Adventures of Stevie V – “Dirty Cash (Money Talks)”:
Dancefloor Capitalism with a Conscience
When “Dirty Cash (Money Talks)” hit clubs in late 1989, it didn’t just get people moving — it made them think. The brainchild of British producer Stevie Vincent (aka Stevie V), lyricist Mick Walsh, and American vocalist Melody Washington, the track fused house beats, rap cadences, and R&B hooks into a genre-blurring banger that called out society’s obsession with wealth. It was bold, infectious, and just subversive enough to sneak its message into the mainstream.
“Dirty Cash, I Want You” — And I Probably Shouldn’t
The song’s hook is irresistible: “Dirty cash, I want you / Dirty cash, I need you.” But it’s not a celebration — it’s a warning. The lyrics explore how money seduces, corrupts, and complicates our lives. Vincent reportedly told Walsh, “I want to do a track that’s not about love. I want to do something a bit hardcore — like, money.” Walsh delivered a biting chorus, and Vincent layered it over a beat inspired by the emerging hip-house scene.
Melody Washington, a music teacher from Georgia living in the UK, brought warmth and clarity to the vocals. Her delivery made the critique feel personal — like someone caught in the system, not just pointing fingers at it.
From Studio Experiment to Global Smash
Originally released in December 1989, the song was reissued in 1990 and exploded. It hit No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 1 in the Netherlands, and topped the U.S. Billboard Dance Club Play chart. It also earned a silver certification in the UK and became a staple in clubs across Europe and North America.
The group performed it on Top of the Pops — a dream come true for Vincent, who compared it to a footballer playing at Wembley. The track’s success was so strong that it was remixed in 1997 and again in 2024 by DJ PAWSA, bringing it back to the UK charts with a fresh, club-ready twist.
Legacy: Still Talking, Still Tempting
“Dirty Cash” has been sampled, remixed, and reinterpreted by artists like Liberty X and Dizzee Rascal, whose 2009 track “Dirtee Cash” gave the theme a grime makeover. But the original remains iconic — a rare dance track that grooves hard while asking hard questions.