Peder Elias, If I Got a Dollar | Beaming with Pride 🏳️‍🌈

In the 31^st edition of Beaming with Pride 🏳️‍🌈 (2025), we highlight the song, “If I Got a Dollar” performed by Norwegian singer, songwriter, and producer Peder Elias. 

Prepare to beam with P-R-I-D-E 🏳️‍🌈! Beaming with Pride 🏳️‍🌈 celebrates, embraces, and spotlights songs by LGBTQ musicians or allies.  Here, we provide background and insight into musician(s) and analyze + go gaga over the decadent bops served up.  When the music dictates deeper, more transcendent discussion, we ensure the point is fully articulated.  All styles of music are welcome while the songs can be classics or brand-spanking new. So, without further ado, in the 31^st edition of Beaming with Pride 🏳️‍🌈 (2025), we highlight “If I Got a Dollar” performed by Peder Elias.

“Crazy / How you’re back and forth with me lately,” 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.

To reiterate, matters of the heart fuel the narrative. “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:

“I’d be so rich I could fly

Touch every cloud in the sky

See any city I like

Dance with the stars every night.”

One other highlight from the fab “If I Got a Dollar” is the post-chorus, where the instrumental really slaps. Despite his heartbreak, Peder Elias perks our ears up ‘something fierce’ in this pop bop. You bet your bottom dollar we’re beaming with pride! 

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

Peder Elias, If I Got a Dollar: Beaming with Pride 🏳️‍🌈 No. 31 (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner/ The Musical Hype; Peder Elias / Sony Music Entertainment Norway AS; Elias Souza, Mario Spencer, Mizuno K from Pexels;  All_CC0_Public_domain, CatsWithGlasses, David, ernestflowerss, Kelly, M. Harris, Marek Studzinski, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]