Retail therapy: 20 songs about shopping

In 2012, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis teamed up with Wanz on their Grammy Award-winning single “Thrift Shop.” On the track, they detail the feeling of saving money by shopping at thrift shops, and still feeling stylish among people who spend money on big-label items. There’s no doubt that thrift shopping takes a lot more work, but shoppers usually come across stylish bargains. 

Usher teams up with producer Zaytoven and rapper Gunna on his 2018 track “Gift Shop.” The R&B legend is all about living the high life and buying the finer things from cars, to jewelry, to pulling up to NBA games. As he sings on the first verse, “Got it, I'ma spend it, gotta do it big / 'Cause I be talkin' more than millions / Courtside, no tickets / Blue tint, sittin' pretty.”

Fergie teamed up with songwriters Rico Love and Salaam Remi on her catchy 2008 track “Labels or Love.” The song was featured on the soundtrack of the film Sex and the City, and it was the perfect track for those who believe shopping is way more important than finding love. Fergie knows she’s a lot happier when she comes out of a retail store as she sings, “Love's like a runway, but which one do I love more? / No emotional baggage, just big bags filled with Dior / Love's like a runway, so what's all the fussing for? / Let's stop chasing those boys and shop some more.”

“Window Shopper” was the second soundtrack single from 50 Cent’s 2005 film Get Rich or Die Tryin.’ On the track, 50 brags about his wealth and success, and his ability to buy anything he wants, while other people who may not be as successful as he is have to window shop everything such as jewelry or test driving a new car. “Window Shopper” became a top-20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Ariana Grande is all about retail addiction and whatever she wants, she buys — that's the mantra on her 2019 single “7 rings.” With an interpolation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “My Favorite Things,” Grande makes sure to let listeners know that she shops for the finer things in life. She highlights this mindset across the track singing, “Yeah, my receipts be lookin' like phone numbers / If it ain't money, then wrong number / Black card is my business card / The way it be settin' the tone for me / I don't mean to brag, but I be like, ‘Put it in the bag.’”

Fabolous teamed up with producers Tricky Stewart and The-Dream on his 2009 hit single “Throw It in the Bag.” On the track, the rapper is all about buying what he wants for him and his girl; he has the type of mindset that money is no object. As he says on his verse, “You with the right man, you ain't gotta price scan / Or ask how much, now what I look like? / Son I'm from Brooklyn — what it look like? / You get it cause I got it, I got it so you get it.”

“Ka-Ching!” is the second single from Shania Twain’s fourth album Up!, released in Europe and Central America. On the track, Twain highlights how people always want more money so they can spend it on anything they want, but she also mentions how credit cards and loans get people caught up in money mess. She stresses that money can bring happiness as she sings, “All we ever want is more / A lot more than we had before / So take me to the nearest store.” 

In 2004, hip-hop group De La Soul released their seventh album The Grind Date. On the second single “Shopping Bags (She Got From You),” they highlight how people can be gold-diggers who use their partners to shop for anything they want. As they say on the hook, “Shopping bags, they weigh down her arms / Popping tags and collars her charm / All them things she got, she got from you / All them things she got, she got from you / Manolo and Prada's her style / Louis, Burberry by the pile.”

In 1984, pop star Madonna released her sophomore album Like a Virgin, which featured the second single “Material Girl.” On the track, Madonna details how some men try to impress her, but she’s only impressed by the men with a lot of money. As she says on the hook, “‘Cause we’re living in a material world / And I am a material girl.” The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Patti LaBelle uses shopping as a metaphor on her 1980 single “I Don’t Go Shopping.” Rather than singing about shopping around at stores, she reflects on people looking for love. Her stance is evident from the beginning of the song stating, “I don't go shopping for love / You're something money can't buy / I dream in colors and my dreams are only shades of you / So I'm never blue.”

Bruce Springsteen pays homage to grocery store employees on his 2009 track “Queen of the Supermarket." He tells the story of how he admires a cashier as he sings the hook, “I'm in love with the queen of the supermarket / There's nothing I can say / Each night I take my groceries and I drift away / And I drift away.”

Gucci Mane and Nicki Minaj have a shopping problem on their 2008 single “Shopaholic.” They’re all about buying luxury brands, especially when they shop for them in different countries like China and Morocco. Bobby V. describes their shopping mentality on the hook as he sings, “She got a Fendi fetish, she got a shopping problem / That girl's a shopaholic, she only mess with ballers / She got a Gucci fetish, she got a Louis problem / She got a shopping problem, that girl's a shopaholic.”

Patti Page released not only a shopping song, but a popular nursery song in 1953 with her single “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window.” Page isn’t shopping for clothes, but she is shopping for a furry friend, a.k.a. man’s best friend. As she sings on the hook, “How much is that doggie in the window? / The one with the waggly tail / How much is that doggie in the window? / I do hope that doggie's for sale.”

Wiz Khalifa, Cardo, and Sledgren are all about buying things that they want because they have the money to live frivolously on their 2021 track “Shop Around.” They rap about buying big-ticket items such as luxury cars and jewelry, and how some people might be envious that they can’t do the same. As they say on the hook, “If I can afford it, I'mma go out and pay for / If I can afford it, I'mma get what I want.”

In 1979, British punk band The Slits released their debut album Cut. On the track “Spend, Spend, Spend,” the band reflects on how window shopping can entice people to want buy items that catch their eye in order to feel satisfied. As they sing, “I need something new / Something trivial would do / I want to satisfy this empty feeling.”

Travie McCoy teamed up with Bruno Mars on his 2010 single “Billionaire.” Although the track mostly refers to McCoy’s desire of living the life of a billionaire, he also mentions how the money would allow him to shop for anything that he never had before. “Billionaire” became a top-five hit on the Billboard Hot 100. 

On Jimmy Buffet’s 1988 track “Baby’s Gone Shopping,” he uses shopping as a metaphor for getting what he wants. Rather than singing about shopping for retail items, he sings about a woman who is shopping (a.k.a. “looking’) around for guys that catch her eye. Buffett notices the woman is on the hunt, but he truly believes that he should be with her. 

French Montana and Drake are all about their money and having a good time on their 2016 single “No Shopping.” On the track, they detail different aspects of shopping at upscale stores and only buying fine items like furs for their ladies that deserve it. 

In 1979, rock band The Clash released their third album London Calling, widely acclaimed as one of the greatest albums of all time. One of the standout tracks is “Lost in the Supermarket,” in which the band uses shopping the grocery store as a metaphor for finding their way in life. As they sing on the hook, “I'm all lost in the supermarket / I can no longer shop happily / I came in here for the special offer / Guaranteed personality.”

Soulja Boy teams up with Gucci Mane and Yo Gotti on their 2008 shopping anthem properly titled “Shoppin’ Spree.” On the track, they have no problem letting their listeners know how much they paid for big ticket items. As Soulja says on the hook, “Bracelet 20 bags / Rims cost me 5 grand / House cost 500 cash / God d*mn I'm on a shopping spree.”