She's Got All the Friends That Money Can Buy

Last updated
"She's Got All the Friends That Money Can Buy"
Chumbawamba shes got all.jpg
Single by Chumbawamba
from the album WYSIWYG
Released29 February 2000
Recorded2000 at Woodlands Studio, Castleford, UK
Genre Alternative rock, pop
Label EMI
Songwriter(s) Chumbawamba
Producer(s) Chumbawamba & Neil Ferguson
Chumbawamba singles chronology
"Tony Blair"
(1999)
"She's Got All the Friends That Money Can Buy"
(2000)
"Enough Is Enough (Kick It Over)"
(2000)

"She's Got All the Friends That Money Can Buy" is the first single released from Chumbawamba's album WYSIWYG. The song's lyrics describe a wealthy socialite who's benefited from her parents' wealth. Upon its release, the song received mixed reviews from critics and was generally unsuccessful, failing to enter the UK Singles Chart or the Billboard Hot 100 and receiving very little airplay. The song's B-side, "Passenger List for Doomed Flight #1721", was subject to controversy upon its release, due to its lyrics' criticism of a number of prominent social figures.

Contents

The song's introduction samples an audio clip from the American cable barker channel, Sneak Prevue .

Reception

Critical

The song was met with mixed reviews from critics upon its release. CMJ New Music Monthly, in their review of the song's parent album, described the track as "entertaining" but "ham-fisted." [1] Rolling Stone, although highly critical of the song's parent album, praised the lyric "you can buy your friends but I'll hate you for free." [2]

Commercial

The song was commercially unsuccessful, failing to enter the UK Singles Chart nor the Billboard Hot 100. [3] [4] The song received very little airplay upon its release. [5] BBC Radio 1 considered the original version of the song "too pop" to receive airplay, so a second version of the song was recorded and released by former Eurovision Song Contest entrants and fellow West Yorkshire band Black Lace. The latter version is available from Chumbawamba's website for download. [6]

Music video

A music video was released to promote the single. It depicts band members performing in front of a white background. [7]

B-side

The B-side, "Passenger List for Doomed Flight #1721", was extremely controversial upon its release due to its subject matter: it called out, by name, a number of public figures (real and fictitious) of whom the group disapproved. [8] [5] Some of these included Courtney Love, Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Ally McBeal, Rupert Murdoch, and Bono. [5] Following the song's release, many DJs threatened to remove the group from rotation. [8] Regarding the controversy, vocalist Alice Nutter told MTV that "I'm always shocked by what causes controversy [...] All you have to do is write a song that's not a love song. People pretend they're absolutely stopped dead by a song that waves bye-bye to Bono. It's just pop music." [5]

Formats and track listings

  1. "She's Got All the Friends That Money Can Buy" (single edit) 2:52
  2. "Just a Form of Music" 3:04
  1. "She's Got All the Friends That Money Can Buy" (single edit) 2:52
  2. "Just a Form of Music" 3:04
  3. "Lest We Forget" 1:28
  4. "Passenger List for Doomed Flight #1721" 2:49
  1. "She's Got All the Friends That Money Can Buy" (single edit) 2:52
  2. "Just a Form of Music" 3:04
  3. "Lest We Forget" 1:27

Release history

RegionDateFormats(s)Label(s)Ref(s).
United States29 February 2000 Contemporary hit radio [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chumbawamba</span> British alternative rock band (1982–2012)

Chumbawamba was a British anarchist punk band formed in 1982 and disbanded in 2012. They are best known for their 1997 single "Tubthumping", which was nominated for Best British Single at the 1998 Brit Awards. Other singles include "Amnesia", "Enough Is Enough", "Timebomb", "Top of the World ", and "Add Me". The band drew on genres such as punk rock, pop, and folk. Their anarcho-communist political leanings led them to have an irreverent attitude toward authority, and to espouse a variety of political and social causes including animal rights and pacifism and later regarding class struggle, Marxism, feminism, and anti-fascism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bootylicious</span> 2001 single by Destinys Child

"Bootylicious" is a song recorded by American group Destiny's Child for their third studio album Survivor (2001). It was written and produced by Rob Fusari, Beyoncé and Falonte Moore. The song contains a prominent sample from Stevie Nicks' song "Edge of Seventeen". It was released as the second single from Survivor on May 22, 2001, by Columbia Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M.O.R.</span> 1997 single by Blur

