Changes: Money Power Glory (song)

Revision as of 15:16, 16 April 2021

Lana Del Rey

Writer(s)

Lana Del Rey
Greg Kurstin

Producer(s)

Greg Kurstin

Alternate producer(s)

Dan Auerbach
Robert Orton

Length

4:30
(See official versions)

From

Single(s)

"West Coast"
"Ultraviolence"
"Black Beauty"

Promotional single(s)

"Shades of Cool"
"Ultraviolence"
"Brooklyn Baby"

*Ultraviolence* track listing
"Pretty When You Cry"	"Fucked My Way Up to the Top"

"Money Power Glory" (or "Money, Power and Glory" and referred to as "Money & Power") is a song by Lana Del Rey written with Greg Kurstin. It was released on her second major-label studio album, Ultraviolence.

Background

On May 3, 2014, the title was revealed in an interview with a French magazine as "Money, Power & Glory". The interview said the song would have hip-hop beats that American radio stations would love. An alternate version of the song mixed by Robert Orton is registered on PPL Repertoire, but remains unreleased and unleaked.^[1] A snippet of an early demo of the song leaked on June 25, 2018, featuring different vocals and instrumental. The full demo leaked on September 20, 2018 and it was produced by Dan Auerbach.

Writing and inspiration

"Like, if all that I was actually going to be allowed to have by the media was money, loads of money, then fuck it … What I actually wanted was something quiet and simple: a writer's community and respect."

Del Rey talking to Tim Jonze of The Guardian ^[2]

Del Rey talked about writing "Money Power Glory" in a track by track commentary of Ultraviolence, stating she wrote the song at a time when she felt really frustrated. She felt like the most anybody was going to allow her was, if she would be lucky, money and power, in the form of infamy, rather than fame. She described the song as "a sarcastic response, psychologically, just to what I felt was going on".^[3] On June 12, 2014, when asked by The New York Times about the track she said "I learned that whatever I did elicited an opposite response, so I’m sure ‘Money Power Glory’ will actually resonate with people as being what I really do want. I already know what’s coming, so it's okay to explore irony and bitterness".^[4] On July 1, 2014, in a controversial interview with The Guardian, Del Rey discussed being in "more of a sardonic mood" while writing the song.^[2]

On July 22, 2014, producer Greg Kurstin was asked by NME about writing and producing the track, and said the song "was one of the earlier songs written on the album and it stuck around". Discussing its inclusion on the track list, Kurstin explained:

"I wasn't really sure what was going to happen because we did it so early and I know she went through a lot of writing after that point. It's interesting that what ended up on the album is actually the original mix that we finished that day; we didn't re-cut or re-record anything. But it was great when I finally heard where she went and I think it was really cool that she went organic with live musicians. It was unexpected, but also a logical step for her. I really love that album; it's one of the albums that I listen to over and over again."^[5]

Remix version

A snippet of an unofficial remix featuring vocals from The Weeknd was played on August 14, 2020 during Episode 9 of his Memento Mori radio show. It is unclear if a full version was recorded or if he was an original featured artist on the track. The Weeknd's vocals and lyrics are very similar to the ones of Del Rey's in the leaked demo of the song.

Live performance

Del Rey performed "Money Power Glory" live for the first time on July 15, 2014 during Live at the Marquee festival in Cork, Ireland.

Cross-references

Dope and diamonds are referenced in the third demo of "Diet Mountain Dew", where she sings "gimme them, gimme them dope and diamonds".
"The sun also rises" is possibly referencing the 1926 novel by Ernest Hemingway of the same name; this is another of several literary references throughout her songs.
The phrase "this bitch" also appears in "In My Feelings".
References to diamonds appear in many Del Rey's songs, most notably "Last Girl on Earth", "National Anthem" and "Young and Beautiful".
The lyrics "I wanna take you for all that you got" are similar to "You know that I want what you got" from "Big Bad Wolf" and "Hot Hot Hot".
Del Rey sings "hallelujah" in "Ben", "Cherry" and "Religion".
Money is also mentioned in "Religion", referenced to as "cash" in "Hundred Dollar Bill" and "Old Money".

