In 2019, Ariana Grande’s song “7 Rings” hit the Billboard 100 pop chart. It stayed on the chart for 33 weeks and held at No. 1 for eight weeks. It was immediately recognized that the melody of the song was based on another song from 1965 called “My favorite things.” The lyrics, however, are a stark contrast to the original song, and offers us a good look at how much culture can change in just under 55 years.

“My favorite things” is a song from the movie “Sound of Music”. The movie was set in the times of World War II.  In the movie, the song was sung by the actress Julie Andrews, whose character, Maria, was attempting to calm the children during a thunderstorm. Maria suggests to the children that whenever they are frightened, they should simply think of their favorite things. The song lists things like “raindrops on roses”, kittens, ponies, and favorite foods. There was a strong stress on nature, such as winters changing to spring and geese flying by moonlight. The simple things in life give Maria happiness.

Ariana Grande’s song, however, focuses on her passion for wealth and material things such as eating at expensive restaurants, drinking champagne, wearing expensive jewelry, and buying diamond rings for her friends. She is addicted to shopping, which she says is her therapy for when she feels bad.  She also says she would rather be on the phone than in a serious relationship. She claims that money can buy happiness.

Their contrasting viewpoints show how the concept of "favorite things" evolves with individual circumstance and cultural values. Maria comes from a time when even the rich could lose everything because of war, so the focus is turned to things that money can’t buy and others can’t take away. While Ariana come’s from a generation who hasn’t seen hard economic times nor lived through devastating wars.