I think it was in episode 2 that I mentioned how our West Indian brothers and sisters will remix any and all songs so this is the first of a number episodes that will feature some of my favorite use of samples, of remakes and remixes by Caribbean artists. Rich Girl by Louchie Lou and Michie One is probably the first time I remember hearing a dancehall song sample a song that is so clearly NOT of reggae or even soul or R&B origin but I didn’t immediately know it was a sample and remake of If I Was a Rich Man from the musical Fiddler on the Roof. It’s quite possible that my mother overheard it and asked if I was listening to Fiddler on the Roof but I could just be making that up. I can’t really remember how I discovered where the song was from but it was the first time I thought, man, Jamaicans will make a dancehall remix of ANYthing.
On today’s episode:
If I Was Rich: From Short Story to Dancehall Classic
I think it was in episode 2 that I mentioned how our West Indian brothers and sisters will remix any and all songs so this is the first of a number episodes that will feature some of my favorite use of samples, of remakes and remixes by Caribbean artists.
Rich Girl by Louchie Lou and Michie One is probably the first time I remember hearing a dancehall song sample a song that is so clearly NOT of reggae or even soul or R&B origin but I didn’t immediately know it was a sample and remake of If I Was a Rich Man from the musical Fiddler on the Roof. It’s quite possible that my mother overheard it and asked if I was listening to Fiddler on the Roof but I could just be making that up. I can’t really remember how I discovered where the song was from but it was the first time I thought, man, Jamaicans will make a dancehall remix of ANYthing.
SONG CREDITS:
If I Was a Rich Man
Fiddler on the Roof Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Chaim Topol, John Williams
1967
Rich Girl
Louchie Lou, Michie One
1993
Rich Girl
Love, Angel, Music, Baby
Gwen Stefani, Eve
2004
LINKS:
A Sample, A Cover playlist
Facebook
Email: spacetimemusicpodcast@gmail.com
The SpaceTimeMusic theme is a sample of the Ana-Tole x Jonah Christian Remix of Ready or Not by the Fugees.
On a completely different note, if you are in need of some centering, healing, calming music I highly recommend the Healing Vibes series from Yogetsu Akasaka, a Japanese Zen Buddhist monk/live-looping artist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUoG8MfKNoQ
Hey y’all, I’m Lyd the Small Black Woman and you’re listening to SpaceTimeMusic, a podcast exploring the roots, shoots and branches of some of my favorite songs through samples and covers.
On today’s episode:
If I Was Rich: From Short Story to Dancehall Classic
I think it was in episode 2 that I mentioned how our West Indian brothers and sisters will remix any and all songs so first of a number episodes that will feature some of my favorite use of samples, of remakes and remixes by Caribbean artists.
Rich Girl by Louchie Lou and Michie One is probably the first time I remember hearing a dancehall song sample a song that is so clearly NOT of reggae or even soul or R&B origin but I didn’t immediately know it was a sample and remake of If I Was a Rich Man from the musical Fiddler on the Roof. It’s quite possible that my mother overheard it and asked if I was listening to Fiddler on the Roof but I could just be making that up. I can’t really remember how I discovered where the song was from but it was the first time I thought, man, Jamaicans will make a dancehall remix of ANYthing.
If you don’t know If I Were a Rich Man, like I said, it’s a song from the Broadway and film musical Fiddler on the Roof and was written by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock. I’ve never seen it but according to the Google and wikipedia (which, if you’re researching real shit, you should take with a grain of salt) the song is performed by Tevye, the main character in the musical, and reflects his dreams of glory.[1]
The title is inspired by a 1902 monologue by Sholem Aleichem in If I Were a Rothschild, in Yiddish, Ven ikh bin Rothschild,[1] a reference to the wealth of the Rothschild family. The lyric is based in part on passages from Sholem Aleichem’s 1899 short story "The Bubble Bursts." Both stories appeared in English in the 1949 collection of stories Tevye's Daughters. If I Were a Rich Man performed by Chaim Topol in the film version of the musical.
And a one and a two.
The story and song cover the pretty universal theme of the plight of the poor and working class living in a capitalist society––if I just had enough money so that I can do more than just scrape by all would be right with the world. It also points out the pitfalls of being rich such as spending money on pointless things and still wanting more.
More than 20 years later in 1993, English duo of West Indian (are they Jamaican) heritage, Louchie Lou and Michie One did a dancehall remake with lyrics more appropriate to the time. Their version also features elements of the Israeli national anthem, Hatikvah.
Being rich seems to be so far from their reach in Rich Girl that their imaginations run wild. They can get everything money can buy and any person for that matter or build a school and teach but then quickly remind the listener that money can’t buy love. It’s the classic conundrum. Mo’ money, mo’ problems. Which I will get to in another episode featuring Ms. Ross, Biggie and Sean Combs.
And more than 10 years after that, Gwen Stefani and Eve along with producer Dr. Dre released a dancehall adjacent remake. Gwen lists all the luxury items she’d buy if she had all the money in the world but like Michie One and Louchie Lou before her sings “All the riches, baby. Won’t mean anything. All the riches baby, won’t bring what your love can bring.” Eve then comes in with a verse on world love and shouting out their respective clothing lines cause money can’t buy love but it can help you support your local pop star.
Something tells me Sholem Aleichem did not see ANY of this coming back in 18 and 99 when he sat down to put fountain pen to paper and scribe “The Bubble Bursts.” And yet, here we are. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: expressions of the truth of the human experience have staying power. They may morph from 19th century short story to 21st century pop song but the truth remains the same.
Speaking of dancehall remixes and whatnot, there’s an Icelandic children’s song that I think is ripe for remixing. It’s called Krummi svaf í klettagjá and it’s about a raven trying to find something to eat in the dead of winter. Hit me up Icelandic dancehall music producers. Let’s make this happen.
As always, the songs mentioned in this podcast are listed in the show notes.
A link to my A Sample, A Cover playlist, is also in the show notes and has almost all of the songs I talk about on this podcast. SpaceTimeMusic is on Facebook at facebook.com/spacetimemuicpodcast, so check that out for more content, mini-blogs and links to good music and such.
This has been SpaceTimeMusic with Lyd the SBW. Bye y’all.
If I Was a Rich Man
Fiddler on the Roof Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Chaim Topol, John Williams
1967
Rich Girl
Louchie Lou, Michie One
1993
Rich Girl
Love, Angel, Music, Baby
Gwen Stefani, Eve
2004