Official versions

Album version — 4:30
- Instrumental version — 4:28
Demo version (produced by Dan Auerbach) — 4:21
Remix version snippet — 1:41

Lyrics

Album version

You say that you wanna go to a land that's far away
How are we supposed to get there with the way that we're living today?

You talk lots about God, freedom comes from the call
But that's not what this bitch wants, not what I want at all

I want money, power, and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got, baby

The sun also rises on those who fail the call
My life, it comprises of losses and wins and fails and falls

I can do it if you really, really like that
I know what you really want, b-b-b-b-baby
I can do it if you think you like that
You should run, boy, run

I want money, power, and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got, baby, baby

Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds
Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, that's all that I am
Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds
Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds

I want money, power, and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got, baby

Demo version

You say that you wanna go
To a land that's far away
How are we supposed to get there
With the way that we're living today?

You talk lots about God
Freedom comes from the call
But that's not what this bitch wants
Not what I want it all

I want money, power, and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got

The sun also rises
On those who fail to call
My life, it comprises
Of losses and wins and fails and falls

But I can do it if you really, really like that
I know what you really want, b-b-b-b-baby
I can do it if you think you like that
You should run, boy, run

I want money, power, and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got

Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds
Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, that's all that I am
Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds
Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds

I want money, power, and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got

Remix version

[Snippet]:
[The Weeknd]:
The sun also rises for those who fail the call
My life, it comprises of losses and wins and fails and falls
But I can do it if you think you really like that
I know what you really want, baby, baby, baby
I can do it if you think you really like that
You should run, baby, run, baby, run

[Lana Del Rey]:
I want money, power and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got

Baby, baby
Baby, baby

Credits

Personnel

Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting
Greg Kurstin — songwriting, production, mixing, guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboard
Alex Pasco & Julian Burg — additional engineering
John Davis — mastering

Technical

Mastered at Metropolis Studios, London

References

Singles | Tour | Music videos | Photoshoots | Producers

"Cruel World"
"Ultraviolence"
"Shades of Cool"
"Brooklyn Baby"
"West Coast"
"Sad Girl"

"Pretty When You Cry"
"Money Power Glory"
"Fucked My Way Up to the Top"
"Old Money"
"The Other Woman"

Bonus tracks:
"Black Beauty"
"Guns and Roses"
"Florida Kilos"
"Is This Happiness"
"Flipside"

[1] ISRC: GBUM71402016

[guard-2] 2.0 ^2.1 https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jun/12/lana-del-rey-ultraviolence-album

[3] ttps://soundcloud.com/ldrfancom/ultraviolence-ldr-commentary

[4] ttps://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/arts/music/lana-del-rey-still-stirs-things-up-with-ultraviolence.html

[5] ttps://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/chart-ruling-super-producer-greg-kurstin-guitar-music-is-at-an-all-time-low-767524

