Brilliant song! in my personal opinion. To me, it just screams "This is classy Prince". I'm still a newbie (only been a serious fan for 2 months), but I still think it's one of my favorites.
It's very laid-back with a simple rhythm and sound that could very well fit in with Musicology, but at the same time, just doesn't.
The structure is overall pretty straightforward, but in this song in particular, simplicity is the key and that's what makes it sound good. The lyrics also tell a story and I like to see that in Prince's music.
I'm amazed with the classiness of the song. Prince was only 33 when he wrote/sung it. I feel that it falls in the same category with "The Word" and "The Dance" from 3121. It has the same level of class and maturity, proving my theory that Prince is ageless & timeless. He was at the same level back then that he is at now. I find that incredible, personally.
When I listened to it 20 minutes ago, I felt my head gently rock back and forth, meaning that the song & I connected mentally. We have a little history going back. I listened to it b4 my first listen thru TGE w/o distraction. It clears my head, making it a blank slate, so no matter what I listened to previously, my mind is open for a different era of Prince's music.

This is one of his best songs. PERIOD

I just about fainted when he played this during the soundcheck at the Kodak Theater in 2001

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

yep

This is one of my favorite songs. I love his voice, the lyrics, the arrangements, and the background vocals are slammin!!!

Awesome!

I saw a video of a performance on the Musicology tour that was titled "Money Don't Matter 2night/Work"...
He started into the song, but then he changed to the other because he thought "Money" was too depressing. I never really saw it that way, so I was surprised.

I wish I could find a performance of him doing it live, though. But I hear the "Diamonds & Pearls" DVD has a great performance of it. I like quite a few tracks from D&P, so that's on the top of my priority list right now. But what I buy next all depends on availability.

I feel like I say this a lot, but it's one of my overall favorites. it!

The only problem now is that it's in my head and I can't it out and nothing I listen to seems to compare to it. Prince really was a genius at 33 when he did this song.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

That is from the Live At The Aladdin DVD wrapping up the One Nite Alone Tour from 2002.

Would it be wrong of me to call this song a masterpiece?




Sure, I think that the mix of instruments used during Rosie Gaines's solo in "Diamonds and Pearls" is a masterpiece on its own, one of the reasons I'm crazy about the song.

But as an overall song, "Money" is as close a masterpiece as you can get when comparing the two.

The thing I love most is the vocals... just the texture in Prince's voice. It made my ears perk up at first listen, that's always a sign of a great song.

"Money Don't Matter 2night" along with "Diamond and Pearls" and "I were Your girlfriend" are my favourite Prince songs. I really can't stand his more rockier songs.

mmmmm....He played it during the soundcheck on the ONA tour here in Seattle. My heart jumped. It's one of my all time favorite songs.

i was watching a documentary on the 30th aniversary of roots the other days and towards the end when it was going on about the legal battles the author had to face "money..." was playing in the backround, a nice suprise

What do you think would be the best word to describe this song?

Is is a classic?
Is it a masterpiece?

And btw, what genre is it? To me, it feels like either blues, soft rock or jazz. W/e it is, Prince should do more of it. And if he has, which songs should I check into?

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

Neither, it's a good little tune though.
[Edited 4/4/07 9:28am]

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

I think it's a classic song. I wouldn't know what genre to put it in, all I know it doesn't sound like songs like "Like Dove cry" and "Let's go crazy", for some reason I can't stand those kind of songs, sound too rocky to me, even if they are not rock.

whatsgoingon said:

Nothing sounds like "When Doves Cry". There's just nothing else like it. That's probably why it's one of my favorites. It combines so many diff. instruments into it, especially during the half of it when its mostly instrumental. Sheer brilliance is all I can say.
The mix of instruments in "Money" is much more subtle because they all blend together so well. But these songs are very alike in the genius Prince used to construct the musical partions of them.

Prince knows how to write a hit record.

Tremolina said:

I don't think any of us have a doubt in our minds that he does.

But I'd like to add:

He really knows how to write a hit record. His songs are brilliant from start to end and his albums hold so many secrets yet to be uncovered and can only been done so by taking apart the pieces or looking at it holistically.

This song gives me more of a reason to get Diamonds & Pearls. While I might be raising my exceptations too high by hoping the other tracks will be like it and a few of the others I've heard already, there's no harm in it. Actually, it gives me more of a reason to buy the DVD, so I can see him perform it.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

D&P has more jewels like this on it, like Cream, D&P and Gett off. Most other songs are decent Prince songs too, like Insatiable, Walk dont walk, Thunder and Willing and Able, but Jughead and Push really push Prince's flirting with "gangsta" rap to the limits!

Tremolina said:

Thanx for the head's up.

I've heard that Push, Strollin' & Jughead are among the least fav. Prince songs of fans.

But I think I should be able to deal as long as 90%+ of the album has a great replay value.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

Push is one of my all time favorite Prince songs ever

I always hear a bit of a Steely Dan influenced Jazz vibe when I listen to this song. The chordal structure of the track is really interesting. VERY different from the rest of D&P.

This song has become one of my favorite songs of his. In fact, a co-worker of mine was talking to me about this song and how he really liked it. It's pure class.

purplecam said:

I think the keyboard of that era is kind of strange. It feels to me so immature and not very full but it feels so comforting at the same time. Damn U, Sweet Baby and God created woman has that same keyboard sound. I don't really care for Sweet Baby but I love Damn U and God created woman is in my all time favorite of Prince songs.

purplecam said:

Yeah, that's definitely how I feel about it. I get that same vibe from 'The Word' and 'The Dance', a similar one at any rate. Meaning that he had this potential even all the way back then. That amazes me.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Dude, we're in the same boat when it comes to favorite songs and Money Don't Matter... is a very soothing song.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

Oh yeah. Prince, to me, has never lost any of the stuff that made him great in the 80's and 90's. Those songs you picked is a great example of that.

purplecam said:

There's always going to be a part of him that lived through all of the eras. It's kinda hard to remember that because he's changed so much. "Money" is just beyond brilliant for too many reasons to name. The best part is that it was an instant connection. I didn't have to spend any extra time with it to be sure whether I liked it or not. I just knew.

It's basically the embodiment of how much class Prince has. That's the best way to describe it. It's very soothing and it opens my mind and clears it.

I've seen this song get very mixed reactions here but I love it.

Love his vocals, the laidback vibe, the sentiments... beautiful.


Although I have read rumours that it was Rosie that came up with the actual melody and Prince embellished it...

Patrick1985 said:

Yes, while they discuss the division of Alex Haley's estate. The song is also used regarding Iraq invasions one and two due to the commentary on oil wars.