Money (That's What I Want)

The title of this post is the title of a song written in 1959 by Barret Strong. However, the most popular version of it was recorded by The Beatles in 1963. But they were not the only ones who saw something in it that made them want to play it. The song has actually been covered by myriad artists, including John Lennon during his solo career, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Tina Turner, Scissor Sisters, and The Blues Brothers, among many many others. So, what is it that it has that has appealed to such a number of different bands and singers throughout the years? Is it cause it has a catchy rhythm? Is it cause it’s full of swing? I doubt it. I believe the main reason why this song is entrancing is because we all feel identified with it, whether we like it or not.

Taking the whole matter to an extent, Madonna once sang “Cause we are living in a material world and I am a material girl”, and she was not so wrong after all, was she? It’s not necessary to date rich people only because of their money to be called “materialistic beings”. The majority of us, if not all, are currently working. But how many of us REALLY need it? Luckily, there hasn’t been a moment in my life in which I have felt extreme hunger or lacked a roof. Yet, I sometimes say “I need to work”. And I do! Because there are many things I want to buy, many places I long to visit, many concerts I yearn to attend, and loads of other things that only money can get. I will work all my life to buy a house of my own, my dream car and a holiday in Europe, and, especially in our country in which everything seems so unattainable, I’m not positive I will ever achieve such goals.



Supposing that the day in which we obtain all we need eventually comes, do you think we’ll stop being greedy? Even The Beatles, who were incredibly wealthy but proclaimed themselves as hippies strongly opposed to capitalism, were very concerned about money and even had quarrels about it. And if you have ever watched the show called “Cribs”, on MTV, you surely know that the more they get, the more they want. But don’t you slobber over their possessions?
Some months ago, one of my friends in Flixster shared his review of “Avatar” with me and added the video of this song to it. James Cameron has proved to make films only for the sake of profits. “Titanic” is absolutely lame but earned him millions of dollars, just like “Avatar”, a movie in which the only people who really worked were the ones in charge of art direction, cinematography and visual effects. However, there’s something that money cannot buy: watching Cameron’s ex-wife win all the awards he was supposed to take home is absolutely priceless.

So, I’ll conclude by adding some verses from the song that ring true.

The best things in life are free
But you can keep 'em for the birds and bees
Now give me money (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want), yeah
That's what I want

Your lovin' gives me a thrill
But your lovin' don't pay my bills
Now give me money (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want), yeah
That's what I want

Money don't get everything, it's true
What it don't get, I can't use
Now give me money (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want), yeah
That's what I want