Brother, Can You Spare a Song?
SONGS FOR A RECESSION
Good thing I'm so gosh darn handsome, 'cause I'm about to start paying bills solely with my good looks. Hoo boy, these are wicked times, my brethren. A couple of my good friends were just laid off. Everything is brutally expensive. The MAZD picked a bad time to get 1.7 miles per gallon. I went to pay the mortgage the other day, and my checkbook actually laughed at me. It was cool at first, but then my checkbook just didn't know when to quit. Oh well, it's a good thing the newspaper business is so robust, or I might really be sweating (cue nervous laughter).
Anyway, it's times like these when we turn to song to lift our weary spirits. So let's jack up the Pop Life Playlist and sing a few tunes for the recession. C'mon, don't cost nothing...
Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I) -- Ray Charles
Poor Poor Pitiful Me -- Warren Zevon
Kill the Poor -- Dead Kennedys
Money (That's What I Want) -- John Belushi
Busted -- Charley Pride
Eat the Rich -- Aerosmith
Loan Me a Dime -- Boz Scaggs
16 Tons -- Tennessee Ernie Ford
How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live -- Bruce Springsteen
Everybody Hurts - REM (I don't think a recession is what the boys from Athens were thinking when they penned this song, but it sure seems fitting)
Posted by: sp | June 26, 2008 at 07:55 AM
Down Payment Blues - AC/DC
"Livin' on a shoestring...a 50 cent millionaire"
Posted by: Powerage | June 24, 2008 at 08:51 AM
I'm floored by your mention of the Dead Kennedys. I got nothin'.
Posted by: NickWithAnAxe | June 23, 2008 at 12:25 PM
30,000 pounds of Bananas - Harry Chapin
At least you can eat the bananas.
Posted by: sparky | June 22, 2008 at 08:55 PM
Kenny Rogers - The Gambler
You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fooooold 'em...
Posted by: Al | June 22, 2008 at 03:15 PM
How about: Car Wash - Rose Royce.
"You might not ever get rich
But let me tell ya it's better that diggin' a ditch."
Posted by: Sweet Lou | June 22, 2008 at 09:52 AM
Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man) -- Randy Newman
Posted by: Wade Tatangelo | June 22, 2008 at 09:45 AM
If We Make It Through December -- Merle Haggard
Posted by: Steve Persall | June 22, 2008 at 08:40 AM
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out - Eric Clapton/Derek & The Dominoes
Money Changes Everything - Cyndi Lauper
Money - Pink Floyd ("when you ask for pay rise, it's no surprise, they're giving none away.")
Money's No Good - Off Broadway
Money Talks - Alan Parson Project
Posted by: Bassnote | June 22, 2008 at 12:22 AM
Moneys Too Tight to Mention - Simply Red
Posted by: tev | June 21, 2008 at 10:41 AM
"Skid Row" ~ Little Shop of Horrors
"Workin' at the Car Wash Blues" ~ Jim Croce
"Can't Buy you Money" ~ Toby Keith
"Dear Mr. President" ~ P!NK
Posted by: Marissa | June 20, 2008 at 09:24 PM
C'mon man, you're forgetting your best friend, Huey Lewis, and his classic "Workin' for a Living"
"Hundered dollar car loan, 200 rent, I get a check on Friday, but it's already spent" ...
boy, those were the good old days.
Posted by: chase | June 20, 2008 at 08:26 PM
OK, I'm lazy. What's the Phil Collins song where he talks about the lady living on the streets?
"Another Day in Paradise"
(i just opened another window so I could answer my own question)
Posted by: Marissa | June 20, 2008 at 07:38 PM
"Shiiiiiiiiiift Work" ~ Kenny Chesney
If you consider the theme of trying to live off love ~ "I got you Babe" ~ Sonny & Cher
Posted by: Marissa | June 20, 2008 at 07:36 PM
Hard Times (For an Honest Man)- John Mellencamp
Ghetto Defendant- The Clash
and a quote that pops up in a couple Springsteen songs on "Nebraska"-
"I got bills no honest man could pay".
Yeah, that about sums up my mortgage and homeowners insurance right there.
Posted by: Sherrie | June 20, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Torture yourself with Devo - Working In a Coalmine
Posted by: ian | June 20, 2008 at 04:02 PM
"Fast Car" -- Tracy Chapman
"Strapped for Cash" -- Fountains of Wayne
"Bills Bills Bills" -- Destiny's Child
Posted by: Sean Daly | June 20, 2008 at 04:00 PM
That may worry a few people in here!
Posted by: ian | June 20, 2008 at 03:55 PM
Ian, as usual, we are on the same Police scanner wavelength. Hee!
Posted by: jane | June 20, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Sorry again Jane. I didn't see that you had already mentioned it... duh!
Posted by: ian | June 20, 2008 at 03:43 PM
Sorry Jane!
Add in the Police - Dead End Job
Posted by: ian | June 20, 2008 at 03:42 PM
I feel like adding Who Let the Dogs Out...don't know why...
Posted by: John Hays | June 20, 2008 at 03:34 PM
Aaaand Ian beat me to my TMBG suggestion.
However, I have these to add:
"Dead End Job" -- The Police
"Ritch in a Ditch" -- Klark Kent
(here's a link to the lyrics, since this one might be a bit obscure: http://www.kovideo.net/lyrics/s/Stewart-Copeland/Ritch-In-A-Ditch.html)
Posted by: jane | June 20, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Somewhere in there insert They Might Be Giants' snippet, "Minimum Wage."
Posted by: ian | June 20, 2008 at 03:24 PM
Haha, Sean, always assume the woman is going to take what you say the wrong way. It's one of the rules.
Posted by: John Hays | June 20, 2008 at 03:13 PM
Wait! What? How am back in the doghouse?!
Posted by: Sean Daly | June 20, 2008 at 02:39 PM
Woops....look at that. Sean's toe has just re-entered the doghouse. That was quick!
Posted by: Forever Fiancee | June 20, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Yeah, that Kid Lulu version was pretty good, wasn't it? Lu's recent dance recital featured the kiddies hoofing it to the song. It was the only time I wasn't weeping out of parental gush.
Just in case you guys haven't figured it out, the FF is the tuff one in the relationship.
Posted by: Sean Daly | June 20, 2008 at 02:22 PM
"Hard Knock Life"
Choose your favorite version:
Jay Z version
Annie version
Kid Lulu version (my personal fave)
Posted by: Forever Fiancee | June 20, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Victim of Life's Circumstances - Delbert McClinton
Feel Like A Number - Bob Seger
Someday When Things Are Good - Merle Haggard
Posted by: DG | June 20, 2008 at 01:59 PM