"M.O.R." is a song by English rock band Blur from their eponymous album. Released on 15 September 1997, "M.O.R." reached number 15 in the UK Singles Chart on its release as a single in September 1997. Worldwide, it reached number 45 in New Zealand and also charted in Australia, Canada, and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tubthumping</span> 1997 single by Chumbawamba

"Tubthumping" is a song released by British rock band Chumbawamba from their eighth studio album, Tubthumper (1997). It is the band's most successful single, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart. It topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100. At the 1998 Brit Awards, "Tubthumping" was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Single. It sold 880,000 copies in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Got 'til It's Gone</span> 1997 single by Janet Jackson

"Got 'til It's Gone" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson, featuring American rapper Q-Tip and Canadian singer Joni Mitchell, from her sixth studio album, The Velvet Rope (1997). It was written by Jackson, Jam and Lewis, with additional writing by René Elizondo Jr., Mitchell, and Kamaal Ibn Fareed. The song was produced by Jackson, Jam and Lewis. It was released as the lead single from The Velvet Rope in 1997, by Virgin Records. The song was recorded at Flyte Tyme Studios in Edina, Minnesota. For "Got 'til It's Gone", Jackson opted for a less polished sound which resulted in an authentic blend of R&B, pop, and hip hop with traces of reggae influences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Real Love (Mary J. Blige song)</span> 1992 single by Mary J. Blige

"Real Love" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige from her debut studio album, What's the 411? (1992). Based on real life experiences, it was written and produced by Cory Rooney and Mark Morales, and samples Audio Two's 1987 song "Top Billin'". The song was issued as the album's second single on July 28, 1992 by Uptown and MCA. It became Blige's first top-10 hit, peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rhythmic charts and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 4, 1992. Marcus Raboy directed the song's music video. Rolling Stone included "Real Love" in their list of "500 Best Songs of All Time" in 2021 at number 327.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand</span> 1996 single by Primitive Radio Gods

"Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" is a song by American alternative rock group Primitive Radio Gods. Their debut single, it was released from the soundtrack to the 1996 black comedy film The Cable Guy and was also included on the band's first album, Rocket. Its chorus consists of a sample from the 1964 B.B. King song "How Blue Can You Get", and the enigmatic lyrics of the song describe a troubling relationship in which two people cannot connect on an emotional level. The song was released in the United Kingdom on March 18, 1996, and was serviced to US radio on June 11, 1996.

<i>Tubthumper</i> 1997 studio album by Chumbawamba

Tubthumper is the eighth studio album and the major label debut by English rock band Chumbawamba, released on 1 September 1997 by EMI. The album was written and produced by Chumbawamba, with additional production from Neil Ferguson. A musical departure from the group's anarcho-punk roots, the album incorporates elements of pop rock, dance-pop, and alternative rock. Thematically, the album acts as a social commentary on a variety of political issues, particularly that of class conflict. Tubthumper was promoted with three singles: "Tubthumping", "Amnesia", and "Drip, Drip, Drip". "Top of the World ", a standalone single previously featured on the official music compilation album for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, was included on a European reissue of Tubthumper.

<i>WYSIWYG</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Chumbawamba

WYSIWYG is the ninth studio album by English rock band Chumbawamba, released on 4 April 2000 by EMI. The album was written and produced by Chumbawamba, with additional production by Neil Ferguson. Originally a continuation of the sound of predecessor Tubthumper (1997), the group scrapped the material from the album's initial recording sessions and sought to explore new sounds with WYSIWYG. The album incorporates elements of pop, dance-pop, alternative rock, and experimental music. Thematically, the album explores various aspects of pop culture that the group had been exposed to due to the success of their 1997 single "Tubthumping". WYSIWYG was promoted with one single: "She's Got All the Friends That Money Can Buy".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sensual World (song)</span> 1989 single by Kate Bush

"The Sensual World" is a song by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush. It was the title track and first single from her album of the same name, released in September 1989. The single entered and peaked at No. 12 on the UK Single Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rubberband Girl</span> 1993 single by Kate Bush

"Rubberband Girl" is a song by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush that was the first of five singles released from her seventh studio album, The Red Shoes (1993). The B-side is "Big Stripey Lie" in the UK and "Show a Little Devotion" in the US.