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 |written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>[[Greg Kurstin]]
 |producer = Greg Kurstin
-|altproducer = [[Dan Auerbach]]
+|altproducer = [[Dan Auerbach]]<br>[[Robert Orton]]
 |time = 4:30<br><small>(See [[#Official versions|official versions]])</small>
 |Source = [[File:Ultraviolence_logo.png|150px|link=Ultraviolence (album)]]
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 |album = [[Ultraviolence (album)|Ultraviolence]]
 |previous ="[[Pretty When You Cry (song)|Pretty When You Cry]]"
-|next ="[[Fucked My Way Up to the Top (song)|Fucked My Way Up to the Top]]"}}
+|next ="[[Fucked My Way Up to the Top (song)|Fucked My Way Up to the Top]]"}}"'''Money Power Glory'''" (or "'''Money, Power and Glory'''" and referred to as "'''Money & Power'''") is a song by [[Lana Del Rey]] written with [[Greg Kurstin]]. It was released on her second major-label studio album, ''[[Ultraviolence (album)|Ultraviolence]]''.
-"'''Money Power Glory'''" (or "'''Money, Power and Glory'''") is a song by [[Lana Del Rey]] written with [[Greg Kurstin]]. It was released on her second major-label studio album, ''[[Ultraviolence (album)|Ultraviolence]]''.
 ==Background==
@@ Line 18: / Line 17: @@
 == Writing and inspiration ==
-Del Rey talked about writing "Money Power Glory" in a track by track commentary of ''[[Ultraviolence (album)|Ultraviolence]]'', stating she wrote the song at a time when she felt really frustrated because she felt like all that anybody was going to allow her was maybe, if she was lucky, was money, and power, in the form of infamy, rather than fame. She described the song as "a sarcastic response, psychologically, just to what I felt was going on".<ref>https://soundcloud.com/ldrfancom/ultraviolence-ldr-commentary</ref>
+{{quote box|width=22em|align=right|quote="Like, if all that I was actually going to be allowed to have by the media was money, loads of money, then fuck it … What I actually wanted was something quiet and simple: a writer's community and respect."|source= ''Del Rey talking to Tim Jonze of ''The Guardian'' ''<ref name="guard" />}}Del Rey talked about writing "Money Power Glory" in a track by track commentary of ''[[Ultraviolence (album)|Ultraviolence]]'', stating she wrote the song at a time when she felt really frustrated. She felt like the most anybody was going to allow her was, if she would be lucky, money and power, in the form of infamy, rather than fame. She described the song as "a sarcastic response, psychologically, just to what I felt was going on".<ref>https://soundcloud.com/ldrfancom/ultraviolence-ldr-commentary</ref> On June 12, 2014, when asked by ''The New York Times'' about the track she said "I learned that whatever I did elicited an opposite response, so I’m sure ‘Money Power Glory’ will actually resonate with people as being what I really do want. I already know what’s coming, so it's okay to explore irony and bitterness".<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/arts/music/lana-del-rey-still-stirs-things-up-with-ultraviolence.html</ref> On July 1, 2014, in a controversial interview with ''The Guardian'', Del Rey discussed being in "more of a sardonic mood" while writing the song.<ref name="guard">https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jun/12/lana-del-rey-ultraviolence-album</ref>
+On July 22, 2014, producer Greg Kurstin was asked by NME about writing and producing the track, and said the song "was one of the earlier songs written on the album and it stuck around". Discussing its inclusion on the track list, Kurstin explained:
+:"I wasn't really sure what was going to happen because we did it so early and I know she went through a lot of writing after that point. It's interesting that what ended up on the album is actually the original mix that we finished that day; we didn't re-cut or re-record anything. But it was great when I finally heard where she went and I think it was really cool that she went organic with live musicians. It was unexpected, but also a logical step for her. I really love that album; it's one of the albums that I listen to over and over again."<ref>https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/chart-ruling-super-producer-greg-kurstin-guitar-music-is-at-an-all-time-low-767524</ref>
+==Remix version==
+A snippet of an unofficial remix featuring vocals from [[The Weeknd]] was played on August 14, 2020 during Episode 9 of his Memento Mori radio show. It is unclear if a full version was recorded or if he was an original featured artist on the track. The Weeknd's vocals and lyrics are very similar to the ones of Del Rey's in the leaked demo of the song.
 ==Live performance==
 Del Rey performed "Money Power Glory" live for the first time on [[2014/July#July 15|July 15, 2014]] during Live at the Marquee festival in Cork, Ireland.
-== Cross-references ==
+==Cross-references==
