I once read that what really separates humans from other species is not so much their enhanced communication skills, but rather the collective ability to believe in things which are fictional. That might sound like an odd claim, but there is some truth in it. And the biggest fiction of all is money. After all, there are some states that manage to get by without religion, but the only people left who don’t believe in money are some scattered tribespeople in the Amazon and sub-Saharan Africa.
Considering its importance to everyone, there aren’t that many songs about money, but there are a few. Perhaps the most ironic song ever was not Alanis Morrisette’s, but the 7/4 classic ‘Money’ by Pink Floyd. In a case of – what, nominative determinism, perhaps - the song’s commercial success produced an unseemly litigious battle over its revenue streams.
Obviously that doesn’t feature here. ‘Bankrobber’ by The Clash came closer, as did another song about a mercenary job, ‘Bounty Hunter’ by Barrington Levy. But we do have a dub track from King Tubby and reggae from Horace Andy. Quite a widespread of genres in fact, from early electronica (Cabaret Voltaire) via Argentine post-punk (Las Kellies) through to a countrified ballad (Gillian Welch).
‘Everything is free’ by the latter artist does seem remarkably prescient for 2001. It is increasingly difficult for any but the biggest artists to make the fiction that is money out of music. I hear that contracts now include a cut of the merchandising for the record company. Basically, you either have to be a legacy act, have a well-paid day job or be a trustafarian.
Still and all, great music continues to be made and half the list is from the last couple of years. The humans continue to find a way.
Setlist:
Cashout, Fugazi
Dream job, Yard Act
Private banking, Private Banking
Modern job, Sprints
Nationalsville, The Toads
Everything is free, Gillian Welch
Money dub, King Tubby
Spend, spend, spend, The Slits
Funny money, Las Kellies
Hard rock potato, The Cool Greenhouse
Burning sky, The Jam
Money worries, Blood
Kneel to the boss, Cabaret Voltaire
Money money, Horace Andy