Feeling that bass, foot tapping, fingers snapping, this feel-good song by Michael Kiwanuka and Tom Misch is as much fun as you can get, and although it was produced in 2019, it would fit just as well in the 70’s. The director; Louis Bhose obviously feeling the same, with clothes, set design and even the topography for the video’s title Money yelling “hello 70’s, here I come.”
A match-made-in-heaven, this heart-thumping collaboration between British artists; Michael Kiwanuka and his soulful-pop voice, to Tom Misch’s hip-hop beats – feels as close as I’m ever going to get to the pearly gates.
The music video being equally enjoyable with a mini-narrative as to our relationship with money. Beginning the video, Kiwanuka is shown to be working at a supermarket and seemingly living a simple life; hanging with employees, pricing items, mopping floors and working the tills – but in general he seems bored with the routine of his job. When suddenly there’s a twist like the TV show ‘Undercover Boss’ revealing him to be a multi-millionaire. He and Misch then give the supermarket staff cash from a great big bag of money – although only a small amount of money is actually coming out from the bag. But it’s okay because the pair then present a cheque for a whopping $500 to be given to “Miscellaneous Employees”. The humour is this video being well directed, and brilliantly enjoyable.
Tom Misch. Image is courtesy of Justin Higuchi. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 “Tom Misch 04/18/2018 #26”
Although initially seeming upbeat with the sudden display of money, Kiwanuka is soon seen to be alone and reminiscing over photos from his the simple supermarket life, one where he was surrounded by laughing colleagues, while instead he’s now surrounded by just piles of cash. But it’s not long before he’s back to being happy with all the money, with him and Misch dancing around sports cars parked on a sunset hill – thereby loving the life of the wealthy. But is he? For in a dreamlike sequence Kiwanuku sees himself back in his supermarket with his face posted under the missing section of the milk cartons – could a desperation for money mean losing yourself? The video revealing that money doesn’t really buy you happiness, and yet it doesn’t take Kiwanuka and Misch long before they get caught up again in the love-hate relationship with money, one that repeats again and again.
At first glance, the verses revel at all the money being spent to buy love; “I can buy an aeroplane/Fly you all around the world…” but how at the end it just brings misery “I’m spending when I feel ashamed/Spending, ’cause I’m all alone”. Something the chorus has been singing all along; “Money, money, I feel it killing love”. However, the upbeat music and sad lyrics are almost at a paradox from one another, and in this it looks at the front put on by people with money – maybe they’re not so happy after all? Maybe they should give me all their money.
Still penniless it doesn’t matter for I’m filled by the richness of Kiwanuka’s voice (please excuse the pun), his albums consistently reaching the UK top five, with his album Love & Hate (2016) reaching number one. His sugary-depths gaining him more and more fans by the year, with several accolades that include 2012 BBC sound of the Year, along with nominations for the Brit and MOBO awards.
Misch, musician/producer/vocalist, is no newbie to collaborations having worked with Loyle Carner, Goldlink and many more, while his latest album What Kinda Music (2020) is a joint production with jazz artist Yussef Dayes. A departure very different from his chilled-out album Beats Tape 1 (2014).
Equally stylish, Michael Kiwanuka and Tom Misch are set to continue their mark in music, I just hope that along the way they do a few more tracks together.
Other songs by Michael Kiwanuka we love:
- Light (Edit) (2020 – single)
- Living In Denial (2019 – KIWANUKA)
- Cold Little Heart (2016 – Love & Hate)
- Love & Hate (2016 – Love & Hate)
- One More Night (2016 – Love & Hate)
- Home Again (2012 – Home Again)
- I’m Getting Ready (2012 – Home Again)
If you love Kiwanuka, you might also like:
- Brittany Howard
- Celeste
- Son Little
Other songs by Tom Misch we love:
- What Kinda Music (collaboration with Yussef Dayes) (Jordan Rakei Remix) (2020 – single)
- Disco Yes (2018 – Geography)
- It Runs Through Me (feat. De La Soul) (2018 – Geography)
- South of the River (2018 – Geography)
- Summer (2014 – Beats Tape 1)
- The Real Thing (2014 – Beats Tape 1)
If you love Misch, you might also like:
- Franc Moody
- Jordan Rakei
- Laura Misch
