Music Review: Cyndi Lauper "Money Changes Everything"
Cyndi Lauper
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Money Changes Everything
Album: She’s So Unusual
Year: 1985
Cyndi Lauper has had greed impact her friendships and relationships in the stark "Money Changes Everything."
Blase synths open the single, setting a shrewd tone. In the first verse, she recalls how a friend of hers got dumped. He's a normal guy. He works hard and gets by. However, he can't afford to take his girlfriend to expensive restraurants every night. Then, one day, she drives by his house. She says that their relationship is over. He doesn't understand why. They were planning to get married. However, she says she had to trade up and find a guy from an upper-class background. She adds that the amount of money he didn't have was the deciding factor.
In the chorus, she says that money divides people. People can pretend it doesn't make a difference. However, in the long run, people look for others who are in the same class standing.
In the second verse, she says people she would hang out with at the bar would promise to help her through anything. Then, one of them got promoted to a better job and stop calling her. It's caused her to be leery of people. She isn't sure if they genuinely want to be her friend or if they are using her.
In the second chorus, she says people may try to get past financial issues. However, it will come up every time. It’s a part of human nature.
The first chorus is sung again.
The blase synth has a solo.
To end the single, she says "money changes everything" three times.
Money ends marriages and provides incentives to get married. Money determines if someone is able to go to college or not. Money decides popularity. It's a lesson she prefer not have to learned. She has found people are self-absorbed and are looking for what they can get out of others.
Lauper's level-headed vocals are direct. It's just the way life is. Nothing can be done stop it. However, there's some bitterness in them. She remembers the humiliation she felt once she realized her go-getter friends dropped her.
The mellow yet sullen synths glide easily on its New Wave elements.
"Money Changes Everything" is a quirky and offbeat good time.
Album: She’s So Unusual
Year: 1985
Cyndi Lauper has had greed impact her friendships and relationships in the stark "Money Changes Everything."
Blase synths open the single, setting a shrewd tone. In the first verse, she recalls how a friend of hers got dumped. He's a normal guy. He works hard and gets by. However, he can't afford to take his girlfriend to expensive restraurants every night. Then, one day, she drives by his house. She says that their relationship is over. He doesn't understand why. They were planning to get married. However, she says she had to trade up and find a guy from an upper-class background. She adds that the amount of money he didn't have was the deciding factor.
"She said I'm sorry baby I'm leaving you tonight/I found someone new he's waitin' in the car outside/Ah honey how could you do it/We swore each other everlasting love/She said well yeah I know but when/We did, there was one thing we weren't/Really thinking of and that's money."
In the chorus, she says that money divides people. People can pretend it doesn't make a difference. However, in the long run, people look for others who are in the same class standing.
"Money changes everything/Money, money changes everything/We think we know what we're doin''/That don't mean a thing/It's all in the past now/Money changes everything."
In the second verse, she says people she would hang out with at the bar would promise to help her through anything. Then, one of them got promoted to a better job and stop calling her. It's caused her to be leery of people. She isn't sure if they genuinely want to be her friend or if they are using her.
"They shake your hand and they smile/And they buy you a drink/They say we'lll be your friends/We'll stick with you till the end/Ah but everybody's only/Looking out for themselves/And you say well who can you trust/I'll tell you it's just/Nobody else's money."
In the second chorus, she says people may try to get past financial issues. However, it will come up every time. It’s a part of human nature.
“"Money changes everything…We don't pull the strings/It's all in the past now/Money changes everything."
The first chorus is sung again.
The blase synth has a solo.
To end the single, she says "money changes everything" three times.
Money ends marriages and provides incentives to get married. Money determines if someone is able to go to college or not. Money decides popularity. It's a lesson she prefer not have to learned. She has found people are self-absorbed and are looking for what they can get out of others.
Lauper's level-headed vocals are direct. It's just the way life is. Nothing can be done stop it. However, there's some bitterness in them. She remembers the humiliation she felt once she realized her go-getter friends dropped her.
The mellow yet sullen synths glide easily on its New Wave elements.
"Money Changes Everything" is a quirky and offbeat good time.