this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2025
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The two I can think of are:

  • It's Not Unusual
  • Escape (The Piña Colada Song)
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[–] GoddessGundy@lemmy.world 3 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

My boyfriend said he thought about me when we listen to Saturday Night by the Misfits. I'm like.... do you want to murder me?...

The lyrics always sounded very murdery to me. I think they did an amazing job of making it sound romantic but bf read through the lyrics after that and hugged me when I got home and said he definitely didn't want to murder me.

Edit: Ok this one is purely personal but I just got done with work and it came out on the playlist, Achilles Come Down by Gangs of Youth.

I learned this song from my daughter. I let her control the music when we'd drive to school and back but I immediately loved this song because unlike me, she has an amazing voice. This is one I only ever heard underneath her crystalline soprano while she sang along.

It was always so beautiful that I didn't focus on the song so much as her. She made a haunting, sad song a beautiful, pleasant memory for me because now she's had her license for a while, she's doing her thing being an ambitious senior. I don't get to listen to her sing anymore between my work and her school/social schedule.

I miss the days when I stayed up after a 12 hour shift to take her to school because I miss listening to her sing. I brain was fuzzy and that morning sun seared my eyeballs but I cherish every morning now because I don't have many left. I acutally miss everything about my kids needing me now that one has been independent for quite a few years and the other two are almost independent. I'm listening right now and all I can hear is her voice.

Fuck that shit hits hard. Im going to be an empty nester soon. Fucking FUCK. Fuck does it hit hard. I should be proud. I am! Jesus am I. I don't know how I was blessed with these people, bio and adopted, that's how vlessed I am, but I don't want to look the gift horse in the mouth. Fucking wow, am I proud. But really I'm sad, too.

/soliloquy

[–] FanciestPants@lemmy.world 2 points 12 hours ago

Hey Jealousy by The Gin Blossoms comes to mind.

[–] Pat_Riot@lemmy.today 2 points 16 hours ago

Fast Car

Pumped Up Kicks

Flowers on the Wall

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 4 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

Rock-a-bye, baby

On the tree top

When the wind blows

The cradle will rock

When the bough breaks

The cradle will fall

And down will come baby

Cradle and all

We sing that shit to literal babies, what the fuck is wrong with us?

[–] Jarix@lemmy.world 4 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

You are my sunshine

The other night dear As I lay sleeping I dreamed I held you in my arms But when I woke up I was mistaken so I held my head and I cried You are my sunshine My ONLY sunshine

It doesn't get any better from there

Edit: I will never understand how to format things the way I want them to sorry

[–] unicornBro@sh.itjust.works 2 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

Happier - by Bastille and Marshmello. It might depend on the listener tho.

Aint it fun - Paramore

Honestly, i don't like that a lot of radio music is so sad. I have to look to real oldies to find a happy song.

[–] SinkingLotus@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago
[–] EponymousBosh@awful.systems 1 points 19 hours ago

Like half of Fall Out Boy's discography. "Hum Hallelujah" gets a special mention for literally being about a suicide attempt. Also "Dance In the Dark" by Lady Gaga, "Stomach Vs Heart" and "Humor of the Situation" by Barenaked Ladies ("Angry People" as well), "Slip Slidin Away" by Paul Simon, "When I Come Around" by Green Day...suffice it to say, I enjoy this trope a lot :P

[–] gabbath@lemmy.world 1 points 19 hours ago
[–] roscoe@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 23 hours ago

Brown Sugar

A lot of that album was pretty subversive but hidden behind upbeat rock. The olds didn't realize what the kids were listening to because they just heard pop rock.

[–] theherk@lemmy.world 1 points 21 hours ago
[–] buzz86us@lemmy.world 18 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Pumped up kicks

Under the bridge Red Hot Chilli Peppers

[–] Seefoo@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Came here to post pumped up kicks

[–] TimewornTraveler@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The Motown hit Keep Me Hanging On by the Supremes is the classic example of this.

It was even recognized for its pathos and turned into a sadder slow version by psychedelic band Vanilla Fudge

[–] Wolf@lemmy.today 1 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

This is probably a controversial opinion, but Ive always felt a little bad for the guy this song is about.

I think it's unfair for her to say he doesn't care a thing about her. He obviously does. If he didn't he wouldn't want her to still be a part of his life.

This song is just about two people who want different things out of their relationship, and the singer is just unable to accept it.

She has the ability to cut him out of her life if that's what she really wants, same as he does. She should cut herself free if it's too painful for her to be his friend.

[–] TimewornTraveler@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I feel that. Maybe this song is her way of cutting herself free? Or by telling him to make a decision, she's giving him more autonomy than if she just left. Like she's saying, "Look, we need to commit to a decision, no more up and down, which way would you have it?"

[–] Wolf@lemmy.today 1 points 21 hours ago

Or by telling him to make a decision, she’s giving him more autonomy than if she just left. Like she’s saying, “Look, we need to commit to a decision, no more up and down, which way would you have it?”

