Add It Up

Album: Give The People What They Want (1981)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this rocker, Kinks lead singer Ray Davies takes down a snobby woman obsessed with money. He lets her know when she adds up the pieces of her life, it won't amount to anything, and she's getting older every day.

    Davis has always been intrigued with the rich and fashionable - other Kinks songs where they show up include "Dedicated Follower Of Fashion" and "Sunny Afternoon."
  • Ray Davies was in a relationship with Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde at the time, and Hynde sings backup on the track. The couple had a daughter, Natalie, two years later.
  • The chorus consists of the words "Gucci" and "Cartier" repeated over an over, signifying the woman's designer tastes.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Who Wrote That Song?

Who Wrote That Song?Music Quiz

Do you know who wrote Patti Smith's biggest hit? How about the Grease theme song? See if you can match the song to the writer.

In The Cards

In The CardsSong Writing

Songwriters have used cards and card games to make sense of heartache, togetherness, and even Gonorrhea.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.