Money | 5 Gems

Money: 5 Gems No. 8 (2026) features songs by Addison Rae, Donna Summer, Jerry Butler, Peder Elias, and Rick Ross & Pharrell Williams. 

That, my friends, is biblical! It’s giving 1 Timothy 6:10! The keyword, for our intents and purposes, is M-O-N-E-Y, money! Money has been the theme of a full-length playlist in the past: 13 Songs Fueled by The Evil Green, Money 💵 (2023). Once again, we turn to the evil green on the miniature list, Money: 5 Gems No. 8 (2026). Money: 5 Gems No. 8 (2026) features songs by Addison Rae, Donna Summer, Jerry Butler, Peder Elias, and Rick Ross & Pharrell Williams. So, without further ado, let the money talk on these five intriguing songs!

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1. Addison Rae, “Money is Everything”	2. Rick Ross & Pharrell Williams, “For The Money”	3. Peder Elias, “If I Got a Dollar”
4. Donna Summer, “She Works Hard For The Money”	5. Jerry Butler, “No Money Down”	5 Gems (2026)

 

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1. Addison Rae, “Money is Everything”

Addison » Columbia » 2025

Is it now, Addison Rae? According to her, yes, it is! “Money is Everything” is the third track from her 2025 debut album, Addison. Rae penned the brief song alongside producers ELVIRA and Luka Kloser.  The production and sound are top-notch. The record commences with a delightful, dream-like, enigmatic instrumental intro. Rae reminisces on what her mother taught her about money (“Mama always told me to save my money / So I never had to rely on a man to take care of me”). HOWEVER, despite this prudent lesson, she determines she has lots of money and wants to have fun. Following the intro, “Money is Everything” picks up with a dizzying synth and souped-up drum programming. The centerpiece, the chorus, arrives in all of its rich and indulgent glory:

“Pocket full of sunshine, busting through the seam

Say it, baby, don’t lie, money’s everything

Diamonds are my best friend, like I’m Norma Jeane

Say it, baby, don’t lie, money’s everything.”

The post-chorus follows, where Rae emphasizes having fun spending. The verse is brief, where Addison enjoys partying… rolling joints, getting high, etc. Is Addison Rae being irresponsible on “Money is Everything”? Yes, arguably, but she is merely 25, so there’s still plenty of youthfulness to be had!

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2. Rick Ross & Pharrell Williams, “For The Money”

“For The Money” » Maybach Music / gamma. » 2025

Woo! Rick Ross and Pharrell Williams join forces on “For The Money”, produced by Williams. The backdrop and beat are Pharrell-ian yet contrast with some of his past productions with a dash of Latin flair fused with rap stylings. For Rick Ross, the backdrop also felt like a departure of sorts, albeit still expensive and luxurious sounding. Regardless, Ross’s cadence and flow are strong as he raps about his favorite thing: money.  He says nothing substantial. Unsurprisingly, he also raps about drip and his bitches: “Champagne toast, Belaire buckets / A bad lil’ bitch, bend it over, bust it / I got another bitch, she a thick Russian / Ready for the dick, always rushin’.” In the second verse, we get more of the same with drip (“Everybody want beef, I just want a boat,” and “Got a whole safe full of Rolex watches / Don’t even rock ‘em, Cartier watchin’”) and, again, bitches (“Got the whole club full of bad bitch options”). The chorus is lengthy, but, like the song itself, grows on you.

“But I came for the money (But I came for the money)

Only came for the money (Only came for the money)

A nigga came for the money (A nigga came for the money)

Big boss want money (Big boss want money)…”

“For The Money” is enjoyable and respectable without moving the needle for Rick Ross or Pharrell.

Appears in:

13 Fantastic F-O-R For Songs (2025)

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3. Peder Elias, “If I Got a Dollar”

“If I Got a Dollar” » Peder Elias / Sony Music Entertainment Norway AS » 2025

Peder Elias (Peder Elias Eriksrud Kjørholt) sings in the first verse of “If I Got a Dollar”. He continues, “Up, down, like a trampoline baby / One day you’re so into me, next day falling out.” Love and relationships can be complicated to the nth degree.  Even so, the Norwegian singer, songwriter, and producer approaches “If I Got a Dollar” with enthusiasm. Go figure.  This major-key pop gem was penned by Elias, Ryan Bickley, and Freedo. Freedo also produced it. “Stop making a mess out of my mind / You know that you’re killing me with those hazel eyes,” Elias sings in the second verse, adding, “I need help, help running from you.” Oh, snap! Truthfully, once you are enticed by someone, even if they hurt you, it can be hard to let go, particularly when physical appearance and pleasure come into the picture. Accompanied by a stellar music backdrop, including rhythmic guitar, Peder ‘brings it’ with his warm vocals and lovely tone. He does a marvelous job of bringing the tuneful melodies to life, particularly the centerpiece, the chorus:

“If I got a dollar every time that you broke my heart

If I got a dollar for each fight that you took too far

I’d live in a penthouse, uptown, roll out fancy cars

If I got a dollar every time that you broke my heart

I’d bе a millionaire.”

