- This article is about the Rush song. For the novel by John Dos Passos, see U.S.A. trilogy.
"The Big Money" is a song by progressive rock group Rush off of their album Power Windows. It has been featured on many "Best-Of" compilations. The song uses a blend of synthesizers and a melodic bassline and strong guitar riffs, which are very common in many Rush songs. The lyrics, written by drummer Neil Peart, reflect on the power of 'big money' and the sheer magnitude of trade in the modern global economy, particularly during the 1980's. The title is likely borrowed from the novel of the same name by John Dos Passos, whom Peart has often named as a favorite author. [[1]] The video for the track was created by Green Light Productions, using state-of-the-art (at the time) computer graphics similar to those seen in the video for "Money for Nothing", performed by Dire Straits. The video also features the band performing the song on a giant Monopoly-style game board with the words "Big Money" in the middle. The car featured in the animated intro has a license plate that reads "Mr. Big", a reference to producer Peter Collins, who produced the album this song appears on, Power Windows. Collins also produced 1987's Hold Your Fire and 1996's Test For Echo When performed live, many of the synths and sound effects heard in the original track are triggered through pedals and switches used by bassist Geddy Lee.