-* Dope and diamonds are referenced in the first demo of "[[Diet Mountain Dew (song)|Diet Mountain Dew]]", where she sings "gimme them, gimme them dope and diamonds".
+* Dope and diamonds are referenced in the third demo of "[[Diet Mountain Dew (song)|Diet Mountain Dew]]", where she sings "gimme them, gimme them dope and diamonds".
 * "The sun also rises" is possibly referencing the 1926 novel by Ernest Hemingway of the same name; this is another of several literary references throughout her songs.
 * The phrase "this bitch" also appears in "[[In My Feelings (song)|In My Feelings]]".
+* References to diamonds appear in many Del Rey's songs, most notably "[[Last Girl on Earth (song)|Last Girl on Earth]]", "[[National Anthem (song)|National Anthem]]" and "[[Young and Beautiful (song)|Young and Beautiful]]".
+* The lyrics "I wanna take you for all that you got" are similar to "You know that I want what you got" from "[[Big Bad Wolf (song)|Big Bad Wolf]]" and "[[Hot Hot Hot (song)|Hot Hot Hot]]".
+* Del Rey sings "hallelujah" in "[[Ben (song)|Ben]]", "[[Cherry (song)|Cherry]]" and "[[Religion (song)|Religion]]".
+*Money is also mentioned in "[[Religion (song)|Religion]]", referenced to as "cash" in "[[Hundred Dollar Bill (song)|Hundred Dollar Bill]]" and "[[Old Money (song)|Old Money]]".
-== Official versions ==
+==Official versions==
 * Album version — 4:30
-* Instrumental version — 4:28
+** Instrumental version — 4:28
-* Demo version — 4:21
+* Demo version <small>(produced by Dan Auerbach)</small> — 4:21
+* Remix version snippet — 1:41
 ==Lyrics==
-=== Album version ===
+===Album version===
 {{Scroll box|content = <poem>
-You say that you wanna go
+You say that you wanna go to a land that's far away
+How are we supposed to get there with the way that we're living today?
-To a land that's far away
-How are we supposed to get there
-With the way that we're living today?
-You talk lots about God
+You talk lots about God, freedom comes from the call
+But that's not what this bitch wants, not what I want at all
-Freedom comes from the call
-But that's not what this bitch wants
-Not what I want at all
 I want money, power, and glory
 I want money and all your power, all your glory
 Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
-Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got
+Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got, baby
-The sun also rises
+The sun also rises on those who fail the call
+My life, it comprises of losses and wins and fails and falls
-On those who fail to call
-My life, it comprises
-Of losses and wins and fails and falls
 I can do it if you really, really like that
@@ Line 65: / Line 69: @@
 I want money and all your power, all your glory
 Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
-Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got
+Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got, baby, baby
 Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds
-Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, that's all that I want
+Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, that's all that I am
 Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds
 Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds
@@ Line 75: / Line 79: @@
 I want money and all your power, all your glory
 Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
-Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got
+Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got, baby
 </poem>}}
@@ Line 111: / Line 115: @@
 Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds
-Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, that's all that I want
+Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, that's all that I am
 Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds
 Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds
@@ Line 119: / Line 123: @@
 Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
 Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got
+</poem>}}
+===Remix version===
+{{Scroll box|content = <poem>
+'''[Snippet]:'''
+'''[The Weeknd]:'''
+The sun also rises for those who fail the call
+My life, it comprises of losses and wins and fails and falls
+But I can do it if you think you really like that
+I know what you really want, baby, baby, baby
+I can do it if you think you really like that
+You should run, baby, run, baby, run
+'''[Lana Del Rey]:'''
+I want money, power and glory
+I want money and all your power, all your glory
+Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
+Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got
+Baby, baby
+Baby, baby
 </poem>}}
 ==Credits==
 '''Personnel'''
 * Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting
 * Greg Kurstin — songwriting, production, mixing, guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboard
 * Alex Pasco & Julian Burg — additional engineering
@@ Line 132: / Line 157: @@
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
 {{Navbox album ultra}}
 [[Category:Ultraviolence songs]]