If I was a Rich Girl, Like Rich Boy

I was trying to write my last post on Rich Boy when news broke loose that Osama Bin Laden was found dead and my productivity plunged.  So, instead, I thought that I would write a final thank you to Paula and every one in our class!  It's been an "enriching" semester, and we've learned a lot.  Every time paula played a song, or mentioned the novel Rich Boy, all I could think about was Gwen Stefani's popular song, "If I was a Rich Girl."  The video is great, and the lyrics are even better...Have a great summer!

"Rich Girl"

[Gwen]
If I was a Rich Girl
Na [x15]
See, I'd have all the money in the world, if I was a wealthy girl
No man could test me, impress me, my cash flow would never ever end
Cause I'd have all the money in the world, if I was a wealthy girl

Think what that money could bring
I'd buy everything
Clean out Vivienne Westwood
In my Galliano gown
No, wouldn't just have one hood
A Hollywood mansion if I could
Please book me first class to my fancy house in London town

All the riches baby, won't mean anything
All the riches baby, bring what your love can bring
All the riches baby, won't mean anything
Don't need no other baby
Your lovin' is better than gold and I know

If I was rich girl (na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na nah)
See, I'd have all the money in the world, if I was a wealthy girl
No man could test me, impress me, my cash flow would never ever end
Cause I'd have all the money in the world, if I was a wealthy girl
I'd get me four Harajuku girls to
Inspire me and they'd come to my rescue
I'd dress them wicked, I'd give them names
Love, Angel, Music, Baby
Hurry up and come and save me

All the riches baby, won't mean anything
All the riches baby, bring what your love can bring
All the riches baby, won't mean anything
Don't need no other baby
Your lovin' is better than gold and I know

[EVE:]
Come together all over the world
From the hoods of japan Harajuku girls
What? It's all love
What? Give it up
What?
(shouldn't matter) [x4]
What?
Come together all over the world
From the hoods of japan Harajuku girls
What? It's all the love
What? Give it up
What? (shouldn't matter)
What happened to my life? Turned up side down
Chicks that blew ya mind, ding, it's the second round
Original track and ting
You know you can't buy these things
See Stefani and her L.A.M.B I rock the fetish people you know who I am

[Eve and Stefani:]
Yes ma'am, we got the style that's wicked
I hope you can all keep up
We climbed all the way from the bottom to the top
now we ain't gettin' nothing but love

If I was rich girl (na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na nah)
See, I'd have all the money in the world, if I was a wealthy girl
No man could test me, impress me, my cash flow would never ever end
Cause I'd have all the money in the world, if I was a wealthy girl

Losing Who You Are

Rich Boy addresses a prevalent issue in many of the books that we've read this semester.   Robert Vishniak leaves his working class Jewish family to find wealth and a higher social class while losing himself in the process.  It is only a beautiful woman from his home neighborhood who makes him remember his roots and creates the turn within the novel. 

As we have seen with virtually all of the novels we have read this semester, characters cannot exist within a higher social class without losing their identity entirely.  Robert may have some oft he things that he has always dreamed of, but he is also in a constant battle to prove himself to the people that he begins to surround himself with.   This paradigm is one that is unfortunate but also rings true in The Rise of Silas Lapham and The Great Gatsby just to name a few.  Because Rich Boy is our last novel I wanted to comment on the fact that I truly believe that one cannot move to a higher social standing without a loss of their inner being and a constant fear of losing their new social standing.  Robert serves as a reminder to us that money is not where the importance lies, but morals and values.  However, he also shows us that when money is present, one will stop at nothing, whether or not that means leaving everything they've ever known, to try and achieve that higher social standing.

After looking up more information on Sharon Pomerantz, Rich Boy, I also happened to notice that "Rich Boy" is the name of a rapper...I found one his most popular songs, "Top of The World."  It seemed appropriate and I thought you would enjoy...