(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please CLICK HERE)
Daryl Hall & John Oates - "Rich Girl"
Hit Number 1: March 26, 1977
Stay at Number 1: 2 Weeks
What if I were to tell you that "Rich Girl" is based off of a true story, except it's inspired from a guy instead of a girl? I doubt many people know a whole lot about Daryl Hall's personal life, but he had been in a long-term relationship with Sara Allen, a woman who would later become pretty big in helping Hall & Oates out with their music. Before that though, she had been in a relationship with a guy named Victor Walker, who Hall seemed to think was kind of a weird dude. Walker and Allen still remained good friends even after they broke up, and when Allen began dating Hall, Walker had been over to their place to hang out. (Probably a bit awkward for Hall, but clearly he was ok with it) Hall didn't elaborate a whole lot on what Walker did exactly, but he said he was "acting sort of strange" and thought he was "out of his mind." But here's the kicker. Walker's family was absurdly rich. His father was reportedly involved with a successful fast-food chain, and had made truckloads of money from whatever he did with it. Hall knew this, and he also knew that it never would matter if Walker got himself into any trouble because his father would just bail him out of any situation. This is what got Hall to start thinking about what would become "Rich Girl."
One of the first things Hall thought of was the chorus. He had come up with the lines "He can rely on the old man's money/He can rely on the old's man money/He's a rich guy" but Hall knew that "rich guy" just didn't have the right ring to it. That, and Hall didn't want it to sound like he was singing about some guy love interest. So this is when the song was switched to "Rich Girl." Not only did it sound more appropriate for Hall, but it honestly does have a much better ring to it than "rich guy" does. Also, I knew a couple girls in high school who did come from very rich families. Very pretty girls, but you could always tell how stuck up they were. (If anyone from my high school happens to read this, I'm not giving away names. But you might know who I'm talking about) But anyway, I can relate to this song a little bit. I think of those girls from high school when I hear "Rich Girl." They might never have to work a day in their lives, and they get every privilege any person could ever want. It's infuriating. But it's also unfortunately how the world works. So, it's kind of nice to at least see a song calling those kinds of people out.
One weird note about "Rich Girl" that can't be ignored is that serial killer David "Son of Sam" Berkowitz claimed "Rich Girl" to be the inspiration of his killings. However, if you align the days, you would know that Berkowitz was full of shit because he started killing people before "Rich Girl" was even released. He was also all over the place with his supposed "inspiration" to start murdering people, with the most absurd being his neighbor's dog being the main reason to start. So, why anyone would believe anything that guy said is beyond me, but it still unnerved Hall & Oates a bit that their big hit was linked with a serial killer's motives to start killing people. But I guess it's fair to say they'd get over it pretty quick, cause by 1980 with the release of their album Voices, there would be a lyric in the song "Diddy Doo Wop (I Hear the Voices)" that went: "Charlie liked the Beatles/Sam he liked Rich Girl." An epic troll job, obviously.
Now it's time for the part where I give my opinion, and well, "Rich Girl" is one of those songs that I can not get out of my head after I listen to it. It's not just littered with hooks, it's drenched in hooks. However, these are not maddening hooks that you wish you could get out of your head. (Burger King Whopper song anyone?) These are the kind of fun, irresistible hooks that make your day brighter. I'm also convinced that Daryl Hall has some of the smoothest, coolest chops any front man has ever had, and he's laying into this girl (guy, of course) without even trying. That's basically all "Rich Girl" is, is calling some rich person out on their ego, and Hall delivers the song with a subtle blow to this person. I also like the harmonies behind Hall, mainly the oohs in the lines leading up to the chorus. The song is brief, clocking in at just under 2 and a half minutes, but it does what I like in a song. It's catchy, fun, and at least for me, relatable. It has that signature yacht rock sound I love. I think it's one of Hall & Oates' more underrated songs. I'm happy to say they'll appear in this series again.
GRADE: 8/10
IN POP CULTURE:
"Rich Girl" has appeared in TV pop culture before, but Daryl Hall has said before that this cover of "Rich Girl" by The Bird and the Bee is one of his favorite covers of any Hall & Oates song. So I felt like I kind of had to put this here. Here's the audio:
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