Sound Investments: 20 pop songs about money and wealth

September 1, 2023 1:03 PM

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Just like pop music, money and wealth are wrapped up in everything.

The staff of Financial Planning compiled the below "Sound Investments" playlist to give financial advisors and clients a pop soundtrack that touches on the happiness, drama and trauma that money can inject into our lives. At the bottom, find a link to add the playlist to your feed on Spotify or Apple Music for FP's mix of jams from the likes of Beyoncé, BTS, Taylor Swift, Tracy Chapman, Abba and Tina Turner.

We'll drop new country, rock and rap/R&B playlists each Friday this month, as well as an ultimate playlist at the end.

We'd also love your suggestions for songs. Just send them to fpeditor@arizent.com. We'll add them to the playlists.

Scroll down the slideshow for the first installment in FP's Sound Investments. All videos come from YouTube.

‘Fast Car’ by Tracy Chapman

The 1988 hit tells a story about the struggle of getting older and caring for your loved ones without adequate education or the fallback of family wealth.

‘Money (That’s What I Want)’ by Barrett Strong

The oft-covered 1959 original keeps moving listeners to pursue money with too much tambourine, guitar, piano, vocals and joy to question the almighty dollar.

‘Private Dancer’ by Tina Turner

In this 1984 classic, a stripper with a siren voice tells of her dream to leverage the money attached to the male gaze toward her dreams someday.

‘Bills, Bills, Bills’ by Destiny’s Child

Money and wealth loom large in any relationship, with a lot of strife in situations like this 1999 story of a partner who turned out to be a scrub.

‘Dynamite’ by BTS

This 2020 call to get out there and light up the night reminds the listener that "life is sweet as honey" when there's a beat that "cha-ching[s] like money."

‘Diamonds’ by Sam Smith

A jilted lover's 2020 rant about how shallow material wealth can be when lacking in meaning might also apply to a wirehouse broker yearning to go independent.

‘Break My Soul’ by Beyoncé

The 2022 anthem provides inspiration to anyone committing to start over with "a new foundation" unfettered by that old job and the toxic self-doubt of the past.

‘Thank U, Next’ by Ariana Grande

With an acknowledgement like that of this 2019 hit that they're grateful for their experiences and what they've learned, advisors often switch firms without regret.

‘Empire State of Mind’ by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys

The 2009 song spurs listeners to success and inspires the wirehouse trainees coming to New York for the first time for orientation and drinks at the Ulysses Irish pub on Stone Street.

‘Money Honey’ by Lady Gaga

The 2008 paean to the luxury life of private jets, yachts and expensive gifts may be suggesting these things come to you symbolically when you have found love.

‘Pumped Up Kicks’ by Foster The People

Advisors could play this 2011 song for clients obsessed with attaining the same wealth as their fancy relatives or neighbors to show them that the comparison breeds a destructive resentment.

‘I Wanna Be Rich’ by Calloway

Advisors and clients carrying out their financial plans have earned this 1989 song's take on pursuing your dreams unapologetically.

‘More Money Tonight’ by Violent Femmes

The 1991 song suggests that wealth and success may be the best revenge against all of those jerks from high school who acted like you wouldn't amount to anything.

‘Don’t Take The Money’ by Bleachers

A 2017 indie pop banger admits that the relationship turned into an unhealthy dependency, embodied by a plea not to take the money and run.

‘Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)’ by Pet Shop Boys

Advisors could listen to this 1986 song and think about how their business partner displays complimentary skills and a similar drive to grow.

‘Money Changes Everything’ by Cyndi Lauper

This 1983 cover reminds once again that money gets intertwined with any type of relationship in sometimes painful ways, since "everybody's only looking out for themselves."

‘Money, Money, Money’ by Abba

The grim 1976 hit decries the "rich man's world" while striving to gain access to his getaway trips to Las Vegas or Monaco.

‘Dirty Sexy Money’ by David Guetta, Afrojack, Charli XCX and French Montana

Clients who want to get "a million dollars" and "make your wishes come true" aren't going to get there without investing their time and resources, this 2018 song may be saying.

‘All That Money Wants’ by The Psychedelic Furs

The 1988 song questions whether money and material wealth amounts to anything in the end, when there are "painted lies on painted lips that promise heaven tastes like this."

‘The Last Great American Dynasty’ by Taylor Swift

A widow whose giant estate keeps the neighbors talking decided to spend her money how she pleases, no matter what they say or if it runs out, according to the story in this 2020 song.

Add FP’s Sound Investments pop playlist on Spotify or Apple Music

And stay tuned every Friday the next three weeks for future Sound Investments playlists in rock, rap/R&B and country.