Price Tag

Heralded as the “New Face of Pop,” Jessie J has also bewitched the mellowed-down taste of the not-so-young dudes (me included) with her up-tempo “Price Tag” single which has taken by storm the music charts everywhere recently. Although, the unplugged version by Youtube sensation Maddi Jane sounds a lot lighter and refreshing, the song, nonetheless, departs from the archetypal pop junky patronized by many teenagers. And I don’t necessarily believe that this song is inspired by the Illuminati, contrary to the rumors that have spread against this piece of art. The Illuminati is a thing of the past and a figment of a troubled imagination for some people at the present.

What makes Price Tag rock is not only its slinky and seemingly vintage backbeat but the message behind the lines -- the reality that invades the modern man; his obsession and enslavement to gather more than what he can take. Money is a good servant but a bad master as ancient pundits put it -- and modernity aggravates this insatiable desire of man to seek for more masters that the sound of a cash register seems to be the most pleasant thing to hear. “Ain’t about the Cha-Ching Cha-Ching” so goes the song.

“Everywhere you look, there's compelling evidence that the single-minded pursuit of wealth often leads smart people to do incredibly stupid things. “Things that destroy what money can't buy” that sometimes even the most brilliant of people allow their hunger for money to cause not only their personal ruin but also to the ruin of others says Bill Taylor of Harvard Business Review. We all have heard it – bottomlines over personal integrity; career or business over family relationships. They don’t only happen in soaps or in the movies. They happen everywhere.

I think the reason why most of us want to have more money than what we actually need is because we are all afflicted by this “Superhero Syndrome.” We cannot fly but money can fly us to where we want to go. We could never be as good-looking as superman but money could dress you up better than Clark Kent. When money used to be just a functional tool of exchange that represents the value of goods or services, money has transcended from utility to accessory to compliment or validate their self-esteem. And sometimes people push themselves to the limit (sacrificing quality life and morals) in order to serve their egos. 

If money is really everything, why is it that so many people of great wealth also seem so unhappy? According to Money and Meaning of Life by Jacob Needleman, “Money exerts a deep emotional influence on who we are and what we tell ourselves we can never have. Money has everything to do with the pursuit of an idealistic life, while at the same time, it is at the root of our daily frustrations. Only if we understood the true role of money in our lives are we to realize that “Money truly can't buy happiness if you're unhappy to begin with.” 

J.D. Roth who writes for The Time Magazine in the Psychology of Money teaches five of the most important lessons between money and happiness. First, People who are materialistic tend to be less happy than those who aren’t. "If your aim is to have more money and more stuff, you’ll be less content than others whose goals are built around relationships or mental/spiritual fulfillment.” Second, over-saving does not lead to happiness. “While it’s important to save for the future (and to cope with current emergencies), research shows that oversaving can actually have a negative impact on your quality of life. If you’re meeting your goals for saving, it’s okay to spend some on the things that make you happy.”

Third, experiences tend to make us happier than material things. “We have different reactions to the money we spend on experiences and the money we spend on material goods: When we spend on experiences, our perceptions are magnified (meaning we feel happier or sadder than when we spend on stuff), and the feelings tend to linger longer. And since most of our experiences are positive, spending on activities instead of things generally makes us happier.”

Fourth, when we lower our expectations, our happiness increases. “High expectations come when we compare ourselves to others or when we’re bombarded by advertising. We come to accept the things we see on TV as “normal,” and because we don’t have these things, we feel inadequate. Our expectations rise, and before long we’re caught up in lifestyle inflation. But if we can consciously manage our expectations — both financial and otherwise — we can increase our sense of well-being.” And lastly, true wealth isn’t about money. “True wealth is about relationships, about good health, and about continued self-improvement. True wealth is about happiness. Ultimately, it’s more important to be happy than it is to be rich.”

Now back to the song: “Why is everybody so obsessed? Money can’t buy us happiness. Can we all slow down and enjoy right now Guarantee we’ll be feelin All right.”

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