I can see that, though it feels to me like from the context of the song they have already had that discussion at least once before.

I know that it hurts when you feel a certain way about someone and they don't feel that way about you- it can hurt a lot and it can take time to come to terms with it- and I don't' think removing yourself from their lives is an unreasonable solution if you are having trouble dealing with it- so I definitely feel empathy for the singers pov as well.

[–] moondoggie@lemmy.world 1 points 23 hours ago

Lots of mentions of The Boss, but not those other cheery Jerseyites. Bon Jovi with “Livin’ on a Prayer.”

[–] fodor@lemmy.zip 8 points 1 day ago

Semi-charmed Life

[–] Triasha@lemmy.world 24 points 1 day ago (4 children)

Pumped up kicks fits this for me.

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[–] NihilsineNefas@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 day ago

HEALTH - everything from the band is banger after banger but with lyrics that'll leave you feeling a certain type of sad

[–] Snowpix@lemmy.ca 21 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

90% of ska/ska punk music is like this. A few examples:

"The Science of Selling Yourself Short" - Less Than Jake

"Beer" - Reel Big Fish

"Struggler" and "I Don't Love You Anymore" - Bomb the Music Industry!

"The Last Bell I Will Ever Hear", "1-800-ALARM-ME" and "Last on my List" - The Arrogant Sons of Bitches

"Ska Dream" and "Checkerboard Ashtray" - Jeff Rosenstock

"A Better Place, a Better Time" and "As the Footsteps Die Out Forever" - Streetlight Manifesto

[–] Tehhund@lemmy.world 2 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Nearly Everything by Reel Big Fish. It's all fun ska and mostly about social anxiety, broken hearts, and substance abuse. I love them.

[–] Snowpix@lemmy.ca 2 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

I'll have to listen to that one! "I Know You Too Well to Like You Anymore" fits the bill as well. A very ugly fight between a couple who hate each other but can't live without one another.

[–] Tehhund@lemmy.world 2 points 12 hours ago

Oops, I messed up my capitalization. I just meant nearly every song by them.

[–] Emotional_Ice@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Absolutely this.

[–] bitjunkie@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Club America by The Cure

[–] Jankatarch@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Sad lyrics and fast tempo :
Kazim Koyuncu - Narino
Bagpipe song with the lyrics "I lost my sanity", "I sat down and cried", and "I wish someone knew my pain" especially. Can find longer versions on youtube.

French Gal - Poupèe de cire
Lyrics are about feeling more like a doll than human. TRIGGER WARNING FOR FRENCH LANGUAGE

Kazim Koyuncu - Fadime
Kemençe song with lyrics along same lines. Takes a bit before beat changes.

Sad lyrics and happy music/tone :
Danny Gonzales - Downhill
Song argues with a young adult on how rest of their life will suck.

Istanbul12 Orkestrasi - Bile Bile
Song about being unable to accept rejection.

Ayase/YAOSABI - Into the night
I am 70% sure "upbeat sounding song about suicide" is a genre in Japanese music.

[–] kandoh@reddthat.com 4 points 1 day ago

Ring around the rosey

And

Fuzzy wuzzy was a bear

[–] whotookkarl@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Zero 7 - Waiting to die

https://youtu.be/ge1_eVMO-mU

Snowpix mentioned lots of ska/ska punk I gotta agree, my pick is The Aquabats - chemical bomb

https://youtu.be/Y3fXdcHQY4o

Maybe a bit of a stretch but just running with the musical tone doesn't match the lyrics Ben Folds - bitches ain't shit cover

https://youtu.be/gjFRy8jQ_0U

pretty much anything by third eye blind

[–] Masktchi@feddit.fr 15 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Every Stromae's songs.
It's always funny to see non-french-speaking people being so hyped by Stromae's songs, like they think it's joyful af and all... While his songs lyrics are litterally about :

  • a man who drinks and dances a lot in order to forget his shitty life ( Alors on danse )
  • a song about his father who was killed during Rwanda's genocide ( Papaoutai )
  • other songs about suicide, cancer, breakups, addictions, depression etc... But always with an upbeat melody !
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[–] Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Jonathan Coulton has a bunch of these. "I Feel Fantastic" "Betty and Me" "Blue Sunny Day" "Shop Vac" "Chiron Beta Prime" "Future Soon" off the top of my head. "Skullcrusher Mountain" and "Re: Your Brains" to a lesser degree.

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[–] njm1314@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)
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[–] JargonWagon@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Radiohead - No Surprises

[–] crank0271@lemmy.world 94 points 2 days ago (4 children)
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[–] mlfh@lemmy.sdf.org 93 points 2 days ago (8 children)

99 Luftballons is upbeat and fun, and about some balloons inadvertently kicking off a cataclysmic war that leaves the world in ruins.

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[–] TheBat@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Has anybody mentioned Joy Division yet?

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