Sound Investments: 18 rock songs about money and wealth

September 8, 2023 1:24 PM

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Sept. 8 is National 401(k) Day, and we're celebrating with a little music.

Here at Financial Planning, we've been gathering our favorite songs about money into a series of playlists, collectively titled "Sound Investments." Last week's genre was pop, and today we're rolling out our rock list: 18 headbangers about earning, saving and spending the green stuff. Coming up next Friday will be rap/R&B, followed by country the Friday after that.

But don't just read about these songs — listen to them! At the bottom of this article, you'll find links to this playlist on both Spotify and Apple Music. Click them to listen to financially relevant hits from the '50s to the 2010s, sung by everyone from the Beatles to AC/DC to Cher.

And if we've left out any wealth-related rockers, let us know! Send your suggestions to fpeditor@arizent.com, and we can add them to the playlist.

And a one, and a two…

'Money' by Pink Floyd

Only Pink Floyd could turn the sounds of clanking cash registers and ripping pay slips into music. Bouncing to an off-kilter 7/4 time signature, the band offers some sound financial advice: "Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash."

‘Baby You're a Rich Man’ by the Beatles

In this 1967 classic, the Beatles describe the ideal client — rich, well traveled and "beautiful." The only problem is he keeps all his money "in a big brown bag inside a zoo," which indicates excessive saving.

'Rich Girl' by Hall & Oates

Inherited wealth can allow an investor to "rely on the old man's money." But as Daryl Hall and John Oates warned us in this 1976 bopper, without a clear financial strategy, money won't get you too far.

'Fortunate Son' by Creedence Clearwater Revival

If there's a male equivalent of Hall and Oates' "Rich Girl," it may be Creedence's "Fortunate Son." Born with a silver spoon in hand, this senator's son hides his wealth from Uncle Sam by making his house look like a rummage sale — an example of excellent tax planning.

‘She Works Hard for the Money’ by Donna Summer

In 1983, at the height of the "Greed is Good" era, Donna Summer sang about what the rest of us, who are neither rich girls nor fortunate sons, must do to build our wealth.

‘Dirty Work’ by Steely Dan

Not all wealth management tasks are glamorous. When you're digging up a client's old 401(k)s, you may recall Steely Dan's timeless words: "I don't want to do your dirty work no more."

‘A Hard Day's Night’ by the Beatles

The Beatles worked hard. In addition to laboring eight days a week, the Fab Four worked like dogs when they should have been sleeping like logs — a lifestyle they bemoaned in the opener to their 1964 film, "A Hard Day's Night."

‘Moneytalks’ by AC/DC

In this 1990 rocker, worthy of Beavis and Butthead-style headbanging, Brian Johnson snarl-sings his best advice to investors facing fluctuating markets: Listen to the money talk.

‘Take the Money and Run’ by the Steve Miller Band

It's usually best to think long-term. But sometimes, when a client is closing in on retirement age and stocks are at a high point, it may be okay to tell them what Steve Miller told us in 1976: Go on, take the money and run.

‘Mercedes Benz’ by Janis Joplin

Fifty-two years ago, Janis Joplin parodied the materialism that has only taken a deeper hold on American culture since then. Singing at her raspy best, she beseeches God to buy her a Mercedes, a color TV or at least a round of drinks.

‘Blue Money’ by Van Morrison

Van Morrison is a great singer, but he may not make the best financial advisor. In this jangly number, he encourages the listener to "spend all your blue money," "juice money" and "loose money." Whatever he calls it, he wants you to spend it all, which most wealth managers would advise against.

‘Keep the Change’ by the Copyrights

In 2014, the Copyrights captured the tragedy of spiraling debt in this dissonantly cheerful rock song. "I use my credit card to pay credit cards," sings Adam Fletcher. "I use another one to pay rent. I'm throwin' nickels at my student loans, and they haven't made a dent."

‘Money's Not an Issue’ by the Vandals

After finding $20 under a sofa, Dave Quackenbush is feeling like a "hundredaire" and ready to treat his lady to a night of "champagne dreams and mustache kisses." The resulting serenade is a reminder that while saving money is important, sometimes we all deserve a night out.

‘Your Cash Ain't Nothin’ But Trash’ by the Clovers

As this 1954 doo-wop hit illustrates, the value of all assets is subjective. A hot cryptocurrency one day can become trash the next, and, as both inflation and the Clovers have taught us, even cash itself can rapidly depreciate.

‘You Never Give Me Your Money’ by the Beatles

Some financial arrangements just don't work out. In 1969, Paul McCartney wrote this medley about the Beatles' new manager, Allen Klein, and the lyrics show little faith in his work. "You never give me your money," McCartney sings. "You only give me your funny paper."

‘The Man Who Sold the World’ by David Bowie

Scam artists steal billions of dollars from Americans every year. This David Bowie classic appears to describe one such swindler, and offers a cautionary tale to investors: Follow that finfluencer's stock tips, and you could be "face to face with the man who sold the world."

‘Life's Been Good’ by Joe Walsh

After performing with the Eagles for five years, guitarist Joe Walsh wrote this song exaggerating (hopefully) the lifestyle his wealth now afforded him: a mansion he owned but never visited, accountants who paid for his hotel vandalism and a Maserati that does 185 ("Now I don't drive"). But does money buy happiness? Walsh's answer: "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do."

‘When the Money's Gone’ by Cher

In this deep cut from Cher's 2000s renaissance, the "Moonstruck" star asks her partner if he'll stick with her even when the money's gone. Financial planners could ask a similar question: Even when stocks are down and inflation is up, will clients stick with their advisors — perhaps not when the money's "gone," but when the money's low?

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

And stay tuned each Friday the next two weeks for future Sound Investments playlists in rap/R&B and country.