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"Fallin" by Teenage Fanclub & De La Soul

This song has it all:
- Lost fame "Remember when I used to be dope? I owned a pocket full of fame."
- Pop reference "I used to be Mr. Steve Austin on the mic, 6 Millions ways I used to run it."
- Sampling of Tom Petty's "Falling"
- It was a fusion of Rock and Rap
- And it is on the soundtrack for the movie "Judgement Night"

The Gwen Guthrie (great song) reference reminded me of the old Tiny Grimes classic "Romance Without Finance"

Romance without finance is a nuisance
Baby, you know I need me some gold
Romance without finance just don't make sense
Mama, mama, please give up that gold
You so great and you so fine
You ain't got no money you can't be mine
It ain't no joke to be stone broke
Baby, you know I'd lie when I say
Romance without finance is a nuisance
Please please baby give me some gold

Romance without finance is a nuisance
Oh baby, I must have me some gold
Romance without finance just don't make sense
Oh baby, mama, mama, give up that gold
You so great and you so fine
You ain't got no money you can't be mine
It ain't no joke to be stone broke
Baby, you know I'd lie when I say
Romance without finance is a nuisance

It's a wonderful song - Charlie Parker made a great recording of it.

so some females, huh?

Female rapper MIA, in "Paper Planes":
"Sometimes I think sitting on trains
Every stop I get to I'm clocking that game
Everyone's a winner, we're making our fame
Bonafide hustler making my name

[x4]
All I wanna do is (BANG BANG BANG BANG!)
And (KKKAAAA CHING!)
And take your money . . ."

and then Joni Mitchell "Free Man in Paris" - about a conflicted record executive.

Cemetery Polka by Tom Waits. Hands down. "Uncle Phil will never leave a will, and the tumor is as big as an egg. He has a mistress, she's Puerto Rican and I hear she has a wooden leg".

Maybe this dates me, but Bonnie Raitt's "What Is Success?"

How about Gwen Guthrie's "Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent..." The chorus is "No romance without finance". It's a female "perspective" and very funny.

If I Were a Rich Man - Fiddler on the Roof

Also, Free Money by Patti Smith

Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani with Eve

I think less than just one track and more a whole album would be: The Streets' "A Grand Don't Come For Free"
A great point of view about the have and have not of money.

We should definitely also remember M.I.A's "Paper Planes"...

from cabaret MONEY

Queen - I Want it all (is that the title?)

Napoleon - Ani DiFranco
-a scathing criticism of the quest for money and fame within the music industry

Also, N.A.S.A.'s new(ish) song, "Money."
-a rad new collaboration (feat. David Byrne, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge & Z-Trip)

Jane's Addiction, Been Caught Stealing

"I Need More Allowance," a song by "The Beets," fictional band from the 1990's Nickelodeon cartoon show, Doug.

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Spinal Tap "gimme some money"

Dire Straits, "Money for Nothing."

The World is Not Enough by Garbage

a little off point -- but if wnyc needs its listeners to pledge and give money, why then doesn't it ever announce that it is a listener supported station?
If the greed/failure of the big corporations has left this NY radio station relying on the pledges of it's listeners, might it not do some good to acknowledge those listeners.

Keep in mind that Money was written by Berry Gordy & a collaborator - not the Beatles. Considering how early on in the Motown history he wrote it, I think he was sincerely looking for some cash. The Beatles did add a sardonic edge, with Lennon's unhinged vocals leading the charge.

Sly Stone has a great song called "Greed" from the his High On You album.

For the positve side of greed, I thought of Lou Reed's Power And Glory, with Jimmy Scott's refrain "I want all of it".

Come on, guys, let's share the wealth, here. There are NO women artists looking for wealth and fame? I challenge you to play The Pussycat Dolls, "When I Grow Up."

Diamonds can also be a girl's best friend. It's not just rappers.

from Cabaret- Money

Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money) by the Pet Shop Boys

I need more by Iggy Pop

How can you leave out Money by Pink Floyd???

Tom Petty's song "Joe" from The Last DJ album is pretty right on the money, so to speak. It's a story specific to the music industry, but the themes are universal... some people getting used to enrich others.

Money is Not Our God by Killing Joke

Money is not our God by Killing Joke

Dead Kennedys' "Pull My Strings," with its "My Payola" refrain sung to the tune of "My Sharona."

"Gimme Some Money" by Spinal Tap

Weird Al Yankovic's This is the Life.

"They say that money corrupts you
But I can't really tell
I got the whole world at my feet
And I think it's pretty swell"

The Lottery Song by Harry Nilsson. A nice little love song about winning the lottery and moving to Vegas in order to be happy.

My favourite would be Kurt Weill's "Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny" - about three scam artists fleeing from the law who decide to found a hedonistic new town, Mahagonny. Weill at his toughest and most cynical.