My Gen X Playlist: Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money) – Pet Shop Boys

My friends and I have had many conversations over the years. What business could we start? We are a group with diverse business backgrounds: sales, marketing, finance and operations. All the people pieces are there. The missing piece is the idea. Albeit, that’s an important piece of the puzzle. Until we find that last piece under a rock, we’ve no choice but to keep our day jobs.

The 80’s has been referred to as the decade of greed. It was a time of yuppies, Reaganomics and Gordon Gecko telling everyone that greed is good. Although my friends and I grew up in this era, our desire to start a business together is not purely for profit. Being our own boss, freedom from working for the man and working with people we like are equally important. It’s not just about the money. In 1986, the Pet Shop Boys released Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money) as a satire against capitalism. Many people didn’t understand it was satirical.

Neil Tennant’s lyrics were written as a satire of Thatcherism and its embodiment of conspicuous consumption in the United Kingdom during the 1980s.

“It’s a simple message isn’t it? ‘I’ve got the brains, you’ve got the looks, let’s make lots of money.’ A very insensitive thing that was meant to be a satire of Thatcherism.

– Songfacts

Finding that right idea has been somewhat elusive. But let’s also be candid. Owning your own business is hard work and is not a one way ticket to happiness. Maybe I should broaden the search instead. I’ve often heard it said:

If you follow your passion, you will never work a day in your life.

Sounds like a nice idea. I’m just not sure if eating Doritos on the couch watching college sports makes a good business plan.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

I've got the brains, you've got the looks
Let's make lots of money
You've got the brawn, I've got the brains
Let's make lots of -

I've had enough of scheming and messing around with jerks
My car is parked outside, I'm afraid it doesn't work
I'm looking for a partner, someone who gets things fixed
Ask yourself this question: Do you want to be rich?

I've got the brains, you've got the looks
Let's make lots of money
You've got the brawn, I've got the brains
Let's make lots of money

You can tell I'm educated, I studied at the Sorbonne
Doctored in mathematics, I could have been a don
I can program a computer, choose the perfect time
If you've got the inclination, I have got the crime

Oh, there's a lot of opportunities
If you know when to take them, you know?
There's a lot of opportunities
If there aren't, you can make them
Make or break them

I've got the brains, you've got the looks
Let's make lots of money
Let's make lots of -
(Aahhhhh) Money
(Aahhhhh)
(Aahhhhh - Di du da di da bu di ba)

You can see I'm single-minded, I know what I could be
How'd you feel about it, come and take a walk with me?
I'm looking for a partner, regardless of expense
Think about it seriously, you know, it makes sense

Let's (Got the brains)
Make (Got the looks)
Let's make lots of money (Oohh money)
(Let's) You've got the brawn
(Make) I've got the brains
Let's make lots of money (Oohh money)

I've got the brains (Got the brains)
You've got the looks (Got the looks)
Let's make lots of money (Oohh money)
Money