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VIDEOThe Decade's Best Rock 'n' Roll Songs About Money
By
Jarrod Dicker Feb 05, 2010 8:30 am
Money, Money, Money, Monnnnney (Money).
Whether they have a lot of it, a little of it, or none of it, money remains a lyrical topic for artists across all genres of music.
In rap and hip-hop, money is something to brag about, right along with other treasures such as women, cars, weapons, and of course, bling. Songs like "Independent Women" (Destiny’s Child), "Gold Digger" (Kanye West), and "Paper Planes" (MIA) top various lists for best songs about money, along with the classics "Money for Nothing" (Dire Straits), "Can’t Buy Me Love" (The Beatles), and "Material Girl" (Madonna).
The last decade was one of economic bewilderment, as historical shifts in the markets made their impact on both Main Street and Wall Street. However, it's typically trying times like these that spark creativity in the arts. And the past decade was no exception, as the music industry produced heartfelt and sincere tunes to both challenge and cope with these turbulent societal waves.
Minyanville takes a look at 10 of the decade’s best Rock 'n' Roll songs about money, covering all topics of recent historical significance including the war, the federal budget, Wall Street, global warming, bailouts, and more.
Neil Young -- "Cough Up the Bucks" (2009)
“Where did all the money go? Where did all the cash flow? Where did all the money go? Cough up the bucks.”
In 2000, President Bill Clinton proudly announced that our nation’s federal budget surplus at that time totaled at least $230 billion (the largest in US history). The United States’ budget deficit as of September 2009 was at $1.42 trillion. With a $1.65 trillion swing in less than a decade, the people stand next to Neil and inquire, “Where did all our money go?”
Procol Harum -- "Wall Street Blues" (2009)
“They said the market could never go down, they took your savings and they took your town. They couldn’t have done it without your greed. They only satisfied a need.”
In a year when we saw Wall Street titans Fannie Mae (FNM), Freddie Mac (FRE), American International Group (AIG), Lehman Brothers, and Merrill Lynch (BAC) (to name few) fumble and misuse their clout, an influx of determined critics and investigators dug deep to determine the root of the crisis. New evidence is still emerging today, causing a civilian outrage beyond description. Hey Procol, who said the market could never go down?
Radiohead -- "Idioteque" (2000)
“We’re not scaremongering, This is really happening, Mobiles Working, Mobiles Chirping, Take the money and run, Take the money and run!”
With global warming and Iraqi nuclear power on everybody’s mind, Radiohead insists that both of these conditions are no political gag. As Obama vows to keep the global warming initiative “on track,” Thom Yorke and company urge that we act now to preserve our planet. “Take the money and run,” he says, but if Armageddon is upon us where are we to run to?
The Smashing Pumpkins -- "Cash Car Star" (2000)
“Well, everyone’s gonna be a big star. Everyone’s gonna drive a fast car. Everyone’s gonna be in charge, because everybody’s business is everybody’s business.”
Last year, cash car star Goldman Sachs (GS) CEO Lloyd Blankfein warned his employees to stop making high-profile purchases to keep their bonuses under wraps. In the middle of a financial crisis, it doesn’t sit kindly when your firm is distributing bonuses by the hand of Uncle Sam. As we all know, news broke of Blankfein’s statement, causing public indignation. Hey Lloyd, when you’re gonna drive a fast car through Wall Street, know now that it’s everybody's business.
In rap and hip-hop, money is something to brag about, right along with other treasures such as women, cars, weapons, and of course, bling. Songs like "Independent Women" (Destiny’s Child), "Gold Digger" (Kanye West), and "Paper Planes" (MIA) top various lists for best songs about money, along with the classics "Money for Nothing" (Dire Straits), "Can’t Buy Me Love" (The Beatles), and "Material Girl" (Madonna).
The last decade was one of economic bewilderment, as historical shifts in the markets made their impact on both Main Street and Wall Street. However, it's typically trying times like these that spark creativity in the arts. And the past decade was no exception, as the music industry produced heartfelt and sincere tunes to both challenge and cope with these turbulent societal waves.
Minyanville takes a look at 10 of the decade’s best Rock 'n' Roll songs about money, covering all topics of recent historical significance including the war, the federal budget, Wall Street, global warming, bailouts, and more.
Neil Young -- "Cough Up the Bucks" (2009)
“Where did all the money go? Where did all the cash flow? Where did all the money go? Cough up the bucks.”
In 2000, President Bill Clinton proudly announced that our nation’s federal budget surplus at that time totaled at least $230 billion (the largest in US history). The United States’ budget deficit as of September 2009 was at $1.42 trillion. With a $1.65 trillion swing in less than a decade, the people stand next to Neil and inquire, “Where did all our money go?”
Procol Harum -- "Wall Street Blues" (2009)
“They said the market could never go down, they took your savings and they took your town. They couldn’t have done it without your greed. They only satisfied a need.”
In a year when we saw Wall Street titans Fannie Mae (FNM), Freddie Mac (FRE), American International Group (AIG), Lehman Brothers, and Merrill Lynch (BAC) (to name few) fumble and misuse their clout, an influx of determined critics and investigators dug deep to determine the root of the crisis. New evidence is still emerging today, causing a civilian outrage beyond description. Hey Procol, who said the market could never go down?
Radiohead -- "Idioteque" (2000)
“We’re not scaremongering, This is really happening, Mobiles Working, Mobiles Chirping, Take the money and run, Take the money and run!”
With global warming and Iraqi nuclear power on everybody’s mind, Radiohead insists that both of these conditions are no political gag. As Obama vows to keep the global warming initiative “on track,” Thom Yorke and company urge that we act now to preserve our planet. “Take the money and run,” he says, but if Armageddon is upon us where are we to run to?
The Smashing Pumpkins -- "Cash Car Star" (2000)
“Well, everyone’s gonna be a big star. Everyone’s gonna drive a fast car. Everyone’s gonna be in charge, because everybody’s business is everybody’s business.”
Last year, cash car star Goldman Sachs (GS) CEO Lloyd Blankfein warned his employees to stop making high-profile purchases to keep their bonuses under wraps. In the middle of a financial crisis, it doesn’t sit kindly when your firm is distributing bonuses by the hand of Uncle Sam. As we all know, news broke of Blankfein’s statement, causing public indignation. Hey Lloyd, when you’re gonna drive a fast car through Wall Street, know now that it’s everybody's business.
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