10:27 AM on January 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by WowLookStars at 10:27 AM on January 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
Rasputina have an amusing short song called 'Diamond Mind' that spoofs the old DeBeers commercials.
posted by FatherDagon at 10:28 AM on January 26, 2012
posted by FatherDagon at 10:28 AM on January 26, 2012
Especially ke$ha, she seems to do the trashy, shallow party chick thing well.
Actually, Ke$ha did the exact opposite in her song "Sleazy" ("I don't need love lookin like diamonds/Lookin like diamonds . . . You can't imagine the immensity of the fuck I'm not giving/About your money and man servant and the mansion you live in . . .", etc.). I wouldn't be looking there for this mix.
posted by dlugoczaj at 10:44 AM on January 26, 2012
Actually, Ke$ha did the exact opposite in her song "Sleazy" ("I don't need love lookin like diamonds/Lookin like diamonds . . . You can't imagine the immensity of the fuck I'm not giving/About your money and man servant and the mansion you live in . . .", etc.). I wouldn't be looking there for this mix.
posted by dlugoczaj at 10:44 AM on January 26, 2012
"Give Him The Oooh-la-la" a Cole Porter song best done by Blossom Dearie.
posted by Sculthorpe at 11:04 AM on January 26, 2012
posted by Sculthorpe at 11:04 AM on January 26, 2012
Independent Women by Destiny's Child. ("The shoes on my feet, I've bought it,
The clothes I'm wearing, I've bought it, The rock I'm rockin', I've bought it, I depend on me...")
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:37 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
The clothes I'm wearing, I've bought it, The rock I'm rockin', I've bought it, I depend on me...")
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:37 AM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Perhaps "Fake It" by Tracy Bonham and/or "The Ballad of Jenny Ledge"--Toy Matinee/Kevin Gilbert
2nding Winehouse's "F Me Pumps"
posted by luckynerd at 11:40 AM on January 26, 2012
2nding Winehouse's "F Me Pumps"
posted by luckynerd at 11:40 AM on January 26, 2012
"High Price" by Ciara might make the cut.
posted by trunk muffins at 12:05 PM on January 26, 2012
posted by trunk muffins at 12:05 PM on January 26, 2012
Pet Shop Boys, "Rent" ("I love you / You pay my rent")
posted by Beardman at 12:23 PM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Beardman at 12:23 PM on January 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
From the punk band Ghoti Hook (which has a male singer): Money
The song is about a girl who says (in the chorus) -
"I love money, money money money
Money money money, tons and tons of money
Money money money, money money money
I love money more than my little honey"
posted by tacodave at 2:08 PM on January 26, 2012
The song is about a girl who says (in the chorus) -
"I love money, money money money
Money money money, tons and tons of money
Money money money, money money money
I love money more than my little honey"
posted by tacodave at 2:08 PM on January 26, 2012
Always true (to you), from Kiss Me Kate. as sung by Peggy Lee (the Ella Fitzgerald version is great, too.
There is an oil man known as Tex, who is keen to give me checks,
And his checks I fear mean that Tex is here to stay,
But I'm always true to darlin' in my fashion,
I'm always true to you darlin' in my way."
posted by Atrahasis at 3:52 PM on January 26, 2012
There is an oil man known as Tex, who is keen to give me checks,
And his checks I fear mean that Tex is here to stay,
But I'm always true to darlin' in my fashion,
I'm always true to you darlin' in my way."
posted by Atrahasis at 3:52 PM on January 26, 2012
10 dollar - M.I.A
Lyrics: http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858545922/
posted by guybrush_threepwood at 4:05 PM on January 26, 2012
Lyrics: http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858545922/
posted by guybrush_threepwood at 4:05 PM on January 26, 2012
Ruth Brown - If I Can't Sell It, I'll Sit on It (includes lyrics)
posted by Lexica at 4:52 PM on January 26, 2012
posted by Lexica at 4:52 PM on January 26, 2012
"Thirteen Men" by Ann-Margret.
posted by southern_sky at 6:18 PM on January 26, 2012
posted by southern_sky at 6:18 PM on January 26, 2012
"Money Honey"; "Beautiful Dirty Rich"; "The Fame"; and "Paparazzi" from Lady Gaga's first album all deal with seeking fame and fortune more than love.
posted by nakedmolerats at 7:45 PM on January 26, 2012
posted by nakedmolerats at 7:45 PM on January 26, 2012
You might also find this study about references to sex/love in pop music interesting. There is a section about songs that have references specifically to material resources as an attractive feature.
posted by nakedmolerats at 7:50 PM on January 26, 2012
posted by nakedmolerats at 7:50 PM on January 26, 2012
From the awesome Romanian singer Miss Platnum, Mercedes Benz
posted by saucysault at 8:53 PM on January 26, 2012
posted by saucysault at 8:53 PM on January 26, 2012
When I grow up - pussycat dolls
I thought Peaches had at least one song in that theme but Billionaire isn't quite it. Maybe someone else will know?
My favorite song in the world is Fancy Lady by Slutarded, there appears to be nothing online though. Sample lyrics: you should buy me expensive wine, instead of cooking sherry
posted by saucysault at 9:29 PM on January 26, 2012
I thought Peaches had at least one song in that theme but Billionaire isn't quite it. Maybe someone else will know?
My favorite song in the world is Fancy Lady by Slutarded, there appears to be nothing online though. Sample lyrics: you should buy me expensive wine, instead of cooking sherry
posted by saucysault at 9:29 PM on January 26, 2012
Not sure "Take Back Your Mink" quite fits -- it's more about "You gave me such pretty gifts, but you expect a relationship in return, so I'm giving the monetary stuff up because you're a dick and my own dignity is more important than money." (Well, really it's "an excuse for the Hot Box Dancers to do a strip tease", but hey.)
How about Donna Summer "She Works Hard For The Money"?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:17 AM on January 27, 2012
How about Donna Summer "She Works Hard For The Money"?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:17 AM on January 27, 2012
But at the end of the song all the girls run back on stage, snatch back the expensive finery and ask the crowd "well, wouldn't you?" Although, yeah, if someone's never seen the song performed they wouldn't get that from the lyrics.
posted by MsMolly at 10:35 AM on January 27, 2012
posted by MsMolly at 10:35 AM on January 27, 2012
Die Antwoord's "Rich Bitch" isn't exactly singing, but it's otherwise what you're looking for.
posted by Edna Million at 1:16 PM on January 27, 2012
posted by Edna Million at 1:16 PM on January 27, 2012
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posted by showbiz_liz at 8:06 AM on January 26, 2012