Released: 2018
The pop track “Sex Money Feelings Die” by Lykke Li delves into the emptiness found in transient relationships fueled by fleeting pleasure, substance use, and a desire for validation. It’s a sobering and cynical exploration of the sometimes shallow interactions found in a culture that too often values the material and instant gratification over emotional depth and connection.
Starting with “Late night/ Call you in the late night/Trade love for one night“, there’s a raw presentation of a casual, no-strings-attached encounter. The act of “trading love for one night” suggests an exchange of momentary intimacy for fleeting satisfaction. The “two pills and a red wine” underlines the role of substances in blurring feelings and reinforcing the detachment in these encounters.
“No love when you hold me/ No callin’ the next day, it’s a one way, no”, this blatantly drives home the transitory and unemotional nature of the experience. The lack of reciprocation in these modern, shallow relationships is further exemplified by the prospect of a non-existent call the next day.
The repetitive assertion of “Sex, money, feelings, die” serves as a poignant critique of a society that often prioritizes material and sensual pleasures at the expense of honest communication and emotional connection. In this context, ‘feelings die’ takes on the metaphorical implication of emotional death in a world filled with shallow exchanges.
The lines, “Lights off when I wake up/ Tears under my makeup“, show the aftermath of these encounters. It’s a clear depiction of the emotional toll taken, concealed behind the façade of makeup and darkness. The protagonist uses alcohol (“Drink up, drink up, I’m so fucked up, all I want is you“) to numb the lingering emotional pain.
Finally, the repeated line “Baby, don’t you cry” could be seen as a form of self-consolation, trying to suppress the pain, keep up appearances, and maintain the cycle of sex, money, and emotional distance. It’s a grim reminder that within the veneer of ‘good times,’ there can be a much more somber reality.
In conclusion, “Sex Money Feelings Die” is a stark commentary on fleeting relationships void of emotional depth in a world that regards sex and money as chief objectives. It articulates the potential emotional fallout from the faceless, material-driven exchanges prevalent in our age.
