Dark/Heavily Political Songs that sound Happy

[NatalieZaki]

I know this is a commonly asked question, but I don't know I wanted to see what y'all say.

My example is Ping Pong by Stereolab. It sounds chipper and fun and bouncy and then the lyrics are about the economic cycle and how it leaves us all in ruin.

 

[Kamako]

REM - Bad Day

The Jam - News of the World

I can think of way way more that don't sound cheery, but I guess that goes against the spirit of the question xD

 

[Parasite_Steve]

First thing that comes to mind:

 

[Octopus]

While not as dark as some of the others people have dropped here, it's still about a bad relationship and coming to terms with it. There's even the famous like of "y'all aren't even listening to me, y'all just want to dance"; Andre 3000 knew no one was actually going to be listening to the lyrics since it sounds so happy.

 

[Kamako]

Andre 3000 knew no one was actually going to be listening to the lyrics since it sounds so happy.

Great song, and the version performed by The Blanks in the TV show Scrubs is fantastic as well

 

[DunkeyKong]

While not as dark as some of the others people have dropped here, it's still about a bad relationship and coming to terms with it. There's even the famous like of "y'all aren't even listening to me, y'all just want to dance"; Andre 3000 knew no one was actually going to be listening to the lyrics since it sounds so happy.

Damn, was just about to post this lmao. I remember hearing it again from this video, but I can't believe it's been 3 years already (time flies so fast man)

 

[Deleted member 307907]

Damn, was just about to post this lmao. I remember hearing it again from this video, but I can't believe it's been 3 years already (time flies so fast man)

 

[J.F.C]

Every song from Only a Lad.

 

[snoonch]

I found out the other day that "Going Up The Country" is actually a cover of a blues song called "Bull Doze Blues" written by Henry Thomas in 1928. One of the members of Canned Heat added some lyrics, referencing a "brand new game that i don't wanna play" (the 'brand new game' being the Vietnam War, of course)

 

[Ligeia]

Mylène Farmer - Désenchantée (1991)
a song about oppression and revolution which was a dance hit in France back then, a textbook case of a happy heavy song.

 

[jankusanagi jankusanagi]

OMD's Enola Gay.

A song about dropping a nuclear/atomic bomb on a human population, but the music sounds like it's wishing you happy birthday.

 

[bosskbot]

I know this is a commonly asked question, but I don't know I wanted to see what y'all say.

My example is Ping Pong by Stereolab. It sounds chipper and fun and bouncy and then the lyrics are about the economic cycle and how it leaves us all in ruin.

My pick would be this one: Minimal Man- Pull Back the Bolt

 

[GardeniaSky's icon GardeniaSky GardeniaSky]

 

[Deleted member 257420]

INB4 Lock, Anti wuz here.

Anyway, probably

 

[Nidstang]

Almost every System Of A Down or Maximum The Hormone song

 

[ZEGA ZONIC]

Politics & forum threads don't mix.
Just saying.

 

[Deleted member 257420]

Politics & forum threads don't mix.
Just saying.

Yeah but everyone’s kinda chill rn so maybe it’ll last more than a day.

 

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

In before the lock

Not really cheery sounding, but I've known a lot of people who thought it was just a headbang song and somehow missed the themes. Plus I just like SOAD

 

[ATenderLad]

It's kind of a fun topic, but it's definitely hamstrung by the fact that you can't really *discuss* the point of the videos beyond a certain point.

I don't really want to start talking about what an album "really means, man, when you think about it" - I'm too old for hookah bars now, the smoke gives me a headache - but if you can keep it fun without someone going "teehee, Tomorrow Belongs to Me" it might be okay.

If someone can think of another way to frame it with a different topic, that would be cool too.

 

[zalirom]

Tan bonita, tan chiquita
Tan llena de sonrisa
Perfumada flor, que crecía

Doce años cumpliría
De la escuela, no volvía
Preocupada, se la ve a mamá

Cuatro horas, se demora
¿Qué pasó? ¿Por qué lloras?
Dijo una mujer y luego la abrazaba

De repente, suena fuerte el teléfono
¿Y quién atiende?
La mamá, secándose las lágrimas

Su florcita, la encontraron
En un gran descampado
Su madre grita, sin compasión
Sin vida, estaba tirada, golpeada
¿Por qué? ¿Quién fue?

¿Cómo es que matan a una niña tan pequeña?
Solo tenía doce años, toda una vida por vivir
¿Cómo es que matan a una niña tan pequeña?
Solo tenía doce años, toda una vida por vivir

¡Por vivir!
¡Agrupación Marilyn!

Su florcita, la encontraron
En un gran descampado
Su madre grita, sin compasión
Sin vida, estaba tirada, golpeada
¿Por qué? ¿Quién fue?

¿Cómo es que matan a una niña tan pequeña?
Solo tenía doce años, toda una vida por vivir
¿Cómo es que matan a una niña tan pequeña?
Solo tenía doce años, toda una vida por v
ivir

¡Por vivir!
¡Agrupación Marilyn!

 

[stealthRUSH stealthRUSH]

 

[diapered]

If someone can think of another way to frame it with a different topic, that would be cool too.

Well, it's hard to know anyone's feelings, but I googled and just learned the word "discordant" which I think is a pretty good term for this.

Politics & forum threads don't mix.

I don't think anyone is discussing politics, it is for songs with contrasting composition of the melody, lyrics and meaning. I think that is the intention?

Anyway, "Bullet" by Hollywood Undead is an incredibly upbeat/catchy song with dark/challenging subject matter. Don't want to link it because I can't imagine it is not age restricted on youtube >_>

 

[99nereids]

 

[spectresfrommercury]

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]