Yep, that is where the money comes into the mix! During the bridge, his hypothetical richness is further explored, with clear separation from the verses and chorus, and some sweet falsetto. One other highlight from the fab “If I Got a Dollar” is the post-chorus, where the instrumental slaps. Despite his heartbreak, Peder Elias perks our ears up with ‘something fierce’ in this pop bop.

Appears in:

Peder Elias, If I Got a Dollar: Beaming with Pride No. 31 (2025) 11 Songs That Have G-O-T Got It, Vol. 1 (2025) Eye 👁 This List of Must-Hear “I” Songs, Vol. 4 (2025) Bops from 2025 That Make You Beam with Pride

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4. Donna Summer, “She Works Hard For The Money”

She Works Hard For The Money » The Island Def Jam Music Group » 1983

Donna Summer (1948 – 2012) was the undisputed Queen of Disco, period.  Notably, the late musical icon had 14 top 10 hits.  However, not all of her top 10s were from the disco era. “She Works Hard For The Money” came after disco died.  The five-minute-plus song is the opening track from her 1983, gold-certified album, She Works Hard For The Money. “She Works Hard For The Money” peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. It was written by Summer and Michael Omartian, who also produced it.

“She Works Hard For The Money” is synth-heavy, with drum programming, quintessential 1980s sounds, and vibes. Besides the synthesizer/keyboard work, it incorporates guitar and horns, including guitar (Marty Walsh) and saxophone (Gary Herbig) solos.  The riffs are sickening. Donna Summer delivers assertive lead vocals.  She is supported by superb backing vocals.  The melodies are tuneful in the verses and the unforgettable chorus. “Onetta there in the corner stands / And wonders where she is,” Summer sings in the first verse, adding, “And she’s waiting for the bell / And she’s looking real pretty / Just waitin’ for her clientele.” Onetta was real – a bathroom attendant Summer encountered –exhausted from working two jobs to make ends meet.  In the second verse, Summer continues narrativizing a blue-collar working woman: “It’s a sacrifice, working day to day / For little money, just tips for pay / But it’s worth it all / To hear them say that they care.” The Grammy-nominated (Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female) “She Works Hard For The Money” is a gem not only because of the great instrumental backdrop and lead vocals but also because of the message that speaks to so many, hardworking women.

Appears in:

Donna Summer, She Works Hard For The Money: Throwback Vibez No. 152 (2024) 15 Ear-Catching FOR Songs (2024) 13 Songs That Go Incredibly HARD, Part 1 (2025) 13 Mo’ Incredibly Hard-Working Songs (2025)

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5. Jerry Butler, “No Money Down”

The Philadelphia Sessions » The Island Def Jam Music Group » 2001 

Jerry Butler (1939 – 2025) ranks among the greatest soul musicians. Some of his greatest hits include “Let It Be Me” (with Betty Everett), “Only The Strong Survive”, and “Ain’t Understanding Mellow”. Another song that stands out in his illustrious catalog is “No Money Down”, which appears on an album that is hard to come by: You & Me from 1970.  The non-single also appears on his 2001 compilation album, The Philadelphia Sessions. Butler co-wrote “No Money Down” with iconic producers and songwriters Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. Gamble, Huff, and the late, great Donny Hathaway (1945 – 1979) produced it.  The musical backdrop and production work are utterly sublime. The orchestration is celestial: the assertive brass, playful woodwinds (the flute trills), glorious strings, and the locked-in rhythm section. “No Money Down” exemplifies the refined, sophisticated Philly soul sound.  

 

“Oh, I should’ve / Thought about it twice / But when I ask the man about the price / He said, ‘You can have those rings / With no money down.” Interesting.  So, Jerry Butler thought that his relationship with her was worth ‘putting a ring on it.’ When he goes to make his purchase, the jeweler allows him to do so without a down payment, hence allowing Butler to pay for it later. “So, baby, I brought those rings / And I brought you all my dreams / ‘Cause I love you / I-I-I love you,” he sings in the second verse, continuing, “And I thought they guarantee /That you’d always be in love with me.” He was dead wrong! Unfortunately, things didn’t work out as Butler had hoped (“But, baby, now / That our love’s gone bad / Girl, I feel a little cheated”). Butler delivers top-notch vocals. He sings with incredible ease yet packs a mighty punch. His cool energy is epic. A baritone, Butler also impresses with a dash of falsetto, specifically on the keyword, “rings.” “No Money Down” is an album track that deserved to be a hit single. Butler put his foot into this one! Notably, The Game samples “No Money Down” in one of the best songs of his career, “Dreams”, my first introduction to this marvelous soul classic.  

Appears in:

Jerry Butler, No Money Down: Throwback Vibez No. 27 (2025)  13 Alluring No Songs (2025) A Noteworthy Compendium of N Songs (2025)

 

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5 Gems (2026)
Almost: 5 Gems No. 1	Alone: 5 Gems No. 2	Am: 5 Gems No. 3
Big: 5 Gems No. 4	Break, Breaking, or Broken: 5 Gems No. 5	Can’t!: 5 Gems No. 6
Magic : 5 Gems No. 7	Money : 5 Gems No. 8

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Money: 5 Gems No. 8 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Columbia, gamma., Maybach Music, Peder Elias, Sony Music Entertainment Norway AS, The Island Def Jam Music Group; Joshua Roberts from Pexels; Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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