Andrea Monica Martin was an American R&B singer-songwriter and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Got Your Money</span> 1999 single by Ol Dirty Bastard

"Got Your Money" is a song by American rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard, released in 1999 as the only single from his second studio album, Nigga Please. Both the single and the album were the last to be released by Ol' Dirty Bastard, before his death in 2004. The song, produced by the Neptunes, features American R&B singer Kelis, who sings the chorus. It marked her first appearance on record, before the release of her debut single the following month. "Got Your Money" is listed at number 255 on NME's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time", published in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay (Glenn Jones song)</span> 1993 single by Eternal

"Stay" is a song written by Bob Khozouri and Mark Stevens, and originally recorded by American singer Glenn Jones. It was released in 1990 by Jive Records from his fifth album, All for You (1990), reaching number six on the US Billboard Hot Black Singles chart. The song became a worldwide hit for British girl group Eternal in 1993 and 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Tengo Dinero (Los Umbrellos song)</span> 1997 single by Los Umbrellos

"No Tengo Dinero" is the debut single of Danish musical group Los Umbrellos, considered to be their signature song. It was released by FLEX Records on 14 May 1997. Based on the theme of 1960 film Never on Sunday by Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis, the lyrics were written by Jay and Richie Balmorian and group member Al Agami. It was produced by Kenneth Bager, Michael Pfundheller and Jan Elhøj, with additional production handled by Cutfather & Joe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ugh! Your Ugly Houses!</span> 1995 single by Chumbawamba

"Ugh! Your Ugly Houses!" is a song by Chumbawamba. Released in 1995, it served as the lead single from the group's seventh studio album, Swingin' with Raymond. It was later featured on the group's 1999 compilation, Uneasy Listening. The song criticizes the homes featured in celebrity gossip magazines such as Hello. Upon its release, the song attained modest chart success in the United Kingdom, where it became their fourth chart entry, spending one week in the top 100. It was generally well-received by critics, who praised its humorous lyrics and composition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amnesia (Chumbawamba song)</span> 1998 single by Chumbawamba

"Amnesia" is the second single from English rock band Chumbawamba's eighth studio album, Tubthumper (1997). The song's lyrics address the sense of betrayal that English leftists felt during the rise of New Labour. Released on 19 January 1998 by EMI, the song was met with favorable reception from critics, who regarded the song as a highlight from Tubthumper.

"Pass It Along" is a song by English rock band Chumbawamba, taken from their 2000 studio album WYSIWYG. The song mocks gated communities and a lack of public spaces, as well as Microsoft and its founder, Bill Gates. Its chorus is based on the Microsoft slogan "Where do you want to go today?" The song was originally released as a CD single in 2000 in Europe and the United States, and met with favorable critical reception. In 2001, the group released a remix of the song as a free digital download; the new version included samples from numerous pop songs and public figures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middleman (song)</span> 1994 single by Terrorvision

"Middleman" is a song by English rock band Terrorvision, which was released in June 1994 as the second single from their second studio album How to Make Friends and Influence People. The song was written by Terrorvision and produced by Gil Norton. "Middleman" reached No. 25 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for five weeks. The song's music video was directed by Tim Royes and produced by Alan Wachs.

Kristiana Levy is a German singer, musician and songwriter.

References

  1. ""WYSIWYG" review". CMJ New Music Monthly: 53. 2000. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  2. Sheffield, Rob. "Chumbawamba: Wysiwyg review (archived at Wayback Machine)". Wayback Machine. RealNetworks, Inc. Archived from the original on 19 August 2006. Retrieved 7 June 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. "Chumbawamba: Singles Chart History". Official Charts. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  4. "Chumbawamba: Chart History: The Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Chumbawamba 'Not Sorry' About Eclectic New Album". MTV. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  6. "Hard-to-find miscellaneous oddities to download or stream". Chumba. Chumbawamba. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  7. "Chumbawamba - She's got all the friends that money can buy (with lyrics)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  8. 1 2 Thompson, Dave (2000). Alternative Rock. Hal Leonard. p. 121. ISBN   9780879306076 . Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  9. She's Got All the Friends That Money Can Buy (European CD single liner notes). Chumbawamba. EMI Electrola. 2000. 7 24388 82232 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. She's Got All the Friends That Money Can Buy (German CD single liner notes). Chumbawamba. EMI Electrola. 2000. 7243 8 88206 2 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. She's Got All the Friends That Money Can Buy (Japanese CD single liner notes). Chumbawamba. EMI. 2000. TOCP-40136.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. "Going for Adds". Radio & Records . No. 1339. February 25, 2000. p. 71.